Switzerland's National Army is Non-Political
Day 1,087, 07:40
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Published in Switzerland 
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by
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by Switzerland Armed Forces
Heroic Last Stands from Military History
The Last Stand of the Swiss Guard
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Rome was sacked by the troops of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Charles V in 1527. When the troops, mostly rabble and mercenaries, of the empire breached the city, they immediately ignored the orders of Charles and pretty much everyone else in command and made straight for Vatican Hill intent on pillaging the richest treasures in Christendom. They also had murder on their mind and Pope Clement VII was high on the list of targets.
The famous Swiss Guards, who used to do more than just stand around looking pretty for tourists, formed a fighting square on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica to face upwards of 20,000 bloodthirsty troops who were storming the city. Only 189 Guardsmen remained after the fighting to take the city, but these troops chose to make their stand in hopes of buying Clement time to escape the city through one of the warrens of tunnels under Rome.
Clement made good his escape as the Guard managed to hold the porch of the church and prevent the doors from falling, but only 42 Swiss Guards survived and none of them were uninjured. Again, this one scores a 5 out of 5 and proves that when the Swiss decide not to be neutral, they aren’t a bunch to take lightly.
Dateline : Thursday November 11 (Day 1087)
Location: Federal Palace, Bern, Switzerland
Reporter: Colonel George Armstrong "Old Man" Custer
Surfing for photos of Swiss soldiers, I came across the above quoted and linked post at some Forum I've never been to.. and likely won't visit again.. but it was a cool find and I thought it would be good to share it here.
This article is the second in a series, introducing the new Swiss Armed Forces and explaining some key points about it. Be sure to subscribe to this paper for the alert to new editions bringing you news and updates as well as the Daily Civilian Fight Orders.
I mentioned in yesterday's piece that there would be a "pre-Application survey" form available today, that will be delayed one day as I seek more experienced help developing it.
I understand RL sentiment being brought to eRepublik. We love our homelands, whether native or adopted, it's where we live and have our lives invested.. our RL countries matter to us, and it's only natural that we take some of that loyalty and dedication to a game we play.
But there is a difference-- if you don't know the difference between RL and an online game you've got serious problems which should really be addressed. If you can't recognize the differences between game mechanics and life mechanics, the general rules and guidelines by which game and life operate, you're going to fail at one or the other or both.
Here in this game... the war module is the driving force. I wish the game developers would develop some farming and transportation aspects to enhance trade and economic development, so we would be better able to pursue a non-violent e-life. But there is no place for a Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr here, this is a game for President George Washington and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
Yet the eSwiss people seem intent on maintaining political Neutrality, and so there must be a way to have its citizens advance in the game through battlefield experience without taking sides or making enemies. That's a nice fine line to tread if you can do it, and we admire our politicians and diplomats for trying. But as players of eRepublik we're not getting many Experience Points for working and training every day, we need to get in a few fights to advance. Finding a way to get us regular battles is the politicians' job, and if they choose to do it in a politically Neutral manner that's great but it sure doesn't excuse them from the responsibility of providing the game mechanic for player advancement to the citizens they represent.
Note: Understand the difference between the phrases Swiss National Army and Swiss Armed Forces.
A "national army" is a noun, a thing, an entity, which serves a country. The "Swiss Armed Forces" is a proper noun, the name of the specific organization which forms that national army which serves this country.
The main point of this article, as it is titled, is that this will be your permanent National Army.. to be made up of all interested and qualified Swiss citizens, to serve all of Switzerland.
This National Army does not serve one political faction or another, it will not be dissolved as there is a new President elected or there comes a change in the balance of power in Parliament. That practice is insane, immature, counterproductive to the point of crippling for the nation, and must stop if Switzerland is to be taken seriously be other nations.
This National Army serves the people of Switzerland-- all the people, no matter what their political affiliation.
This National Army does not have a political opinion, It does not care if Switzerland joins EDEN or Phoenix or declares Neutrality or loyalty to the friggin' Martians. It does not care if the political leadership of Switzerland MPPs with Poland or Spain, or with Serbia or Russia, or declares war on Montenegro or the USA.
This National Army only cares that there are daily battles available so the citizens of this country may advance in Experience Points by participating in the war module which is central to this game. Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will have the added benefits of job security, supplies, and camaraderie through additional social networking.
But wait... daily battles, while the politicians seek political Neutrality?
How this political Neutrality is accomplished is up to our political leaders to figure out. New nations Taiwan ROC and New Zealand are exploring exactly how to accomplish this, I'm sure our own political leaders are watching them and communicating with them as they develop our own political strategy. The US is officially Neutral, but is obviously EDEN-leaning-- but they're big and powerful and mostly self-sustaining so they can afford to call their own shots, and be as right or wrong as they want. How are the other new nations doing? What about Singapore, or Israel, or other tiny countries? How do they get by, how do their citizens manage with limited resources and small populations?
But the bottom line...? Not my job. Elect smart politicians, not popular clique friends.
There was a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, and the main topic was the forming of this National Army and how to assure its permanence through changes in Presidential Administration.
Tomorrow's article in this paper will explain much of what was discussed, and the actions being taken toward that end.
I also hope to present the Pre-Application Survey Form, as we are all anxious to get a real feel for the level of interest and potential strength of our little Army.
Please refer to yesterday's edition of this newspaper, [SAF Orders] - Day 1086 [Lower Saxony and Bremen, Germany] for general guidelines of How To Fight. We have one MPP, with Poland, and battles which are available to us appear on our player profile pages-- just look for the white-and-red Polish flag icon, choose the Polish side if there's a Resistance War.. I'll leave publishing a proper Department of Defence Orders Relay for Swiss civilian fighters edition of this Swiss Armed Forces News to my Co-Commander, Colonel Rowan Quigley.
When the Army is formed, its fight orders will be separate and private, classified and secure.
George Armstrong Custer
Colonel, Swiss National Army -|- Editor, the Swiss Armed Forces News
Captain, US Cavalry -|- Editor, the Cavalry Saber
Crabby, Opinionated Bastard -|- Editor, Custer's Stand
:::
The Last Stand of the Swiss Guard
Ctrl+Click to open this Forum thread entry in another Tab
Rome was sacked by the troops of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Charles V in 1527. When the troops, mostly rabble and mercenaries, of the empire breached the city, they immediately ignored the orders of Charles and pretty much everyone else in command and made straight for Vatican Hill intent on pillaging the richest treasures in Christendom. They also had murder on their mind and Pope Clement VII was high on the list of targets.
The famous Swiss Guards, who used to do more than just stand around looking pretty for tourists, formed a fighting square on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica to face upwards of 20,000 bloodthirsty troops who were storming the city. Only 189 Guardsmen remained after the fighting to take the city, but these troops chose to make their stand in hopes of buying Clement time to escape the city through one of the warrens of tunnels under Rome.
Clement made good his escape as the Guard managed to hold the porch of the church and prevent the doors from falling, but only 42 Swiss Guards survived and none of them were uninjured. Again, this one scores a 5 out of 5 and proves that when the Swiss decide not to be neutral, they aren’t a bunch to take lightly.
Dateline : Thursday November 11 (Day 1087)
Location: Federal Palace, Bern, Switzerland
Reporter: Colonel George Armstrong "Old Man" Custer
Surfing for photos of Swiss soldiers, I came across the above quoted and linked post at some Forum I've never been to.. and likely won't visit again.. but it was a cool find and I thought it would be good to share it here.
This article is the second in a series, introducing the new Swiss Armed Forces and explaining some key points about it. Be sure to subscribe to this paper for the alert to new editions bringing you news and updates as well as the Daily Civilian Fight Orders.
I mentioned in yesterday's piece that there would be a "pre-Application survey" form available today, that will be delayed one day as I seek more experienced help developing it.
I understand RL sentiment being brought to eRepublik. We love our homelands, whether native or adopted, it's where we live and have our lives invested.. our RL countries matter to us, and it's only natural that we take some of that loyalty and dedication to a game we play.
But there is a difference-- if you don't know the difference between RL and an online game you've got serious problems which should really be addressed. If you can't recognize the differences between game mechanics and life mechanics, the general rules and guidelines by which game and life operate, you're going to fail at one or the other or both.
Here in this game... the war module is the driving force. I wish the game developers would develop some farming and transportation aspects to enhance trade and economic development, so we would be better able to pursue a non-violent e-life. But there is no place for a Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr here, this is a game for President George Washington and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
Yet the eSwiss people seem intent on maintaining political Neutrality, and so there must be a way to have its citizens advance in the game through battlefield experience without taking sides or making enemies. That's a nice fine line to tread if you can do it, and we admire our politicians and diplomats for trying. But as players of eRepublik we're not getting many Experience Points for working and training every day, we need to get in a few fights to advance. Finding a way to get us regular battles is the politicians' job, and if they choose to do it in a politically Neutral manner that's great but it sure doesn't excuse them from the responsibility of providing the game mechanic for player advancement to the citizens they represent.
Note: Understand the difference between the phrases Swiss National Army and Swiss Armed Forces.
A "national army" is a noun, a thing, an entity, which serves a country. The "Swiss Armed Forces" is a proper noun, the name of the specific organization which forms that national army which serves this country.
The main point of this article, as it is titled, is that this will be your permanent National Army.. to be made up of all interested and qualified Swiss citizens, to serve all of Switzerland.
This National Army does not serve one political faction or another, it will not be dissolved as there is a new President elected or there comes a change in the balance of power in Parliament. That practice is insane, immature, counterproductive to the point of crippling for the nation, and must stop if Switzerland is to be taken seriously be other nations.
This National Army serves the people of Switzerland-- all the people, no matter what their political affiliation.
This National Army does not have a political opinion, It does not care if Switzerland joins EDEN or Phoenix or declares Neutrality or loyalty to the friggin' Martians. It does not care if the political leadership of Switzerland MPPs with Poland or Spain, or with Serbia or Russia, or declares war on Montenegro or the USA.
This National Army only cares that there are daily battles available so the citizens of this country may advance in Experience Points by participating in the war module which is central to this game. Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will have the added benefits of job security, supplies, and camaraderie through additional social networking.
But wait... daily battles, while the politicians seek political Neutrality?
How this political Neutrality is accomplished is up to our political leaders to figure out. New nations Taiwan ROC and New Zealand are exploring exactly how to accomplish this, I'm sure our own political leaders are watching them and communicating with them as they develop our own political strategy. The US is officially Neutral, but is obviously EDEN-leaning-- but they're big and powerful and mostly self-sustaining so they can afford to call their own shots, and be as right or wrong as they want. How are the other new nations doing? What about Singapore, or Israel, or other tiny countries? How do they get by, how do their citizens manage with limited resources and small populations?
But the bottom line...? Not my job. Elect smart politicians, not popular clique friends.
There was a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, and the main topic was the forming of this National Army and how to assure its permanence through changes in Presidential Administration.
Tomorrow's article in this paper will explain much of what was discussed, and the actions being taken toward that end.
I also hope to present the Pre-Application Survey Form, as we are all anxious to get a real feel for the level of interest and potential strength of our little Army.
Please refer to yesterday's edition of this newspaper, [SAF Orders] - Day 1086 [Lower Saxony and Bremen, Germany] for general guidelines of How To Fight. We have one MPP, with Poland, and battles which are available to us appear on our player profile pages-- just look for the white-and-red Polish flag icon, choose the Polish side if there's a Resistance War.. I'll leave publishing a proper Department of Defence Orders Relay for Swiss civilian fighters edition of this Swiss Armed Forces News to my Co-Commander, Colonel Rowan Quigley.
When the Army is formed, its fight orders will be separate and private, classified and secure.
George Armstrong CusterColonel, Swiss National Army -|- Editor, the Swiss Armed Forces News
Captain, US Cavalry -|- Editor, the Cavalry Saber
Crabby, Opinionated Bastard -|- Editor, Custer's Stand
:::
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Comments
This National Army only cares that there are daily battles available so the citizens of this country may advance in Experience Points by participating in the war module which is central to this game.
It's fantastic. Awsome article, simple and clear.
Where do I have to sing?
Voted of course.
This game is about war, so let's play this game. If people want to be neutral, then they should find a war to allow our citizen to fight. Why not creat their own TW ?
Neutrality WITH daily battles? Sign alliances with both EDEN and Phoenix. Who knows, maybe they will both agree. }🙂
That's an other solution. But a costly solution. 😁
On the other hand, neutrality can make you rich so you can afford it. Look at RL. }😃
Our IG economy is not as good as our RL economy. That's sad but it's like that. 😁
Let's just hope, then, that the admins will start doing something right for a change, and revamp the eEconomy module.
Until then, I wholeheartedly support apolitical army, but neutrality as well. True neutrality, ofc.
"This National Army only cares that there are daily battles available" thats wrong boy ONLY the National Council shall decide on alliances and so on, of holding training wars.
And what do you want here is an army that is not controlled by the Parliament. This is deppest middle age!
Thalia, you quoted a line then misinterpreted it and commented on your misinterpretation. I speak very plain and clearly, you will not find some other meaning in anything I say.
I did not say the Army would "decide on alliances and so on, of holding training wars." and I did not say that what I "want here is an army that is not controlled by the Parliament."
I have not yet addressed the aspects of decision making or control.
I do intend to discuss control, power, and decision making, in future articles in this series. I look forward to your more educated comments on my remarks after I actually make them.
Great idea, and nice article.
Good luck 🙂
Diese ganze gesülze ist ein Witz. Dieser Custor will hier EDEN Befehle ums verrecken umsetzen. Er spricht auch gross von Angriffsmöglichkeiten die dieser machthungrigen und absolut neutralitätsfremden Allianz helfen soll. Dabei geht er auch über leichen und ignoriert die tatsache das unsere Nachbarn nicht EDEN sind. Dieser EDEN Funktionär ist eine gefahr für unser Land!
@Cliffor😛 Stimmt!
Clifford, Ich rauche waffeln auch!
Our neutrality is a myth
Clifford Burns: "This whole Gesülze is a joke. This Custor will die here implement commands EDEN killed. He also talks of big possibilities of attack on this power-hungry and absolute neutrality strange alliance is. He is also about balance and ignores the fact that our neighbors are not EDEN. This official EDEN is a danger for our country!"
where do you get this stuff, Clifford? what part of "This National Army does not have a political opinion, It does not care if Switzerland joins EDEN or Phoenix or declares Neutrality or loyalty to the friggin' Martians" says that this Army has anything to do with EDEN? As for power.. the prospects of "commanding" a potential total of 20 to 30 untrained soldiers is hardly a power grab. Did you even read the article? No political alignment, that's what the whole piece was about today. I know it's hard for you and some others to absorb too much at once, that's why I'm presenting this in a series with just one topic being covered each day.
Custer:
Maybe you should try to make a very very small summary for them. As they're alergic to English, maybe it could help but I seriously doubt about it. 😁
jees.. as it is I'm breaking this into a daily series so we don't all go blind looking at it all at once or die of indigestion trying to take it all in.
anyone who's too lightweight to read and understand in order to form an educated opinion for or against anything probably isn't good leadership material, and I would think the voters would remember that come election time.
certainly that ability to process information and act with maturity will play in how soldiers advance to leadership positions.