A change of heart: Cheaters in France

Day 402, 14:35 • Published in USA Canada • by Dillan Stone

First of all, I want to extend my personal congratulations to Mr. Joshua Tree, who was re-elected as Virginia's representative in Congress yesterday. I also want to thank those who supported me in my bid.


But it is with a heavy heart that I must report and comment on a piece of news from across the pond, which forces me to reconsider my position on the war in France.

The original article appears in the Atomic Times.

The executive summary is, however, quite simple: A person other than the French President has access to the French President's account, and has been using that access to manage the war on PEACE's behalf.

I have long been of two minds about the war in France, as my archives will show. I believe the French players, absent a really good reason, have the right to have an independent and sovereign nation - the elimination of a nation from the map reduces opportunities for new player enjoyment, and ultimately hurts the game for everyone. I am also personally, something of a Francophile - I speak fairly good French (albeit with a surfer-dude accent, I'm afraid), and the French contributions to America's birth cannot be overstated, American myth notwithstanding. Those issues aside, I oppose imperialism generally - and would oppose equally efforts to annex Mexico, Canada, the UK, or Russia, if those efforts were based on simple hubris, imperialistic desires, or just "for the lulz."


But when a nation engages in cheating, we must reconsider whether that nation has committed an offense worthy of being eradicated. I would understand this, if France was currently losing the war - when you have nothing to lose, cheating (while still wrong) can be understood.

But it is inexcusable in my mind, for France to cheat while it's ahead. The French government, and the people who elected that government, have forfeited their self-determination by these acts.

It is also clear that there is a big difference between Switzerland and Belgium. Switzerland was divided and conquered by larger powers, against its will, and the Swiss have sought independence ever since. Belgium could have had its independence from the UK at any time merely by asking, as its annexation was, in fact, a consensual merger with the UK.

I will still find it sad to see France wiped from the map, and will advocate caution and reason in this endeavor, but I cannot, in light of this cheating, continue to remain opposed to Operation French Toast.

And, this reversal makes me now glad that I lost the election - a reversal the day after being elected would be politically and morally questionable, given my platform. Not having been elected, I need not worry that I have somehow deceived or harmed my constituents.