I accept and even readily agree that my “plan” isn’t particularly realistic. It’s not supposed to be a fully formed foolproof itinerary.
It’s a discussion piece that moves things beyond the two sides going “no u” and actually considers possible options.
Debate finds the answers that both sides are looking for. By talking about an outlandish idea, both sides get a clearer of view of what they and their opponents actually want. What they consider acceptable.
Do I think what I suggested will actually happen? Spirits no. But parts of it might lay the foundations for what is later considered to be a Good Idea that both sides can actually agree on.
I am pleased to see the purpose of this thread is being fulfilled.
As I read through the majority of these proposals (presented by Minmatar negotiating for favorable terms for their people) I feel I should remind you of the fifth rule I laid out:
Emancipation of all Minmatar on any set timescale that is not in the hands of individual Holders and when they see their charges fit to be released is a major concession that will have to be enforced by the Empire, and the Republic will have to give something major in return for it to be not rejected outright. What would the Republic (or even the Federation) be willing to concede in return for this act?
Well, what does the Empire want in return? We need to see a list of demands the Empire will produce before we work out reasonable compromises and concessions.
I rather like the idea of a “New Ammatar” buffer state physically separating the Empire and the Republic, actually. If this political entity were to be formed on the condition of strict neutrality (and perhaps limits imposed on its military to make it a purely police/self-defense force), it would be the greatest achievement on the path to peace since the Yoiul.
I’d say that quite a few of the vocal - like, foaming-at-the-mouth vocal - proponents of permanent slavery are those who approach it from a materialistic rather than spiritual angle, which doesn’t exactly give them a leg to stand on from the Scriptures’ point of view. The whole institution has been on a downturn ever since the end of the militant phase of the Reclaiming nearly two centuries ago and I see few signs that it’s going to rebound anytime soon. While screaming “end slavery now!” in the middle of Dam-Torsad will garner you little but odd looks and friendly advice to lay off the Mindflood, slavery is not meant to last forever - it is viewed as spiritual education and a sacred journey to freedom through attainment of enlightenment and piety. The Scripture doesn’t say when will all slaves be freed, but it does say that it will happen.
Yes, there are those who don’t think into this deeply. Worse yet, there are those who would ignore or even pervert the whole idea. They and their actions do not speak for all of Empire, or the Scriptures. Neither do I, of course, so feel free to ignore everything I say.
Anyway, the gist of the problem is that no matter what this emancipation process looks like, it’s going to take centuries at the least - so that the sudden change in status and movement of populations doesn’t upset the economic and societal balance, the Holders concerned are appropriately compensated, the religious authorities are satisfied and so on. Any faster, and the Empire will likely implode and drag down the rest of the cluster with it.
Among the virtues valuable among the Amarr, patience is probably the most important one.
Let’s start with the easy ones - complete disarmament and cessation of all support of anti-Empire terrorist groups; removal of all restrictions on practicing the Amarr Faith, if any, and a crackdown on any persecution of the faithful to prevent another Abel Jarek incident; economic stimulus packages for planets with large populations of the newly freed slaves and partial or full shouldering of the costs of resettlement for any that choose to do so.
You seem to completely disregard the other, very important piece of the puzzle: Unless the emancipation announcement comes with declaration of the Reclaiming to be a thing of the past, emancipation itself holds little value, as the Empire still remains a threat to the whole cluster. I see little use in talking about emancipation of slaves if the main driving force behind the practice is not eradicated.
What should the Republic concede? Nothing. They are not the ones who did anything wrong.
What can the Minmatar give for the Amarr in exchange? A promise not to seek revenge for past injustices. And I think that’s plenty.
Slaves may only be freed if they are of the true religion, and only by a holder by the grace of the Empress, who speaks for God himself. There is no alternative. Slaves must not be freed if they are in defiance of the almighty, unless a faithful is in danger otherwise. And spirit isn’t everything. Need I quote scripture on the importance of reality and materialism? God gave us a material universe. Pure spiritualists are Sabik scum, usually.
Agreed. It seems God wills that there be war. No surprise to me. We are in the crucible of his burning design for a reason, and I welcome the blessing.
The Reclaiming is never going away. You can eliminate the institution of slavery and wars of expansion, but the Reclaiming is the single most important element of the faith. It is not going anywhere.
Reclaiming also is the main motivator and justification for the enslavement of others, so if you can enlighten me how wars of expansion and slavery can be rooted out from the Empire without giving up Reclaiming, I’m all ears, honest.
The Reclaiming is the mission to bring all of creation back under God’s grace. It demands one united humanity, pure of spirit and faithful to God.
Slavery and warfare are methods used in the pursuit of this mission. Particularly forceful ones. They are not the only methods through which it can be achieved.
The Amarr aren’t stupid, and you don’t get to be an interstellar empire by being so. So if repeated efforts at “trying harder” fail will they continue to do so, abandon peaceful efforts, or abandon Reclaiming?
This sounds like an offer one can’t refuse, so, a huge problem persists when people don’t want to be reclaimed.
And all historical records that I’m privy to have not once shown the Empire to apply “softer methods”, but always opting for the command and conquer -route. Minmatar, Ealur, Ni-Kunni, Udorians, and countless others whose names “weren’t even fit to be recorded”, all were only fit to be crushed under the bootheel of Amarr onslaught instead of these vaunted peaceful conversion methods.