To all foreigners wanting to understand the Minmatar, happy Liberation Day

[Arrendis]

@Amicia_Cora

That your self-identification as people of war is dangerous and self-defeating. That you instead engage with Holy Amarr in good faith, with the goal of developing peaceful relations built upon the shared frameworks our leaders have developed through the Yulai Conventions, and institutions such as CONCORD, EDENCOM, and others. Frameworks that, yes, you undermined severely during the Elder War, but ones that we have nevertheless since fought tirelessly to rebuild.

You mean relations like those that existed at the beginning of Catiz’s reign, and led to Shakor attending a number of diplomatic functions on Athra?

You destroyed that, not us.

You destroyed it when the Empire did nothing about the murder of millions on Kahah III. The responding economic sanctions against the Empire by both Federation and Republic? That is how nations peacefully relate at points of conflict: they enact diplomatic and economic expressions of disapproval.

And what was the response from the Empire? We’re told that in addition to lashing out when it was made public that Amarr militia capsuleers in his military circuit were conspiring with their opposites in MinMil, Arrach Sarum’s declaration of planet-wide Reclaiming on Floseswin IV was exactly that: a response to economic sanctions.

There’s the Empire’s response to peaceful relations. Violence. Again. As always.

But let me just take a step back, and address your original point.

@Amicia_Cora

“We are what the Empire made us into!”

We are. That’s undeniable. We are a maimed and brutalized people. We fight against our former oppressors. We fight against the injuries they inflicted and the effects they still have upon us, physically and psychologically. Take a good, long look into the Sanmatar’s sightless eyes. They’re a lingering marker, generations later, of the brutality and abuse inflicted upon his ancestors at a genetic level for their defiance.

And we fight against ourselves. We fight to be more than what you made of us. We struggle and strive every day to recover bits and pieces of our past—things the Empire could simply give us, if they were so inclined. We know they have extensive records of the society they destroyed, locked away in safe-keeping. Imagine, just for a moment, what a step toward peace it would be if the Empire were to release those records to the Republic. To copy all of that over, and give back even a tenth of what was taken.

Now ask yourself: while the Empire withholds that… can they truly claim any overture they make is ‘peaceful’? Is that a rational, sane thing to claim while the Empire continues to steal from us our very heritage? Or are those peaceful overtures simply the prosecution of Amarr’s war on all other cultures by less overt means?

@Amicia_Cora

What sense of identity could sustain it when there was no longer any perceived enemy to obfuscate the burning question of who you are in yourselves, rather than whom you are solely in relation to said enemy?

I am very, very keen to find out the answer to that, at the national scale. I suspect the answer will surprise most of the cluster. On a smaller scale… I can tell you, quite easily, who some of us are.

We are the ones who wait, who watch, alert in blinds and hidden redoubts.
We are the eyes that search the heavens for the next rain of darkness
We are spread among the stars, to better see that which we hope never comes.
We are those who failed our duty once, and shall not ever do so again.
We are Stjörnauga, and we do not forget.

In slightly more verbose terms, we serve our people, working among the RSS and the Fleet, watchful for threats. A handful of us are even working in CONCORD. And no, we don’t define ourselves by you. Not even when we focus on those potential threats. We define ourselves by us. Our duty. Our obligations, past, present, and future, and the people to whom those obligations are owed.

And that, in general, is how most of us tend to define ourselves: as members of a larger family, larger community, who have obligations to one another that we strive to meet. We are not servants of your imaginary narcissist. We are servants of the very demonstrably real people in our lives, and those in their lives.

[Luwc]

luckily there are individual capsuleers and people in general that are able to critically take a peak beyond the veil of state, federation, republic and perhaps empire propaganda.

We are not our leaders, altough we stand for our birthplaces and homes and their values.

[Elsebeth_Rhiannon]

@Arrendis

We are Stjörnauga, and we do not forget.

Oh, we doing this now?

There are many gods in this universe
And the Amarr God is the most powerful of them all
But power is not wisdom
And might does not make right

I freely and completely renounce the Evil God
I will not obey His commands
I will not follow His followers
I will not fear His punishment

I am Rhiannon
I am Sebiestor
I stand here today, on our land, with my kin
And we will not let the Darkness fall ⁽¹⁾

May I live a dutiful life
May I find my Fate and fulfill it
May my ancestors smile when they see me
Today, and on the day of my death

^{(1) This line tends to be hell on translators. The meaning is “we will never not be free”, but the word used for ‘not-free’ is the same we use for ‘Darkness’ in a figurative or poetic sense. I apologize if it comes through mangled.}

[Tyrel_Toov]

@Mizhara_Del_thul

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Matari Invictus

Not to steal your thunder, but the entire poem should be recited:

Out of dark night that covers me
Black as the pit, from pole to pole.
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fel clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Through this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade.
Yet the menace of the years
Finds, and may find me, unafraid.

For it matters not how stright the gait
Nor how charged with punishment the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.

[Arrendis]

@Amicia_Cora

Look again at what I said, the very thing you quoted. I am suggesting that the Republic respects the shared frameworks that our leaders have developed. The Yulai Accords affirmed the sovereignty of Holy Amarr over Kahah III. That was a domestic matter for the Empire and the Empire alone to resolve. His Royal Highness Sarum’s campaign on Floseswin IV was likewise conducted in accordance with the terms outlined within the CEMWPA.

You are lying. Specifically, you lie when you assert, “I am suggesting that the Republic respects the shared frameworks that our leaders have developed.” In fact, you suggested no such thing. Rather, you explicitly said:

@Amicia_Cora

Frameworks that, yes, you undermined severely during the Elder War, but ones that we have nevertheless since fought tirelessly to rebuild.

With that statement, you accused the Republic of undermining those international frameworks. Furthermore, you assert that ‘we’—from context and tone, clearly meaning ‘The Amarr Empire’—have ‘fought tirelessly to rebuild’ those frameworks.

But is that truly the case? Or does the Empire attempt to wield CONCORD and Yulai like a sword and shield?

Yes, Kahah III was an internal matter. That doesn’t mean other nations don’t get to express their disapproval. By using diplomatic and economic means to express that disapproval, the Republic did respect the shared framework of the Yulai Accords. This sort of response is how nations provide disincentives for behavior they find objectionable in other nations.

And let’s keep in mind that, in their execution, those sanctions are a prohibition against Republic corporations trading with the Amarr. They make no claim to enact legal consequences against subjects of the Empire, only citizens of the Republic. Which makes them a matter of internal law under your framework.

If the Empire’s internal matters aren’t appropriate fodder for international response, then the Republic’s internal matters—like restricting the travel and activities of its citizens—enjoy similar protection. Surely, the Empire, so adamant that internal matters be above international reaction, would respect that, right? To do otherwise would be hypocritical.

The Empire, after all, is not entitled to the Republic’s trade, and unless you can show me the specific language in the Accords that says they are, then the Republic is entirely within their rights to withhold it when they feel the Empire’s actions warrant such a response. You know, in accordance with the shared framework that our leaders have developed.

And yet, the Empire claims that not getting our goods and money from us is an act of aggression. And they pressed that case in the CONCORD Inner Circle. To attempt to use the Inner Circle in that manner demonstrates a profound disrespect for the institution. CONCORD is meant to resolve disputes, not allow itself to be used as a bludgeon against the insecurities of the cluster’s second largest economy.

And then there’s Floseswin.

In fact, your claim that Sarum’s campaign of ground invasion on Floseswin IV was conducted in accordance with the CEMWPA is completely spurious. If that were the case, CONCORD’s Inner Circle would not have been arguing about exactly that question for over a year.

Inner Circle Starts Fourth Round of Peace Talks on New Protocols for Militia Warzone Planets and Orbitals

Yulai, Genesis – CONCORD’s Inner Circle has formally begun a fourth round of peace talks aimed at resolving the recent escalations in militia warzone fighting and occupations on planetary and other orbital bodies. The urgency of the talks is due to the ongoing conflict in the Amarr-Minmatar militia warzone, particularly the House Sarum invasion of the Minmatar colony world of Floseswin IV.

However, a number of recent incidents on militia warzone planets, moons and other orbital bodies have exposed shortcomings in the interstellar legal framework and conflict resolution protocols. A number of loopholes and gaps, that were until recently covered by mutual understandings and informal pacts, have been torn open by incidents such as the FDU’s pacification of riots by Caldari citizens in Iralaja system, Seykal Clan attacks on Huola VI, and notably the lengthy corporate warfare and asset removal operations carried out by Lai Dai Protection Services on Intaki V. The full-scale invasion and high-intensity warfare on Floseswin IV is the worst incident yet in terms of the level of interstellar conflict in the border zones and raised tensions between all the CONCORD powers.

Reports from Yulai suggest that the Inner Circle is establishing a framework that will provide time for a number of initiatives being promoted by the Gallente Federation and Caldari State to proceed while the CONCORD Assembly prepares draft protocols that may form the basis of addendums to the Yulai Convention and Accords, together with significant amendments to the Emergency Militia War Powers Act of YC110.

Note the context there: The Floseswin IV situation is cited in the 2nd paragraph as the worst incident among ‘a number of loopholes and gaps’ that have ‘exposed shortcomings in the interstellar legal framework’. That means, no, it is not in accordance with the CEMWPA, it’s just not explicitly in violation of it. It is, in fact, a gray area, where treaties drafted to regulate the activities of capsuleers in space are suddenly found to not cover whether or not the baseliner forces of a major national military invading a planet and enslaving the population is legal, or an act of war well beyond the scope of the Militia War Powers Act.

Which means, again, it is the Amarr who are not respecting the shared frameworks that our leaders have developed. Both through the invasion of Floseswin IV, and in their insistence that Republic economic sanctions are an act of aggression against the Empire.

Fortunately, CONCORD has, so far, refused to kowtow to Amarr’s attempts to undermine the international framework and the institutions built upon it. But really, anyone attempting to twist Yulai to that extent can hardly be said to be ‘fighting tirelessly’ to rebuild and uphold that framework, or those institutions.

@Amicia_Cora

Perhaps the importance of keeping one’s word once given is not a concept given much recognition within your tribal cultures.

You know, I admit, this one almost made me mad. But then I remembered that I’m dealing with the Amarr. It’s alright. I can forgive you your incapacity to understand just how extreme an insult you’ve tried to lob at me. It’s not your fault, after all. I just hope that some day, you’ll have a chance to recover from the Empire’s conditioning and the rampant stupidity in inflicts upon you.

[Jesoph_Swolin]

@Amicia_Cora

no would-be nation can sustain itself, or indeed build its identity, solely on its penchant for war.

We sustains ourselves on cherishing and protecting what we have. Not on destroying what we do not possess.

@Amicia_Cora

what shape would the nation you had built on the premise of war take once there was no war left to wage?

What nation will there be for the future generations to shape without the sacrifice of the generations of the present?

@Amicia_Cora

What sense of identity could sustain it when there was no longer any perceived enemy to obfuscate the burning question of who you are in yourselves, rather than whom you are solely in relation to said enemy?

The identity of our people, the identities of our tribes and the identities of our clans.

@Amicia_Cora

In such a scenario, you would be left with nothing but a void, and with no sense of meaning or identity, be left only with the option of devouring yourselves in a desperate attempt to perpetuate the conflict upon which you rely.

In such a scenario we would live out our lives in peace without outsiders to harrow us. That is the dream in any case. The reality is that the past is proof that we can never let our guard down.

@Amicia_Cora

I hope today and every other brings you one step closer towards embracing the just cause we all must come to serve.

This is not the time or the place to advertise your religion like an over-eager Jita salesman.

[Arrendis]

@Amicia_Cora

It had not been my intent to cause offense.

Then perhaps consider what it might mean to say that someone who has already told you their Clan defines themselves by their obligations that you don’t think they consider keeping their word to be important.

[Aldrith_Shutaq]

Alas, poor Amicia! She rather reminds me of myself not but a few years ago, her innocence slowly being whittled away by the signature Matari resolve to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

[Avio_Yaken]

So let me just say by no means am I now some well informed outsider that understands the Matari perfectly. I can’t ever make such a claim, but I took these Liberation games as a chance to learn more about Matari society. I gotta say that in my short time of trying to immerse myself in their culture and history, I’m leaving the borders of the Republic with some new found respect. Not to say that I didn’t respect the Minmatar before, just that now I’m just a bit more educated than I was previously

Representing the Thukkers I put 1,200 on the board. No doubt there were more hungry contestants out there that most likely shot up past this mark, but having found myself finding the Nomadic lifestyle of the Thukkers to be inspiring, felt right to some some respect for them by putting in overtime to put another 600 points up on the board alongside the 600 they expected out of me.

I was awarded access to some tattoos of their design for hitting that first 600 point milestone and I found myself interested in wearing them, but I’m aware of how such things are sacred and will refrain from doing so for now. I’d had hope by putting more points up I’ll be that much closer to properly earning them as an outsider. Though I’m thinking I prolly gotta find some other ways outside the Games to earn them.

Regardless, I’ve enjoyed these festivities and felt it was both an educational and even lucrative time. Hope to see Team Thukker take the win when all the points are tallied up

[Tyler_Rina]

Looking back, I see a lot of back-and-forth between the Empire and Republic. I hope my fellow Amarrians will forgive me for this slightly heretical statement, but the Republic has clearly shown that they don’t want His teachings. That is their choice. They have rejected God, and that’s fine. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. Besides, we have more pressing matters, Triglavians, Sansha’s, Blood Raiders, Drfters, etc.

[Elsebeth_Rhiannon]

@Tyler_Rina

That is their choice. They have rejected God, and that’s fine.

I believe that’s heresy in itself. Welcome to the side of freedom; we have cookies and tea.

[Tyler_Rina]

@Elsebeth_Rhiannon

I believe that’s heresy in itself

Not entirely, I’m not renouncing the Empire pr anything, I just hate the fact that my fellow Amarrians treated the Matari like cattle for centuries, and acted like the Matari shouldn’t of gotten ticked off.

Bit of a rant, sorry bout that.

@Elsebeth_Rhiannon

we have cookies and tea.

I’ll take a chocolate chip, and I prefer coffee over tea.

[Erwin_Kroner]

That must have taken days to work together. Even by sticking your neck out in low-sec or null-sec, earning points by the drop would have driven a lot of people crazy. And that’s not counting high-sec where every Games site degenerates into a rat race or pirate campsite.

[Avio_Yaken]

Spent must of my time out in Wildlands fittingly enough. Aside from the few encounters with Capsuleers trying to tear my ship asunder (With one encounter being successful) I found my time out there to be quite peaceful. It’s nice out there in the Wildlands, Sure maybe it could use a few more stations - But I realize that’s not the THukker’s style.

Kept wanting to see one of these great caravans for myself. Just had a hope every system i turned into I’d get a glimpse of one of them. Though maybe they’re just that damn good at keeping them hidden, for the best anyway. I can see why they won’t want some tourist like me to catch wind of their trail and start taking pictures to show everyone.

I find their way of life to be inspiring as it is impressive. They have to be incredibly resourceful to make a lifestyle among the stars as nomads in parts of space like this. Living off the… Well, Space for all their needs.

[Jennifer_Maxwell]

I find myself drawn more towards the Sebiestor. My life has had parallels with their culture. I grew up working in a factory from six, assisting the technicians and mechanics till I became a tech myself at eleven. I’ve spent all my life tinkering with machines and electronics, and even though I left that line of work in my teens I’ve still always had little side projects to work on to clear my mind, first of the cases I worked on, then of the politics I was embroiled with.

Likewise, I grew up in a harsh and inhospitable place, though the opposite from the Tribe. Instead of an arctic landscape, my is made up of irradiated desert, irradiated mountains, and slightly less irradiated scrublands.

It also helps that one of my best friends is a Sebiestor. She and I have been through a lot. Because of her, I tend to employ more Sebiestor than from any other tribe, should I have the option. In fact, I’m working on a project right now that has to do with expanding business into the Republic, providing jobs and opportunities for those who meet the criteria.

[Arrendis]

@Tyler_Rina

That is their choice. They have rejected God, and that’s fine.

According to your compatriots, the Scriptures say it’s very much not.

[Arsia_Elkin]

@Tyler_Rina

I just hate the fact that my fellow Amarrians treated the Matari like cattle for centuries, and acted like the Matari shouldn’t of gotten ticked off.

Keep thinking about that and renouncing the Empire becomes so much easier. You’ll feel better when you do it, trust me.

The more you think about what the Empire has done both recently and historically, the more obvious it becomes that the Empire is in the wrong in oh-so-many more ways than you could have imagined.

[Ferra_Orta]

Turns out giving a man freedom helps him understand it, apparently. Maybe not quite as fast as taking it from him, but it’s something. Shame it’s only taken 2000 years for a handful of capsuleers to start seeing it. Look at Floseswin, the Empire’s growing closer to the devil than to god.

Quit pussyfooting around, would be my advice to you…

[Octavech_Raholan]

I give my deepest salutes to the Matari and the tribes.
Minamatar are strong, proud people, even under the Amarrian oppression, they never gave up on their struggle.
I am of Amarrian heritage myself, a holder no less, but I know the evils of the empire and the sins they committed to your people.
That is why I shall fight for your cause til the day I die.

In the language of my own people, Minmatar Victor.

Octavech Raholan
Former Holder turned Freedom Fighter.
Proud Apostate and a Traitor.

[Io_Koval]

I eagerly await hearing which tribe was best-represented during festivities.