With Good Intentions
Day 764, 23:16
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Published in Japan 
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by
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by Sophia Forrester
Picture
headed in the wrong direction.
Over the past ten days since our President issued his ultimatum to the Phoenix alliance, much has been said, both for and against this plan. Citizens of Japan of impeccable loyalty and credibility have argued that President Dokomo's actions are noble, and other citizens of equal loyalty and credibility have called that the very same acts a vile betrayal. Both sides of this divide are convinced that they are correct. On both sides, many suspect the other side's partisans of impure motives. On both sides, there are doubtless some individuals for whom self-interest, and not honor, is the motivating factor of their position. However, the truth, both relieving and tragic, is that by and large, eJapanese on both sides of the question are doing what they believe to be best for eJapan. The ironic truth is that both sides proceed with the noblest intentions.
As a Representative in the Imperial Diet of Japan, elected to represent the island of Kyushu, I was called upon to vote on the President's plan to use the surrender of our island to the United States of America as a threat to back up our ultimatum. Along with the vast majority of the Kyushu delegation (four out of five Representatives), I voted against what I saw as a foolhardy provocation of powerful nations which had in the past been among our strongest allies on the battlefield. Yet, it was not to be. Aside from the four of us from Kyushu, only five more Representatives voted against, out of twenty-eight present for the vote. The proponents of the President's plan mean well -- yet I fear such a decision can only harm our nation in the long run.
In the end, why was the need so great to let the US through? China had been occupied for over a year. While its plight had been regrettable within that time, the nations of Phoenix had never threatened China's existing territory, nor was there any provocation of China by them. However, in the name of "defending China," we issued our ultimatum for Phoenix to give up these territories. How then could it be justified?
We were told that by holding our own island of Kyushu our actions would benefit Phoenix, so to balance the scales and maintain our neutrality we had to exert pressure on them. However, the aggressors in this conflict, from the start, were the United States of America and their EDEN allies. The USA and EDEN fight for China's liberation true -- but without their unprovoked crusade, East Asia would remain free of war. In the meantime, neutral nations like Australia and France are threatened. Germany, one of our closest historical allies in the New World, is directly threatened with annihilation by EDEN nations.
By giving up Kyushu, we have made it likely that the island will become the repeated staging ground for invasions. I maintained when Kyushu was loaned to Indonesia that it was the wrong choice. I maintain now that it should not have been loaned to America either. The liberation of an ally, even an ally as innocent of malice as the long-suffering China, does not justify preemptive assault. And although we only aided and abetted this assault, it does not clear us of blame. Without Japan to provoke the conflict, there might not now be another World War. At worst, any war would be far from our shores.
I can respect the intent of our President and his advisors, in seeking to aid liberation, even at no profit and even at significant risk. Yet, I question their judgment. Our path to the future, if it is to rest on stable ground, must be paved with something quite a bit more solid than good intentions.
😛A road paved with gold,
headed in the wrong direction.
Over the past ten days since our President issued his ultimatum to the Phoenix alliance, much has been said, both for and against this plan. Citizens of Japan of impeccable loyalty and credibility have argued that President Dokomo's actions are noble, and other citizens of equal loyalty and credibility have called that the very same acts a vile betrayal. Both sides of this divide are convinced that they are correct. On both sides, many suspect the other side's partisans of impure motives. On both sides, there are doubtless some individuals for whom self-interest, and not honor, is the motivating factor of their position. However, the truth, both relieving and tragic, is that by and large, eJapanese on both sides of the question are doing what they believe to be best for eJapan. The ironic truth is that both sides proceed with the noblest intentions.
As a Representative in the Imperial Diet of Japan, elected to represent the island of Kyushu, I was called upon to vote on the President's plan to use the surrender of our island to the United States of America as a threat to back up our ultimatum. Along with the vast majority of the Kyushu delegation (four out of five Representatives), I voted against what I saw as a foolhardy provocation of powerful nations which had in the past been among our strongest allies on the battlefield. Yet, it was not to be. Aside from the four of us from Kyushu, only five more Representatives voted against, out of twenty-eight present for the vote. The proponents of the President's plan mean well -- yet I fear such a decision can only harm our nation in the long run.
In the end, why was the need so great to let the US through? China had been occupied for over a year. While its plight had been regrettable within that time, the nations of Phoenix had never threatened China's existing territory, nor was there any provocation of China by them. However, in the name of "defending China," we issued our ultimatum for Phoenix to give up these territories. How then could it be justified?
We were told that by holding our own island of Kyushu our actions would benefit Phoenix, so to balance the scales and maintain our neutrality we had to exert pressure on them. However, the aggressors in this conflict, from the start, were the United States of America and their EDEN allies. The USA and EDEN fight for China's liberation true -- but without their unprovoked crusade, East Asia would remain free of war. In the meantime, neutral nations like Australia and France are threatened. Germany, one of our closest historical allies in the New World, is directly threatened with annihilation by EDEN nations.
By giving up Kyushu, we have made it likely that the island will become the repeated staging ground for invasions. I maintained when Kyushu was loaned to Indonesia that it was the wrong choice. I maintain now that it should not have been loaned to America either. The liberation of an ally, even an ally as innocent of malice as the long-suffering China, does not justify preemptive assault. And although we only aided and abetted this assault, it does not clear us of blame. Without Japan to provoke the conflict, there might not now be another World War. At worst, any war would be far from our shores.
I can respect the intent of our President and his advisors, in seeking to aid liberation, even at no profit and even at significant risk. Yet, I question their judgment. Our path to the future, if it is to rest on stable ground, must be paved with something quite a bit more solid than good intentions.
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All very true.
Whilst I am one of those with entrenched views against allowing passage through Kyushu (East to West or West to East).
I am still holding out the perhaps forlorn hope that eChina will be completly liberated, eAmerica will not attempt to garner payment through their aggresion/liberation by 'renting' a region and that President Dokomo will be vindicated.
Perhaps then we can heal the wounds that surrendering sovereign territory always has upon our nation.
An excellent article, and although I too am slightly biased (Against it), I too hope that the intentions were good from the start.
The fact remains that this action put Japan at risk, although this threat may not show itself for some time.
The liberation of China was a weak reason to go picking a fight, nothing more than an excuse to make war and (possibly) profit through holding a high-iron region. The fact that we sacrificed our neutral stance, and our sovereignty due to this propaganda upsets me still.
I, for one (speaking as someone unable to run), hope that you continue to serve in congress, and speak out against that which is wrong.
I think that if the goal is to grow japan that keeping a 1000 population no resource nation "neutral" isn't much. No one wants to invade japan we don't have anything worth having in a game sense.
When bigger nations need to navigate past us is the only time we are relevant. If we have an agenda to Asia then we have to make stands when we can. Otherwise we should just tell China we think it would be wonderful if they were liberated but we can't and won't do anything for them.
Excellent article, Sophia. You bring credit to the party (😃) and to all honest, hardworking citizens in our glorious nation. Cheers!
Hers and some of the insightful articles I've seen over the days (arguing for and against) are a credit to eJapan's independence of thoughts.
Disagreements are inevitable, what we choose to do about it will determine how this nation plays out.
"When bigger nations need to navigate past us is the only time we are relevant."
True, and I came to that unfortunate conclusion back in early July when the eIndonesians issued their ultimatum so they could use Kyushu to attack the eUSA. Wouldn't it be a nice change if eJapan bowed to no one, despite the low population and lack of resources? Since there is little we can do to affect overseas affairs, at the very least we should try to remain masters of our own domains. I believe that ideologies such as the Righteous Nation philosophy have more credibility when promoted outside the existing super-alliance continuum.
To add to Kita's point I think that it is imperative that if we don't wish to be "used" in the future in this bi polar argument that we don't let Kyuhshu go to ANYONE.
Picking and choosing is just as bad as handing it off to the highest bidder. It sets us up to have a history of simular actions that leads the foreign public to see Kyushu as something they can reasonably ask for whenever they want it.
We need to break that idea in their minds.
That is the only way this will stop.
Excellent article. While I think you give one side more respect than they deserve, it is nice to see you voted against the recent Kyushu debacle.
I always thought you were a respectable Congresswoman not swayed by the lies and deceit of the traitors, and I'm glad to see that is still the case. 🙂
It all comes down to fundamental disagreements on things such as definitions and justifications. I see your viewpoint, but I disagree. Though that's nothing new between the two of us.
Its not because eChina are held by Phoenix since 1 year and our old government fear phoenix that we have to stay still...
Our current president have the guts to defy the oppressive strong alliance that operate with inpunity in eAsia for so long, not like old administrations !
Looking into the future and imo it will not be so dark that lots of you against the "Kyushu retreat" think.
Merry Xmas btw 😉
It is unfortunate the Kyushu had to be used in such a way in order to allow the USA through. I know for a fact that negotiations had been going on for three months, with no headway between EDEN and Japan.
Then again, there were problems going on in Asia as it was, such as Turkey and Greece, Russia and China, India and Iran, and Hungary and everyone else.
It's sort of like a band-aid. Which do you prefer, slowly taking it off, with the pain a slight, but continuous ebb... or do you rip it off, feeling the sharp pain instantly, but it goes away quicker?
That was the situation here between EDEN and PHOENIX. Either they let things slowly deteriorate in Asia while they negotiate with Japan, or they piss off Japan and proceed into Asia as quickly as possible.
It all depends on what you think. I would have waited it out, though, if it meant doing this as painless for Japan as possible, neutral though they may be. But, then again, considering the circumstances, I doubt Japan would have ever agreed to it. It was either go big or go home, as they say.
By the way... could someone from Japan approve my citizenship? I want to get away from eUSA politics for a while, at least directly.
Here is the problem though Kita, if the Righteous Nation philosophy involves the liberation of oppressed regions then this "neutrality" you speak of can have absolutely zero morality in the argument. If you want to be the Swiss then you have to be 100% ok with people being slaughtered or occupied to your left or your right. That doesn't sound very Righteous Nation to me, but patently self serving.
I was under the impression that this righteous nation deal involved you know standing up for Asian occupation by foreign powers. All of these arguments you have basically say we think it sucks but we won't do anything.
You can think Japan is outside the bi-polar alliances but it is not. Kyushu is defended or conquered at the whims of both alliances not the Japanese. The ultimatum was a non-battle non aggressive request to vacate an occupied region. The only way the enforcement has any teeth is if one of the power alliances is the force.
If you are content in a world where you want to negotiate but the other guy doesn't, then I guess we are just pawns not in control of anything.
The inconvenience of Kyushu is worth the independence of China. Now if the eUSA occupies China we can give again leverage our territory to Peace Nations. That is our national resource, Grain is not.
"In the end, why was the need so great to let the US through? China had been occupied for over a year. While its plight had been regrettable within that time, the nations of Phoenix had never threatened China's existing territory, nor was there any provocation of China by them. However, in the name of "defending China," we issued our ultimatum for Phoenix to give up these territories. How then could it be justified?"
Because something has lasted for over a year doesn't justify imperialism. Slavery has existed for over a century and if we kept slavery, just because "it has always been that way", doesn't justify slavery as a good deed or a tolerant one.
Also because Phoenix does not "threaten" China's current territories doesn't justify its behavior of occupying China in the first place. China wishes to be whole again and has expressed that in the media and I believe Aliao personally stated she wished it that way also.
Although we may agree to disagree, I try my best to understand your views and respect your decisions you have made during your time and future time in congress, which essentially makes this a democracy.