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It’s no secret that I’m no fan of the Theocracy. I’ve mixed it up with them over the last six months, and I think I’ve given as good as I’ve gotten. In August and September, when they had taken power and were consolidating it, I was referring to them as “so-called Theocrats”, questioning their dedication to principles like honor and spirituality; in response, I had folks like Alix Acklin playing sophist games in the comments section, chants of “SLIA or GTFO”, and people calling their inventory things like “The So-Called Newspaper”. When I returned a few weeks ago, my criticism was watered down, and so was the trolling, but there was still enough animosity for me to push someone I still care very deeply about, Grainne Ni Mhaille, out of the moving car that is my friends list and for several Theocrats to do the same to me.

Today’s election is where the page is turned, folks. This is the official end of Theocratic rule of South Korea, the point where we create a society of our own making.

Everything that happened over the last six months, it’s going to be really easy to point at the Theocrats and say they did it. They may have, they may have not. There’s a lot we have to do to get this country back on a democratic track, a free-market track, a transparent track in which we work with our neighbors to create a stable and prosperous climate, and it’s going to be real easy to blame the Theocrats for the hole we’re going to be digging ourselves out of.

We can’t live in the past anymore. The Theocrats are gone. Aside from a few snide comments in the South Korean newspapers they subscribe to, you’re not going to see much of them anymore. Life goes on. After this election, anything that happens is on our watch. Finger-pointing will be an empty gesture.

Much of what I’ve written in the last several weeks in this paper had very little to do with the former masters of this country, but there’s no way I could eliminate them completely from the discussion. You couldn’t talk about post-Theocratic South Korea before it happens without mentioning the Theocrats. Some took that as criticism, I call it frank discussion. You can’t, for example, talk about how our currency just a few days ago was the weakest in the world, trading at 112 KRW’s per gold, and that somehow not translate into a discussion on Theocratic economic policy. That is not bagging on the Theocrats, that is simply presenting a fact and seeking ways to alleviate its effects. The KRW has rebounded in recent days, a good thing, but for long-term stability, it’s got to level off and become consistent at whatever value the market dictates. The Theocrats, because they still hold so much of our currency, are going to continue to affect this, realizing they can’t spend it in Spain, they will be selling it off, and if they do so rapidly, the price will fluctuate.

I consider that an honest discussion on our economic future, others will call it insulting Theocratic honor. If you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t, I’ve come to believe the only course of action to take is to be damned being yourself.

As we look to the future, I wish the Theocrats well in Spain. For the most part, I believe, despite the sarcasm and rants of a few key trolls, they want to see us succeed as well. In any respect, if you’re in Spain or heading for Spain, you have enough to worry about with PHOENIX. Don’t look back. Take up your rose and your spear and move on, proudly, without regret. Let us do the same. The longer we keep talking about how bad the Theocrats screwed us, and the Theocrats talk down to us like we’re children, neither group will really be able to move forward. Truly, if, at this point, you’ve committed yourself to staying in South Korea, then you have to think about this country and where it is headed, not where it’s been. Just as pertinent, if you’ve decided to move to Spain with the rest of the Theocracy, your focus needs to be at the task at hand, namely, rebuilding Theocratic infrastructure and fighting your enemies; constantly trolling the South Korean media is not becoming of a grand military culture.

There are several Theocrats who have assisted behind the scenes, but I want to thank one on particular, and that is Al Dente. While other Theocrats publicly laughed at us and even openly rooted for us to fail, Al has gone to the Forum, he’s been at our town-hall meetings, he’s trying to give something back in terms of advice. The community has welcomed him, and even though he will probably always see me as a whining babyass and I will probably always see him as an arrogant troll, I get what he’s trying to do, and I appreciate it, as do a lot of people here. We’re probably going to always be at each others’ throats, but that’s okay, so long as we’re moving the process forward. In this, I respect him, and whether he respects me personally or not, so long as he wishes this community well, and I think he does, he gets props in my book.

If you are staying in South Korea, celebrate your Congressional victories tonight, but tomorrow starts the very hard work, and without a net.

If you’re heading for Spain, SILENT LEGES INTER ARMA.

And if you’re on the outside looking in, stay tuned to this paper, I’m sure it’s not going to be dull around here.

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To become involved in the South Korean community, there are several ways to plug yourself in. One is to read this paper and to contribute to the new South Korean media, either by reading, voting, and subscribing for articles and newspapers which seek to bring the community together, or by offering your own thoughts in your own articles and pushing your own newspapers. Another is to connect with others in the community, either through the official South Korean Forum (http://www.esouthkorea.freeforums.org/index.php), or by chatting at the IRC channel (the best way there is to go to http://www.mibbit.com, click “Start Chatting”, fill in the information, and go: the server is Coldfront, the channel is #esouthkorea, and the username is your own great name). Hope to see you there!
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The Arjay Phoenician Show is a regular IRC talk show, Tuesdays at 3pm eRep time. The server is Rizon, the channel is #theapshow, and the host is wearing Spandex. It is an international show, discussing international themes, talking to people all around the world. Uncensored commentary, trivia, and the Wall of Scrawl. If you cannot be there in person, transcripts are available, courtesy of the World-Tribe (www.worldtribe.lefora.com). A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
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