Thoughts for these days

Day 2,437, 10:13 Published in Poland USA by MaryamQ

Dear eRepublikans,

When I first started playing eRepulik in October 2009, I was intrigued by the suggestion that we could create a new world. When I moved to eBelgium the following April, I began to feel a real hope that it could be done. I met a wonderful group of young citizens there, people who were warm and open and curious about the world, and who accepted me, an older woman from a foreign country, whole-heartedly. Players like Aldous Zamiatin, Reaussou, Sammy Tanghe, stonix, Helviro, and many more taught me innumerable game lessons, and incidentally, some about RL.


Prior logo of Res Belgica

It was these citizens, many of whom are now eDead, who encouraged and inspired me to explore the game beyond two-clicking and to meet citizens of various RL and in-game nationalities, some of whom have become friends I hope to keep long after the game is gone. At this point in my eLife, my community no longer has national boundaries, but is centered on Unity, a truly international MU, and on a circle of friends and eFamily that gathers on IRC, but I never would have made it to this point without that initial acceptance in Res Belgica.

I consider myself pretty well educated and open minded, but many of these people have broadened my viewpoint and have given me hope that the real world could be made just a little bit better by people in this game world. At times that hope has been dimmed by those who bring RL enmities into the game or who think it is fun to lie, cheat, steal and harass others, but ultimately, they are not the majority of those I encounter every day.

It is through the filter provided by this game experience that I have watched recent world events. I see Central American children swarming to the US border, literally fleeing for their lives, and I think of the Latino players I have encountered, some with young children of their own. I watch the horrors of the fighting in Gaza and think of the various Jewish and Muslim players I have encountered in game, playing amicably with one another. I watch the tragedy of MH17 play out, and when I see the broken-hearted Dutch citizens talk of their lost families, I think of my Dutch friends, and the grief becomes just a little bit more my own.



Friends, as you go about playing the game today, no matter how you choose to play it, take a moment to reflect on the blessings of this world-wide community. We are all in this together, and together we can make a difference in the world. Never forget that!




Salaam/shalom/peace!