“We will not permit you to tell us how to be Caldari, and so you leave us with no choice.”
-Excerpt from the Caldari Proclamation of Secession. CE 23154.11.22
On this day, two hundred and one years ago, the State declared independence. A century of war followed as the State was forged strong enough to maintain that independence, strong enough to preserve the Caldari peoples.
Let us not rehash the age-old argument of who was responsible, of what misdeeds were committed. In various degrees, in various ways, we would all whitewash sins we ought not, and we would all reopen wounds that have in many ways healed.
Let us instead use today to admit those faults we share.
Admission of fault is not a weakness. It is not even a matter of humility, even though humility plays its part. The ability to admit fault is a strength. Through the clear-headed understanding of our actions, of our world, of what we seek to do and to become, and the willingness to admit where we have failed to reach toward our ideals, we provide ourselves an opportunity for growth.
With growth, with progress, we become stronger still.
So let us admit fault. Just as the Ultranationalists brought blockade and orbital bombardment, just as the Templis Dragonaur destroyed an underwater city, even today we harbor those extremists and xenophobes who would plunge entire civilizations into a total war for the sake of their own hatred of the other. Not ten months have passed since we witnessed New Eden’s powers rocked by the potential for death on a scale not seen in ages, an act perpetrated by those same xenophobes. Still, however, we carry on as if there is no fault of ours.
We are at fault.
Millions died because of hatred and xenophobia. Billions more may have died if Capsuleers had not pursued a cooperative venture to attempt to resolve the crisis.
In the name of pride, we have no word from Kaalakiota or Hyasyoda on the failings that allowed a small band of zealots to secure the most dangerous bioweapon known to humanity. In the name of secrecy and nationalism, we have no word from the Federal Intelligence Office about its findings, no information about the organizations that may have played a part in spreading the pathogen.
We are at fault.
With fault admitted, we should seek to grow stronger.
Let us grow. Let us not define ourselves by those whose lives are filled with hatred and xenophobia. Let us instead define ourselves independently of that. The State, after all, is not defined by its opposition to the Federation; it is defined by the strength of the Caldari people and culture.
It is this independence that our progenitors fought for.