Intergalactic Summit

While I am not academically-educated, I have nonetheless taken the time to educate myself on the political ins-and-outs of the Federation and neighbouring states, in order to more effectively serve my role as a human face of FDU capsuleers. This includes the behaviour of non-governmental actors, including corporations, other interest groups, and society in general.

One thing that continues to astound me is that capsuleers have an extremely poor and two-dimensional grasp of the political and diplomatic sciences, while being very well-versed and educated in the hard sciences. The Federation is a very open society compared to other nations; it is not exactly difficult to acquire material or speak to knowledgeable individuals to gain a better understanding. Not to sound like an elitist, but I will not pretend to know-it-all about quantum physics to others.

The incriminating of a population for the actions of its governments is perhaps one of the most abysmal approaches one can take to international politics. By doing so, you can provide moral license to justify the most heinous acts known to humanity. This is exactly what President Duvailer and his Ultra-Nationalists did during the bombardment of Caldari Prime. Thousands of innocent civilians were incriminated as being complicit for the actions of a few (and even then, the Templis Dragonaurs were not connected to the Caldari government at the time).

When I am told that the Federal government is a bunch of corrupt plutocrats, you are simply repeating the political dispositions of 99% of the Gallentean populace. After all, any governmental interference to keep things in check through legislation and policing is naturally perceived as the oppression of rights and freedoms of individuals (cf. GalNet entry on Gallente government). But, due to the political two-dimensionality of most capsuleers, the Federal government allegedly accounts for the entire Federation. Congratulations, you have the same attitude as an Ultra-Nationalist. I hope you take pleasure in the merciless slaughter of civilians while stating "It's okay, their government has done bad things".

It is very amusing to see capsuleers compliment the admirable work ethic of the Caldari people while completely ignoring the past actions of their governing corporations. Does anyone remember the Protein Delicacy fiasco, where Sukuuvestaa provided reprocessed biomass to Gallentean schoolchildren, which ******** their mental growth? The Chief Executive Panel dismissed this as "just another day in the State". Do the actions of SuVee incriminate its subjects as well? If so, you're a fanatic, and should take a good look at yourself before criticizing others.

Although this reeks too much of attempting to justify myself to an audience I have no appreciation for, the objective of a soldier is to protect the innocent from harm. Other cultures may have a different definition of what constitutes a soldier, but this is certainly a Gallentean one. War represents a failure in diplomacy. Soldiers must go out and correct the mistakes of the politicians. We attempt to make good from bad. We rebuild societies broken by violence, and protect them from predators. Again, while I appreciate that not all military cultures have this attitude of the "strong protecting the weak", this is the perspective I come from.

The Federation's freedoms has spawned some societies and cultures that are decidedly questionable in nature. Near-unrestricted libertarianism has allowed for a lot of 'bad', but it does not disallow 'good', either. By letting bad things fester, you give opportunity for the good in people and society to shine. If everyone was forced to do the same thing, would goodness really be that sincere? Charities, humanitarians and activists pursue humane goals seemingly from the bottom of their heart.

That is the essence of the Federation. Its freedoms separate the good from the bad. You retain the right to be a cretin, but you certainly shouldn't be complaining when your actions come around to kick you in the balls.

But my role isn't about politics. As long as the government keeps the military in check without being too overbearing, then I care little who is in office, as far as my job is concerned. There is a war being fought, and violence comes to those who would prefer peaceful lives. The fact that the invaders are Caldari does not matter so much; war is war. We will keep things in check.

The PD is just one of many examples of SuVee's unethical and ruthless practices.

And that was the latter regarding your second point. I don't see how it is morally acceptable for me to slaughter every civilian under SuVee's employ because of what they do.

"One thing that continues to astound me is that capsuleers have an extremely poor and two-dimensional grasp of the political and diplomatic sciences, while being very well-versed and educated in the hard sciences."

There are reasons for this. Mainly that there are no capsuleer governmental bodies of note. Yes there are capsuleer organizations that trumpet one political party or agenda, but for the most part capsuleers deal with other capsuleers, not the masses, and not the empire governments.

What astounds me is the propensity of some capsuleers to make everything into a statement of political intent or one that reflects on something in a political way.


"The incriminating of a population for the actions of its governments is perhaps one of the most abysmal approaches one can take to international politics. By doing so, you can provide moral license to justify the most heinous acts known to humanity."

I fully agree with this idea. Painting an entire population as wholly and exclusively in total agreement with their governmental bodies only allows hatred to propagate, which then can lead to otherwise totally unconscionable courses of action.


"It is very amusing to see capsuleers compliment the admirable work ethic of the Caldari people while completely ignoring the past actions of their governing corporations."

And now I'm confused. In one breath you seem to abhor the practice of labeling a population by it's government's actions, and in the next you criticize people who see past the mistakes of a government to admire the worth of the general populace. It is entirely possible to admire one aspect of a society while finding other aspects distasteful. Further the absence of mention for the mistakes of one group does not indicate a denial of them or ignoring them, it simply means the speaker is trying to focus their emphasis on something else. If people always mentioned related failings along with triumphs, it would take days just to hold a conversation.


"Although this reeks too much of attempting to justify myself to an audience I have no appreciation for, the objective of a soldier is to protect the innocent from harm."

I'm unsure who you'd be trying to justify yourself too, or more importantly why you feel the need to justify yourself to them. Regardless, in my opinion, a soldier of any society capable of making the distinction between warrior and soldier, is a society in which their soldiers are indeed protectors first and foremost. Unfortunately, like you mentioned, soldiers tend to have to clean up the mess left by politicians, so the definition of a "protective/defensive action" sometimes gets stretched far beyond reason.


"By letting bad things fester, you give opportunity for the good in people and society to shine. "

I find this statement to be...dangerous. Certainly acknowledging one's faults is a good thing, but this statement almost runs the vein of saying there is a balance of "bad" to be maintained otherwise the "good" loses it's value. I find myself conflicted on this idea. On the one hand I consider mistakes to be perhaps the best teachers in life, but on the other I can't morally justify allowing (on a personal level of course, a great many things are beyond my control) a "bad" thing to fester and grow simply to make a "good" thing look better. To put that in a more capsuleer-centric frame of view, I don't see the value in keeping an incapable crew member on board simply to make the rest of the crew look better by comparison.

"That is the essence of the Federation. Its freedoms separate the good from the bad. You retain the right to be a cretin, but you certainly shouldn't be complaining when your actions come around to kick you in the balls."

I personally wouldn't say the freedom to be a total #translation protocol approximation# "portion of slaver hound excrement" separates the good from the bad. I would say it simply highlights the difference in more concrete, observable ways. However I do agree that acting in such ways does make it rather silly to complain about the reactions it incurs.

Unrelated to the topic itself, but my apologies if this comes out difficult to read. The transcription software doesn't like an excessive number of quotations, and I simply don't feel like taking up another posting to fit them in. As a result the quoted statements are all taken from Seriphyn's original message and I'm just using non-standard formatting to reference them.

Not to mention public opinion loosely guides the decisions of Federation leaders. Your last president made an unpopular choice, and now look what happened to him.

I found interesting and agreed with what I read until that point. This is just a shortcut, and quite close to an abusive ad-hominem.



I agree with this. It makes Ms Vitalia's point irrelevant.

Unless of course, Ms Vitalia means that by accepting a democracy, one accepts every decision that the majority may come out with even by disagreeing with it. Which can be said of every form of governement, and the only case where this is not true, is either be being oneself the governement, or being part of the Sansha Nation.

And a little bit off topic with your excuse Mr. Seriphyn, but I find really funny how Ms. Katrina behaved in her first reply taking your message to a very personal stance. Was that the case or this is simply another exageration of her ego and your message was in fact directed to all IGS crowd as I supposed it was?

Your essays fascinate me, General. Have you ever considered a career in politics? I'm sure you would perform outstandingly.

Agree... but still, the same person who wins an election and have support from the majority during the beggining of his mandate may loose this support during the course of his government, and people must have devices that allow this person to be removed from power.

Nothing is permanent, especially inside a democratic regime. What seems to be right and legitimate today may sound wrong and ilegitimate tomorrow, and people have the universal right to be heard and fight for their freedom to terminate a government and initiate another.

I would not make it very far as a politician. I intend to pursue my own moral convictions, and not the beliefs or suppositions of others. As a capsuleer, I do not need to rely on special interests to pursue my own political goals, and thus can fall back on my personal ideology, instead of those who support me.

I see, you are trying to protect the Federation with your speech. This is pointless, the end of the Federation is nigh. Two hundred of years ago, forces of the Federation were much greater than Caldari Navy, but today the State matches and even outmatches (by outcome of recent events) Federation's forces. In the next hundred of years the might of the Federation will be completely crushed. As you can see, even capsuleers take the side of the State, because they prefer the ways of practical and efficient State to the dreams of hedonistic Federation. What will happen to the Federation itself is hard to predict. Maybe it will be turned into a puppet state, or will be assimilated by the State, or even torn apart to hundreds of independent entities. Most likely, the Gallente Federation will be reduced to only one planet - Gallente Prime itself, where it will be held as a memorial of ancient culture and a reminder for future generations, what a hedonistic society can lead to.



I am completely agree with Silas Vitalia on this matter.

This is a government of a mob, that represents point of view of a commoner, not very dumb, and not very smart. There are no special institutes like heirs or emperors, who are taught to rule from their childhood. The Federation is ruled not by executors or CEOs, who proved themselves as efficient managers, but by mere politicians, who get their chairs only because mob likes them. Well, for now, you have a CEO as a president too, but before this you had Foiritan, and who knows, what loved by public clown will come next. This is another reason, why the Federation is doomed.


One's right ends where it starts to interfere with other's rights. That's why governments and laws. If one seeks freedom, he must go to a wild inhabited planet and live with animals as an animal. Absolutely free.


I am fighting against the Federation. Well, I am fighting against both Federation and its government, but I don't understand why do you rise a question about slaughter of civilians. I will answer for myself as a soldier, and, I hope, many other soldiers will sign under my words. I do not fight civilians, but those, who come armed. I deeply believe that only those who are ready to be killed, have the right to kill. But during a war, civilian losses are unavoidable, and time to count losses will come only after the victory, for now is time to fight, not mourn. When I am targeting an enemy or its property, and your civilian comes into my line of fire, I won't hold fire and will destroy the target regardless, and if civilian will be killed in the process, it is his fault or his destiny. And for what I do, I will answer as a soldier, because I am a target myself.