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Former Slaves Enter Matriculation Program

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Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1021 - 2013-09-22 23:04:12 UTC
What does it do to a man or a woman when you threaten the security and well-being of his children? There are few things that are more heartbreaking than to see the utter brokenness of parents whose children have been killed or threatened or separated from them. In some ways the trauma is greater even than for the child so separated. Those who feel their responsibility for their children greater than all other responsibilities will often lose their sense of reality completely and become emotionally/psychologically ill. Irrational reactions can often follow. More than we wish, we deal with many rescued people who are going through this. Often I have wished that there were an easier way to sooth the pain these people endure.

There are times when I also wished that I believed in ultimate justice. I admit that I sometimes envy those who do. In the absence of such fidei, we do our best to show mercy to those overlooked by justice.

Rescue Report:

115.09.21 21:26 NearNihil 10 people
115.09.21 22:43 Heaven's Valkyrie 35 people, The Disciple 1 person
115.09.22 17:55 Aiko Man-Su 16 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1022 - 2013-09-24 13:15:23 UTC
I apologize for getting somewhat behind in my reports. The list below represents the patrols of the last three days. We managed one small weapons confiscation. This was a low risk action so we took it. The confiscation consisted of a supply of faction missiles and a missile launcher. Though a lesser satisfaction than a rescue, we are always glad to get weapons out of the hands of the violent and in a place where never again will they be used. No, I do not believe that the confiscations we make are significant in the way of numbers and statistics or the impact on existing wars. However, those who believe in peace must act within the framework of their values. Whether your conviction is that war must lead to peace, diplomacy must lead to peace, or non-violence will lead to peace, keep the goal of peace at the forefront never letting the means eclipse the goal.

The work continues.

Rescue Report:

115.09.22 22:49 Luke Saquid 30 former slaves, 6 hounds, 2 slavers
115.09.22 23:09 (weapon confiscation)
115.09.23 14:45 VvyklZ 12 people
115.09.23 20:35 Darkkiller86 10 people, Nataraja 0 35 people
115.09.23 22:25 Angron Flagg 56 people
115.09.24 12:51 CoCo Chane1 8 people, Acton Haarkov 97 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1023 - 2013-09-25 18:34:20 UTC
"What have you done for me lately?" This is one of the favorite cries of the entitled as most anyone would know who has worked in the area of social service. We encounter it some in our work but not as often as one might imagine. Where it is encountered more often is in relationships outside of work, where entitlement enculturation has soaked its way into society as a whole. While I find myself often marginalized by many of those within my own Caldari Culture, I still find myself quite at odds with the massive growth of the entitlement complex around us. In that sense, I believe that the Caldari culture has something to teach us all. I serve regardless of what anyone might do for me whether lately or ever. I serve because my values and convictions drive me to do so. But, I grieve the slow death of this in our cultures and I fear that soon, we will be without any inner drive other than what we might gain. Let it not be.

Rescue Report:

115.09.24 17:44 Petrovna404 10 people
115.09.24 19:34 Hugh Forehead 11 people
115.09.24 21:17 Juusha 12 people
115.09.24 22:59 Saratora Durant 65 former slaves, 30 freed slaves
115.09.25 12:40 Viktor Kram 10 former Elite Slaves
115.09.25 18:21 Morgan Xavie 23 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1024 - 2013-09-26 14:21:17 UTC
She looked at me as if waiting for permission to speak to the other Matriculants. Often, rescued former slaves do not quite believe that their new liberty is real. One of the first ways that this doubt manifests itself is in the hesitation to interact freely with others in the center. Those who came from highly controlled slavery situations are careful about talking to others after they are rescued. Somehow, they still believe that they might be punished for speaking to others without permission. Sometimes it takes many days of a new arrival observing the community and seeing the freedom of speech and conversation before they realize that they do not need to ask me or anyone else before they talk to someone. It is especially difficult for singular rescues like the one reported below. She felt intimidated in spite of the relief of being rescued. Her initial thought was that I was her new master and that she needed my permission.

I have made it a practice when taking a meal in the dining center to ask politely for permission to sit with a particular table. "May I sit here? Is this place taken?" Rather than assuming that I can sit wherever I wish because i'm the boss, I try to establish equity within the community on a social level. This helps those we rescue to sever the notion of slave and master and re-establish proper relationships of authority such as employee and supervisor. Such is part of the Matriculation process.

Rescue Report:

115.09.26 14:06 Imran Tam 1 person

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1025 - 2013-09-27 12:52:11 UTC
One says this another says that. On it goes and the hostility and malice grow with each word added to the argument until both sides seethe with hate and spite. The instinctual urge to argue is an evolutionary vestige that is not needed for our advancement as a species. However, for intelligent volitional beings such as ourselves, we have a choice to hold to now harmful vestiges or to let them go. So, let them go. What is not a vestige is the deep desire for peace. Peace is necessary for the good of all both individually and collectively. About this we also have a choice.

Rescue Report:

115.09.26 12:10 bopash 61 people
115.09.26 23:50 Stewieni 50 former slaves, 20 freed slaves

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1026 - 2013-09-30 12:36:45 UTC
While we hire and train most of our crew and staff from rescued people, we still have applicants from the general baseline population to work in our centers as staff and on our ships as crew. Screening job applications is a difficult task that I would like eventually to leave entirely to others. Dr. Nalthkh does quite a bit of it himself, but he is not always fully aware of the specific needs of staff and crew. This leave me to do some of that job. I have found that job applicants walk a fine line between self-promotion and real honesty. Last week, one applicant for a custodial position sort of broke down in a moment of incredible refreshing honesty. He had been working in the records department of one of the companies in the station in Kaap. I asked why he was leaving the job he was in for a custodial position with us. He sighed and blurted out, "Cuz I'm burned out working for "bungports" (not what he really said)" "I need to step back for a while." We gave him the job and he is a good worker. He seems happy in the work so far. Time will tell. I do wonder how many millions carry the same sentiment with them through life and would gladly trade their upwardly mobile high stress work for people they cant stand for just a little peace. Hmm.

Rescue Report:

115.09.28 17:50 imhotep Zibolis 10 former Elite Slaves
115.09.28 23:14 Niniquai Anthoren 41 former Slaves, 7 slavers, 8 hounds
115.09.29 21:21 swamp Fonulique 12 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1027 - 2013-10-01 12:34:37 UTC
Every now and then I hear people say that they have no regrets. I'm pretty sure they really don't mean that. I think what they are trying to say is that they have suspended the feeling of regret so that it doesn't hinder or paralyze their lives. You cannot live a significant life without regret and anyone who actually tries to avoid regret will end up never taking sufficient risks that result in inevitable mistakes that lead to greater learning that results in a fuller life. The pain of regret is instrumental to our lives and cannot nor should be avoided. In the words of one legendary ship captain, "I don't want my pain taken away; I need my pain." What will you do with the regrets you have at the end of this day and how will they shape your tomorrow?

Rescue Report:

115.09.30 14:12 Grim Mileghere 5 people
115.10.01 12:17 Tarab Katelo 20 former Slaves, 5 slavers

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1028 - 2013-10-04 19:30:34 UTC
You know...It is those times that you are so exhausted that you could sleep standing. Yet, when you lay down to rest, sleep flies away from you. Your mind reminds you of your duties and work that might be done. Sometimes, I cannot sleep because I see in my minds eye another death can with people who need rescue. And so it goes.

It is about time for another trip to Yulai. We try to make transfers of rescued slavers about every 50 or so. Today, we reached 49 at our Kaap reception center. Time to take them to our large detention facility in Yulai. I may take a small standby crew in the DSS Assist for this chore.

Rescue Report:

115.10.01 21:17 KingCharles theGreat 26 People
115.10.03 19:49 Sharlion Kashada 13 people
115.10.04 17:41 Anfros 28 people, Naomhan 12 former slaves, 12 hounds, 10 slavers
115.10.04 19:16 Hurm Trailingwire 13 former slaves, 7 hounds, 5 slavers

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1029 - 2013-10-05 15:16:06 UTC
It began at a little before 14:00 hours today; a five deathcan operation. Technically, it turned out to be a four deathcan operation since one of the containers had no humans aboard. Full situational awareness is more of a challenge under such circumstances and so I list the group and totals but not individual attributions in the report below. One of the cans contained 4 combat drones and the other four contained people. All are safe back at our Kaap Center.

Work has been difficult lately due a slight malfunction in my brain to clone body connection. The malfunction seems to be generating a palpable sensation in the upper abdomen and lower chest. It would be best described as a feeling of anxiety, almost a sense of doom. It can be physically felt. Our center doctors are looking at possible solutions. In the mean time their advice is, "get on with your work. Its not killing you, yet." OK.

Rescue Report:

115.10.5 13:50apprx Najah Gare, Scuka Lubof, Xerpes Foxwell, Solarian Liver, Benteke Holte (29 people, 3 people, 4hob, 10 people, 100 people)

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1030 - 2013-10-07 12:56:12 UTC
It is always difficult to part with the familiar, especially the familiar that we like. Our favorite waitress at the "Leaning Tower" has moved planetside to work and be close to her ailing mother. We'll miss her and we wish her and her mother all peace. When parts of life are so filled with change and flux, we cling to the few things that stay the same. When we find that even those things change, it can be...mm...hard on the soul.

Rescue Report:

115.10.5 21:18 Cersie mafi 13 people
115.10.7 12:39 Thom Tawate 26 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1031 - 2013-10-09 13:18:59 UTC
Ten Tourists were rescued yesterday in an unexpected set of circumstances. We were not on a regular patrol and were investigating what we believed were arms stashes. We were surprised to find human survivors on board the can. Sorry that I was unable to record the pilot's identification. The survivors are currently hospitalized with a number of injuries. It appears that they were casualties in the crossfire of small space skirmish. Our doctors believe that they will all recover.

Dr. Nalthkh has completed the development of our higher education program for the Kaap Center. Instructors from nearby Dresi are filling this term's teaching needs until permanent new hires can be brought in.

Rescue Report:

115.10.08 17:21 10 Tourists (no pilot recorded)
115.10.08 12:48 CripL Frolov 10 Former Elite Slaves

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1032 - 2013-10-11 14:35:19 UTC
When we react to the hateful with our own measure of hate, we destroy the integrity of justice and the ability to credibly claim the right. Hatred levels us with the most base and unrefined. I am concerned again that unbridled hatred will once again spring back and forth with the news of a possible Heth sighting. Might the presence of the peaceful buffer the inevitable stirrings of vitriol that will soon rise from both sides.

Former Disciple Manwe Todako has kindly agreed to run patrols for me for a time while I spend some time in Okagaiken. I've gotten to know the crew of the "Redemption." They are top notch.

Rescue Report:

115.10.09 01:57 Savac Hesperax 10 people
115.10.10 14:05 Sev Wolve 25 people

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Isis Dea
Society of Adrift Hope
#1033 - 2013-10-11 14:56:35 UTC  |  Edited by: Isis Dea
Question.

Suppose these slaves wish to remain slaves, do you let them?

After all, the prospect of life within the ownership and care of a slaver who does treasure you can be more attention than one might ever receive in life.

They also might have families and friends they've made in certain estates and on certain ships/stations.

Also the prospect of a not-so-simple life can be entirely daunting to someone so used to one.

So far, you've listed success story after success story of slaves wanting to be rescued, as if all of them truly knew freedom before they were enslaved (or learned of it during). That hardly is ever the case, most slaves don't get the chance to see past their next vitoc injection, and if they do.. they find escape within the mental connection served with their master/mistress and prospecting life without them can be tremendously lonely.

Even a vitoc-induced Brutor male, whipped daily and yelled at by quartermasters, can find connection within Amarrian mistress who commands the vessel should her eyes grace him with any slight of admiration, even if it is only briefly in respect of the hard labor. Competent slavers know hope and connection is one of the greatest tools to garnering the extra effort of their stock, they won't shun away from a chance to share that with their slaves.

A good slave knows their Master/Mistress without ever being known themselves.

A good Master/Mistress knows when to remember a face and to reward them on occasion.

Coming from an ex-slave such as myself who has witnessed that side of that life. I'm finding your story, your acts of liberation, your ratio of people in need to be saved like some cheap terribly flat holoreel where you get to play the protagonist up against the evil slavers, rescuing damsels in distress and people who've been oppressed.

How a fairy tale.

I find your testimonials as evidence that you truly aren't interviewing the slaves you think you're rescuing. I find that you care more about the liberators than the slaves themselves. I find you guilty of following so many stereotypes commonly made by other incompetent capsuleers. And lastly I find you are deciding the fates of people with your programs more than the slaves get the chance to, being how incredibly one-sided this entire effort has been.

Ten here. Twenty there.

You're herding livestock, for all you really care.

You're worse than a slaver, Ston.

More Character Customization :: Especially compared to what we had in 2003...

Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#1034 - 2013-10-11 17:30:09 UTC
Ms. Dea,
I don't plan to carry on a debate with you and I wouldn't expect you to dig back through the volumes of my posts. However, if you did, you would find that those we rescue who wish to return to holders do so. We have had documented cases including a Matriculant who went to the estate of one Thgil Goldcore, another who upon studying the ways of Sansha Nation requested transfer to one Tiberious Thessalonia and a group who requested transfer to an outspoken slaver Ran'shad. In that case they were resuced slaves with medical conditions. Mr. Ran'shad claimed that his facilities were better than ours and offered to treat the patients if they would be transferred to him. Those who requested were free to go. If a Matriculant of her own free-will wishes to go here or there, we do our best to accommodate her wishes. All this being said, you ought not be so surprised that those rescued from deathcans most often do not wish to return to the people and situations that landed them there in the first place. You ought not be surprised that those who come to us from the squalor of the flesh markets of the Khanid Kingdom should wish to never return.

You seem angry. I hope you find peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#1035 - 2013-10-11 21:48:30 UTC
As per arrangement with DSTON

Report:

115.10.11 17:35 Celtec Mania 74 slaves, 9 slavers, 11 slaver hounds
115.10.11 18:54 (blue) 32 slaves

SANKOFA

Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#1036 - 2013-10-12 20:55:23 UTC
Report:

115.10.12 13:46 Talo Flo 46 slaves, (pilot unknown) 10 slaves
115.10.12 20:51 Beherit Khema 2 slaves

SANKOFA

Odelya d'Hanguest
Order of St. Severian
#1037 - 2013-10-12 22:30:29 UTC
Ston Momaki wrote:
You ought not be surprised that those who come to us from the squalor of the flesh markets of the Khanid Kingdom should wish to never return.
I find this rather preposterous! I have never seen such a thing as “squalor” in the Kingdom.
Gabriel Darkefyre
Gradient
Electus Matari
#1038 - 2013-10-12 23:24:14 UTC
Odelya d'Hanguest wrote:
Ston Momaki wrote:
You ought not be surprised that those who come to us from the squalor of the flesh markets of the Khanid Kingdom should wish to never return.
I find this rather preposterous! I have never seen such a thing as “squalor” in the Kingdom.



Just because you have not personally seen or experienced a thing, does not mean it does not exist.
Isis Dea
Society of Adrift Hope
#1039 - 2013-10-13 01:02:30 UTC
Gabriel Darkefyre wrote:
Odelya d'Hanguest wrote:
Ston Momaki wrote:
You ought not be surprised that those who come to us from the squalor of the flesh markets of the Khanid Kingdom should wish to never return.
I find this rather preposterous! I have never seen such a thing as “squalor” in the Kingdom.



Just because you have not personally seen or experienced a thing, does not mean it does not exist.


In the implied quantity though?

I still fiercely find your numbers disbelieving.

More Character Customization :: Especially compared to what we had in 2003...

Edaine Numenor
Numenor Benevolent Holdings
#1040 - 2013-10-13 01:17:10 UTC
Isis Dea wrote:
Gabriel Darkefyre wrote:
Odelya d'Hanguest wrote:
Ston Momaki wrote:
You ought not be surprised that those who come to us from the squalor of the flesh markets of the Khanid Kingdom should wish to never return.
I find this rather preposterous! I have never seen such a thing as “squalor” in the Kingdom.



Just because you have not personally seen or experienced a thing, does not mean it does not exist.


In the implied quantity though?

I still fiercely find your numbers disbelieving.


Oh gods, are you slavers as naïve as you pretend to be? Go to any of the ten Khanid Transport Storage stations in the Kingdom. They won't attempt to hide the conditions; the pens of slaves in the ready around the debarkation hangars. If then you still want to define squalor as something else then go on. I've spent the last several months living in the Kingdom and there is without a single doubt appalling squalor in the slave markets in these stations where a third of a million slaves at a time await sale. Go, see it for yourself, then come back here and talk about how happy these slaves are in their present conditions.

Liberating slaves wherever, whenever, and however I can.