Our nation's constitution
•
by Sophia Forrester
This morning at 5:30 am, eRep time, our nation adopted a new Constitution.
I was one of several to vote against. Along with others, I was concerned that the draft offered by Minister Mitsurugi was overly autocratic, that it could be exploited against the people by an unelected few. And yet, thrice again as many of the people's representatives chose to trust. They read the same words that I did, and chose to let this draft define our nation, for a nation defined even my imperfect words written by erring humans,.is preferable to a nation that is not defined at all.
I commend this majority. I commend their faith, and though I cannot retract my negative vote, I now choose to make that faith my own. I ask any and all eJapanese who may have had doubts to lend their support to our nation's Constitution. Through unity, we can build harmony, and through harmony, the true concerns of our hearts will be heard within the fabric of the living document that now constitutes eJapan.
Together, we step toward the future, and though the map be imperfect as anything scribed by human hands, let us guide our way into tomorrow. The sun will soon rise.
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Comments
I do not think that constitutions or rules can bring harmony or unity.
We need good spirit. If we have good spirit, we do not need constitution.
Sophia is one of the most gracious souls in this game. May she always carry the Emperor's Favor.
Well spoken Sophia. I too expressed my opposition to a couple of articles within the constitution but as the peoples representatives have spoken in favour I will now proceed to shut my mouth in order to promote unity within the citizenry.
If there are any other doubters I would ask them to join me in keeping their traps shut and if they still feel the same come Congress election day then they should stand on an anti constitution platform and see if the people support them but for now it's Emperor time! 😃
You are a bright hope in the future of the politics of eJapan, someone who can speak their mind, and yet remain civil and just at the same time.
Keep up the great work!
Sophia, I was one of the nay sayer at the first. I did also feel some section were overly autocratic, and it had possibility of being exploited against the people by an unelected few. However, I shifted my vote from no to yes, because after i had conversation with Reiji regarding the constitution on IRC, I got concession and promise from Reiji to add following line to the end of the constitution....
"There is, of course, no way to actually bind a citizen or government to the words of this document. It is up to each citizen and government's interpretation of this law to govern their actions, should they choose to recognize the law at all. Further, no matter what a government should agree upon, the only true supreme law of the land is the eRepublik.com citizen laws."
Thus even if this constitution is ratified, ultimate decision to either abide by the constitution or to go again, is left to each individual citizens to decide. Only those who wishes to follow the constitution (whether you are president, congressmen, citizen, business owner, soldiers, etcetera) needs to follow them, and those who does not wish to follow the constitution by no means are violating anything. Rather, due to the addition of that line into the very end of the Constitution, the constitution has because a guideline for those who want to follow them, and something you can chose to ignore if you chose to.
My hope is that it will be more than a guideline. Indeed, this is why I had fought for the oversight of the state by the people to be more fully realized in the text -- because our constitution's principles should not simply be "ignore it if you don't like it." Our Constitution should inspire inclusion and draw citizens to civic action within its framework.
I am encouraged that our constitution enjoys such broad support. I ask no one to "keep their traps shut" -- rather, I ask that we all try to see the good within the constitution, and work to ensure that it is realized. That is the promise of this document.
The wise Representative Forrester once again proves worthy of the descriptor I so long ago gave her. And I offer you my solemn vow that I will not let this nation be steered in the wrong direction. Everything that I have done, and everything that I will do, is with the good of the country in my heart. You never fail to show me that you do the same.
So basically as long as the game isn't coded for an emperor/king/dictator.........its just roleplay.
GRIN
Pretty much roleplay, although the Emperor in the new Constitution was conceived from the start as a cultural leader -- nothing like a dictator. The Western term is often confused with dictators, but the Eastern leaders we translate as "Emperor" have typically been more involved in spirituality and culture than as dictators. Yes, there have been Japanese Emperors who ruled as absolute monarchs -- but very few in the past 500 years. On the other hand, without exception, Japan's Emperor has been seen as the symbolic head of the nation and culture.
I know and trust that our Emperor is up to the task of leadership.