Equity concerns in the battle for liberation

Day 2,133, 10:38 • Published in Australia Australia • by Lord TJ
"GETTING THAT 'IN THE MIDDLE' FEELING: Equity concerns in the battle for liberation"
By Mick Gatto

While residing in that special place where former partisan jocks take comfort from the front lines (i.e. the nation's judicial system) I still monitor external matters of public importance. Part of which is keeping a watchful eye on my bank balance in the game, noting with some grumbles how the e-dollar isn't stretching the way it used to.



The casual observer will make note of the recent competitions causing the usual temporary inflation of product value. Taking into account temp. recharge ceilings until end of today (Day 2,133) courtesy of the Epic Warfare tournament.

The ardent observer will take a more in-depth look into the factors due our occupation, including the calls of some in the private military community and the odd elected official directing citizens to allied territories in the interim, to allow allied battles the ongoing attention of state (not to mention less pressure on citizen finances with daily moving costs).



What I will note in addition to these relevant issues is the behind-the-scenes look at what makes for good allies and good neighbours. In this TWO era we are flanked by a former enemy, now a friend in eNew Zealand, also a TWO member. The aspects of border mechanics make this a fruitful partnership, especially given the year-long hostilities we have endured from the South American nations of eChile and now ePeru.

For the relevance to hold, it is crucial to mention the obvious desire of both government's executives to take every advantage of this partnership due to the additional wave come in from eEurope - in the form of the eRepublic of Macedonia - known as FYROM. (Note: In game, it is what it is. I wish not to be drawn into an argument over distinctions of names).

In recent communications and to their credit, TWO headquarters have issued pleas to free - and I quote - "Oceania". Geographically, that means us (eAustralia) and eNew Zealand. Both as described above are under enemy threat.

Before I go on, I would like to outline some history.



eNew Zealand was once a mutual acquaintance of the former alliance known as ONE - the predecessor to the bulk of the modern TWO. It must be noted that while eNZ's status was not absolute with ONE, it was to all extents part of the same fabric of support. eSerbia being the link between the former and the current in terms of bilateral partnership. The other significant nation of ONE and TWO renown is the eUnited Kingdom, a nation which eAustralia now shares some of its closest military ties.

Today, a lot of the more negative history seems to have been washed for the sake of progress.

In the battles of the past few days, eAus and eNZ have been under the thumb of an oppressive force. That nation is FYROM. Along with eIndonesia (whom I won't mention to keep with relevance), the Macedonian state is the odd one out in this new, modern arrangement. Previously in-pact with eUK and eNZ, it is now on opposite sides with former friends.



Summarising up to this point. Former enemies are now friends .. and former friends and now enemies. The term 'friend' must be kept in the only context that matters to us here in the game: if you're on opposite sides in battle there is only one classification to be given. What happens in private message between chums is an irrelevant concern to the function of the game.

Expanding on what was a briefly noted point earlier are the recent machinations to support eNew Zealand's plight in the current circumstances. While it would undiplomatic to suggest to the contrary, not to mention somewhat hypocritical to the above paragraph, it does draw attention to what effect this has to our campaign.



There are exceptions to the allied and non-allied conventions. These are far from new and will go on as long as the game exists. Although, in my previous foreign policy work, one must be realistic. Relationships for the sake of relationships without any tangible benefit is futile - not to mention unnecessarily costly.

While maintaining my new seat of independence, I find myself in need to query the sense in what it means to be an ally of another nation and a member of a global alliance in the blocs formed for such purpose. Particularly, when some nations are notably receiving the cream, consistently, ahead of others in the same, dire need.



It can't be denied that since aligning with TWO, our country has taken on a rather distinct flavour indifferent to our past. Such is the way of things! I wonder, though, does that flavour include being between old friends? Are we an inconvenient wall such as preventing the eUnited Kingdom and eNew Zealand from feeling the brotherhood of yesteryear?

I am fully prepared to be my myself in this experience, though judging by the ready arms drawn to support eNew Zealand's troubles, bringing closer examination of the term "Oceania" in who might be the true beneficiary of such ready assistance, it does offer food for thought.

eHungary's troubles of the course of the past two months have brought some distraction. eAustralia has been loyal on the battlefield, as we have been to eThailand and ePoland. We have also been in receipt of an amount of TWO support in the recent New South Wales RW to become a nation 'on the map' again. My thanks be to those who fought. I am not ungrateful.

But I plea to bare with me, as one cannot shake so many experiences from former eras. The most prominent are the relationships we had with EDEN, great in early times yet not so much when priorities changed in eEurope. Same with CoT, had we only joined 12 months prior when it was originally offered. More recently, same with our own instigation, NaN, until eSouth Africa's struggle against eBrazil drew the attention of our then-leaders ahead of us here at home.



Given all that eAustralia has been through, surely I can be forgiven for not being blind to a most obvious pattern in our historical allied reliance? We have been loyally fighting, without complaint by and large, yet it seems to be all so difficult to receive the same attention judging by our rather awkward rate of success when compared to other TWO nations.

I make no formal comment as to whether it is for better or for worse - we have elected officials in the political arena who are better placed to make those judgements.

As a humble eAustralian citizen, asking only from a point of wanting to see our success as a nation, I ask as a matter of courtesy..


eUK, eNZ .. and Australia (right)

I take it you will, at some stage, let us know if eAustralia's existence and continued friendship impedes on your Brotime?

Cheers all o/
Mick


Currently: Inspector General of eAustralia (aka judge/law officer)
Previously: 2x Deputy Prime Minister (dCP), 4x MoFA, 3x Deputy MoFA, 1x Cabinet Member (Information), 1x CP Advisor, 2x Director Foreign Service, 11x Senator, 4x Speaker of the Senate, 2x Deputy Speaker of the Senate.