Exile's Log, Day 481

Day 481, 09:25 • Published in Japan Japan • by Sophia Forrester

Today is the day that I have begun my self-imposed exile from the United States of America.

I have been thinking this over for several days now. Like many citizens of the United States, I saw no way out. We had declared war for no clear reason. At first I was proud to fight for my country. But the war aims kept changing, and all of a sudden we were fighting not in a friendly contest to gain experience for our troops, not to liberate Mexico from Polish influence, but to annex in its entirety a nation that had done us no wrong.

I still fought. I did not speak out. I saw no way out.

Our leaders overreached, of course. They somehow thought themselves invincible, untouchable. Because we had won in the beginning it was believed we could not fail.

Many reasons were given for this war. National strength, national unity, national pride...

In the end, I think it was indeed about pride, but not the pride of our country. The war was begun to bolster the pride of our leaders who thought they could do no wrong. And the people were fooled. Because we were winning, they voted for the man who had begun the disaster, in overwhelming numbers. Then when the tide inevitably turned, they called for his impeachment.

I continued to fight, to slow the enemy advance, because I feared for the security of my country. Because I did not think they would let the border stop their advance. And yet the border has not been crossed.

It was Angrr who showed me the way out. He offered me a chance to make up for my mistakes, and be part of a genuinely peaceful nation. I still feared for the country I was leaving... but I could not bear to remain when I saw the alternative.

The people of eAmerica were misled by a wily leader who pretended to patriotism while valuing nothing above his own pride. America, a nation valuing liberty and justice for all, had used the supposed defense of liberty to justify injustice. Decency may in time triumph in America. The countrymen I am leaving are decent folk. But they do not yet see a way out. They must each find their own, in their own time, be it the path I took or another.

Decency may in time triumph in eAmerica. When that day comes, I will breathe a sigh of relief that the country as a whole has found the way out which I sought.