The Rejected Times

[Tano]

Why don't you actually name names then? Who here said they are afraid of Todd?

Because they told me in private. I don't mind saying some people here are lying (and they aren't Tano), but I don't want to reveal them - they can reveal themselves if they want to stand up for their beliefs for once.

And is also offensive to regions like Balder and Osiris which, for all their faults, are just as open to all members.

Sure, agreed.

What a cop-out answer. You have not provided a shred of evidence for any of your claims. Please provide such so that we can accurately refute your arguments.

[Ramaeus]

-snip-

People can change their minds, Uni. Look at how quickly everyone started disliking you in TEP. Your behavior caused that. It also caused your words and opinions to be worth less in TEP than the German Mark after WWI.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

God, I generally don't involve myself with gameplay but you are some kind of stupid.

From what I'm told, the Defender Act hurt TEP more then helped it.

As for Todd... Todd is only intimidating to those who know nothing about this game.

Sometimes Uni you should just keep your trap shut '

~ Alexa

You choose your time to involve yourself poorly. *** Warned *** for flaming. Keeping one's 'trap shut' is advice a number of people might benefit from following, as a casual observation. Watch the tone here, folks. I get that GP tends to be more confrontational than other aspects of the game by nature, but that is no excuse when it comes to the rules, and keeping within their boundaries. Due notice given.

[Unibot III]

-snip-

People can change their minds, Uni.

That wouldn't change the fact that they went to me then for help and it wouldn't change the fact they said that then. They can hide their beliefs now or change them conveniently because "things are good now", but they have no right to call me a liar or impune my mental health because I was the one who stood up to the big, bad fox.

[Vaculatestar64]

lol his first post ever in gameplay and he gets warned.

[PrussianEmpire]

Sorry, addressing multiple posts below
[quote=Unibot]
Everyone, including Todd, forgets how scared most of its citizens are of Todd.[/quote]

It's not fear - its respect. Todd's put so much work into making TEP a better place that people take his opinion on things seriously. I can certainly tell you that I am not afraid of Todd.

At some point, whether it's three years from now or a decade, The East Pacific will have to deal with Todd McCloud. Osiris had to commit surgery on itself to remove The Empire, The North Pacific has painstakingly crucified Grosse, Lazarus combated Vik and her ilk, The South Pacific pried Hileville from its wounds and if you think Todd is immune to this kind of response, you're wrong. It will happen.

Lies. Todd shall never betray TCEP. If he was going to do so, he would have done it long ago. With the new influence rules, its going to be damn near impossible for him to coup the region and members such as AMOM, Loop, ASBS, Pack, and others would not tolerate it. TCEP shall thrive without any interruptions coming from Todd.

[A mean old man]

Speaking of AMOM...

Couldn't help but notice how much everything has changed during my absence. We're all such fast friends now. It really is refreshing to see that NS gameplay might be developing (or reverting) into something more than just highly articulate squabbling on the official forums.

[The North Polish Union]

Unibot, can I have some of whatever you're smoking? I've never seen anything that potent before...

[Vaculatestar64]

Sharing is caring Unibot.

[Funkadelia]

I really don't see the point in baiting with the whole "What are you on?" line. I don't subscribe to that form of middle school humor.

I'd rather this thread get back on topic. This week, the topic is the Lazarus Elections. I just wanted to thank Uni, McM, and Milograd for their coverage of these elections.

[Venico]

TEP is still a good example of what happens when you shove an ideology down a region's throat with smiles and promises of unicorns pooping rainbows.

[Unibot III]

It's not fear - its respect. Todd's put so much work into making TEP a better place that people take his opinion on things seriously. I can certainly tell you that I am not afraid of Todd.

Again, I was going on what I saw and what others saw. These others, have conveniently changed their tune - and I'd love it if they didn't come in here and joined the bandwagon of "Let's call Unibot stupid", just to gain brownie points.

I really don't see the point in baiting with the whole "What are you on?" line. I don't subscribe to that form of middle school humor.

I'd rather this thread get back on topic. This week, the topic is the Lazarus Elections. I just wanted to thank Uni, McM, and Milograd for their coverage of these elections.

Thank you.

[Solorni]

I just want to defend Balder here from what was said about it.

Uni: I've answered it in terms of, if I were a new player, what region would I enjoy the most and be able to settle down with? The top three have a political culture that is very much cut off from gameplay politics and kind of does its own thing, which brings with it a sense of who you are. I think The South Pacific does the best job at trying to realize that difficult concept of a true liberal democracy (with a fully functioning court system). New players, not experienced in their own right in Gameplay, have a hard time making their way in The North Pacific and Balder unless they fall under someone's wing politically.
Milo: Hmm. Well, my bottom is probably obvious. I regret that Balder has had to suffer NES as a delegate.

Balder is very open to newer players, we've even begun a civil service program and strive to include new members as much as possible. It's not always easy for newer members because I've strived to have a system that isn't overly politicized and dramatic. It's a very laid back region with many laid back members young and old. So I disagree wholeheartedly with this notion.

Even on an off day like today, Balder has over double the posts that TRR does. Newer members, Festungia, Rom & Brann have 40 posts today which is more than TRR has from -all- of it's members over the past 24 hours. So despite being exponentially more difficult to make their way in, Balder has done an exponentially better job at it than TRR. Guess we're just lucky.

Furthermore, when you look at the government of TRR... the youngest member listed in the executive joined the forums in 2012 and all the rest are older than that. In Balder, we have two members of the executive who joined the forums in 2013 & four in 2012. So the idea that Balder is less easy for newer players to advance in is bogus when you consider the turnover & the opportunities for members compared the old boys club in The Rejected Realms in which upward mobility for newer members is practically non-existent. Maybe this is due to the inactivity within the region.... not sure....

But this argument by Unibot is bogus. Go inactive regions go? Why not just say favourite (Defender or inactive) to least favourite?

---

Once again, another false argument. The argument that Balder has suffered under NES is patently false. Firstly, I'm amused by the fact that this is brought up by Milograd and supported by Unibot, two players who are not that welcome in Balder. Secondly, as Mcmasterdonia stated, Balder split the executive into two (a change that had long been argued), created the IRSA, had a drawn out and exciting 3 way election for the Statsminister position and has seen positive activity. Activity has been down at times, NES is busy with real life, I've been busy with some real life issues as well & members such as Mcmasterdonia have been busy in TNP. Despite this, Balder remains a stable region that produces consistent activity despite the fact that we do not have a very strong political culture (purposeful) & the fact that we have not had coups in recent history (Lazarus & Osiris).

---

McM: The Government changed from monarch based to a dual executive. This has required some getting used to. They also ratified the ISRA treaty with Osiris. Which has caused significant domestic issues.
Milo: Well, that was always intended to keep Osi where he wanted it, from what I've heard.
Uni: I've heard similar.

Very ironic hearing the two leaders of the -FRA- regions, criticizing Balder & Osiris for joining their militaries together. Osiris ratifying the ISRA treaty did not cause significant domestic issues. Political fights in Osiris happen every so often, they were not caused by the ISRA but by friction between individuals. Furthermore, the idea that the ISRA was intended to keep Osiris where NES wanted is patently false. Unless, by keep Osiris where he wanted Milograd means that NES wanted Osiris & Balder to benefit from more co-operation & integration and grow to be an even greater region. Then that would be correct.

The attacks on this are utterly bizarre coming from two people whose regions have joined military organizations that aren't solely for GCRs benefits. Sorry for not joining the defender empire?

---

Why are even discussing Unibot in TEP? His behaviour has been repeated everywhere he goes. Balder, TNP & TSP. His game has remained the same, only the people have changed. Unibot has seemed better in TRR thus far though... although who knows if or when he'll revert to his normal self.

[Unibot III]

Balder is very open to newer players, we've even begun a civil service program and strive to include new members as much as possible. It's not always easy for newer members because I've strived to have a system that isn't overly politicized and dramatic. It's a very laid back region with many laid back members young and old. So I disagree wholeheartedly with this notion.

Even on an off day like today, Balder has over double the posts that TRR does. Newer members, Festungia, Rom & Brann have 40 posts today which is more than TRR has from -all- of it's members over the past 24 hours. So despite being exponentially more difficult to make their way in, Balder has done an exponentially better job at it than TRR. Guess we're just lucky.

Furthermore, when you look at the government of TRR... the youngest member listed in the executive joined the forums in 2012 and all the rest are older than that. In Balder, we have two members of the executive who joined the forums in 2013 & four in 2012. So the idea that Balder is less easy for newer players to advance in is bogus when you consider the turnover & the opportunities for members compared the old boys club in The Rejected Realms in which upward mobility for newer members is practically non-existent. Maybe this is due to the inactivity within the region.... not sure....

You haven't disproven my statement, you've only proved (1) Balder has a lot of spam, (2) your executive has newer players.

I didn't say you couldn't find more spam or posts for that matter in TRR, nor did I say that newer players in general can advance easier in TRR. What I did say was it is harder in Balder (than in most GCRs, not just TRR) to advance without being under someone's wing in a political sense.

This is a claim which cannot be empirically tested with cute little stats, it's a qualitative claim. Balder's executive is almost exclusively filled with partisans from the imperialist-independentist sphere. Being a lone gun who doesn't flow with the rest of the pack is incredibly difficult in Balder - the last case I remember of that was LR, who was essentially kicked out the backdoor.

[Errum]

I really don't see the point in baiting with the whole "What are you on?" line. I don't subscribe to that form of middle school humor.

I'd rather this thread get back on topic. This week, the topic is the Lazarus Elections. I just wanted to thank Uni, McM, and Milograd for their coverage of these elections.

Bah, sorry Funk. Got a little carried away there

[Solorni]

Balder is very open to newer players, we've even begun a civil service program and strive to include new members as much as possible. It's not always easy for newer members because I've strived to have a system that isn't overly politicized and dramatic. It's a very laid back region with many laid back members young and old. So I disagree wholeheartedly with this notion.

Even on an off day like today, Balder has over double the posts that TRR does. Newer members, Festungia, Rom & Brann have 40 posts today which is more than TRR has from -all- of it's members over the past 24 hours. So despite being exponentially more difficult to make their way in, Balder has done an exponentially better job at it than TRR. Guess we're just lucky.

Furthermore, when you look at the government of TRR... the youngest member listed in the executive joined the forums in 2012 and all the rest are older than that. In Balder, we have two members of the executive who joined the forums in 2013 & four in 2012. So the idea that Balder is less easy for newer players to advance in is bogus when you consider the turnover & the opportunities for members compared the old boys club in The Rejected Realms in which upward mobility for newer members is practically non-existent. Maybe this is due to the inactivity within the region.... not sure....

You haven't disproven my statement, you've only proved (1) Balder has a lot of spam, (2) your executive has newer players.

I didn't say you couldn't find more spam or posts for that matter in TRR, nor did I say that newer players in general can advance easier in TRR. What I did say was it is harder in Balder (than in most GCRs, not just TRR) to advance without being under someone's wing in a political sense.

This is a claim which cannot be empirically tested with cute little stats, it's a qualitative claim. Balder's executive is almost exclusively filled with partisans from the imperialist-independentist sphere. Being a lone gun who doesn't flow with the rest of the pack is incredibly difficult in Balder - the last case I remember of that was LR, who was essentially kicked out the backdoor.

Firstly, most of Balder isn't spam. The general discussion portion of Balder is the largest while the spam section, which is a subforum within the general discussion portion, has 23,754 posts. Furthermore, Balder's government would appear to be more active than TRRs as well.

Delegates Office in TRR - 201 posts
Delegates Office in Balder - 1,595 posts

Furthermore, our executive offices not including the delegacy have 4,182 posts. Admittedly, our legislature only has 3,158 posts however, that is better than TRRs in terms of per year. The idea that Balder is a spam kingdom because we value community over politics is patently absurd.

Balder does not have partisans, Balder has citizens dedicated to her region. We are not filled to the brim with extremists as we have seen with Lazarus. Members such as 346, Mcmasterdonia, Fuzzy and Zander can hardly be considered partisans from the imperialist-independent sphere. These were members who did not arrive as established players at the time, but rather developed as major players nearly exclusively in Balder. Members such as Zander & Fuzzy would later go on to join regions such as Albion.

Furthermore, we've seen even more citizens in the previous cabinets who are more well-rounded players such as Aerie Rosewater, Mr. Riket (who would later go on to join Albion) and LR. Furthermore, LR was not kicked out of any backdoor. He's been an important member of Balder and to my recollection did not have the activity in Balder due to real life (he's in the same busy sport I used to be in!).

So we aren't that partisan, at least compared to regions such as TRR & Lazarus which openly state to be defender. Perhaps if TRR was as open and accepting as Balder, it'd also have a greater amount of activity and interest?

I'd rather this thread get back on topic. This week, the topic is the Lazarus Elections. I just wanted to thank Uni, McM, and Milograd for their coverage of these elections.

Well, personally, my home regions honour was randomly attacked by two players whom home regions this week happen to be TRR & Lazarus. While I am impressed that 6 members are running, it is not an interesting election because nearly all the candidates happen to defender extremists who are cookie cut from the same dough. On top of that, candidates such as Feux were part of the inactivity problem in Lazarus and part of the issue that Lazarus had delegates who treated Lazarus as a second or third or fourth home. Feux for example, left with his WA so quickly when he could become a Pacific Senator.

It always amuses me when you guys blame the Imperialists for the inactivity in Lazarus prior to the coups. I mean, what happened to the supposed natives, did their hands fall off or something?

The truth is that no one who had time treated Lazarus like their first home. It was a region full of people who treated it as a secondary home, a stepping stone or something to do when they had exhausted most of their other options. Regions like Lazarus gave the GCRs a bad name for being inactive placeholders. So, I mean, it's cute to see it's members all blame imperialists and spout this brainwashed sort of propaganda but it's a bit sad as well.

It's not like things have even changed all that much Kazmr might become the first Delegate in Lazarus in ages not to move on to bigger and better. Feux; Pacific Senator. Harmoneia; UDL for a while. Milograd; FRA AC. Say what you want about Balder, but at least our delegates have been people who have dedicated themselves to the region in recent memory. It's no wonder Lazarenes hate Balder. We don't need to pretend our region is our home.

[Durkadurkiranistan III]

the last case I remember of that was LR, who was essentially kicked out the backdoor.

Link me up.

[McMasterdonia]

Well this escalated quickly.

I personally disagree with Unibot's assessment of how inviting these other regions are to new people. I mean the statistics just don't add up where that is concerned. TNP was rated towards the end of his rankings. We had 78 accounts register last month, with an average of four per day and 8 registered on the 17th of May. This shows that we're getting a huge amount of new people onto our forum - even taking a look at our membership lists for the Regional Assembly you can see how many new people have signed up. This is excluding other areas such as in the executive staff and the military.

With Balder, the government is focused on community building. Simply because Balder is not constantly in the the throws of debates, drama and bitter politics does not mean the region has any less value than the next. Many people come to Balder because it doesn't have that drama that some people feel is necessary to survive. Balder is a cohesive and strong community, culture has always been the regions strongest point for forum activity. Spam, general discussion, roleplay, satire and trollplay (a term coined by Fuzzy) all contribute to that strength of community and the high levels of activity.

The recent changes to the executive did take some adjusting to. NES was a supporter of this change, but even he had to make some adjustments as you're essentially going from a system where the monarch had a lot of power - to one where there power is more limited and the Statsminister is responsible for most of the day to day executive government.

I admit I was somewhat surprised that Balder was brought up in that interview.

---

Finally, I would like to thank those who enjoyed our coverage of the elections in Lazarus. I wish them all the best of luck and I look forward to working with them in the future.

[Nierr]

Will there be an episode on the riveting TNP judicial elections?

[The Spirit]

Will there be an episode on the riveting TNP judicial elections?

No need. You called dibs

-Tim

[Unibot III]

Simply because Balder is not constantly in the the throws of debates, drama and bitter politics does not mean the region has any less value than the next.

Nowhere in my statement did I say drama and bitter politics was a good thing in terms of my ranking: my top 3 regions have a lot less drama and bitter politics, in my opinion, then the bottom four - really excluding TWP, who I put at the bottom for other reasons.

It's that drama and "bitter politics" which makes it difficult to foray into those political lands alone as a straight-shooter. You've misinterpreted what I'm saying as "TNP and Balder don't get new people", that's not what I'm saying and you won't be able to find a statistic that counters what I'm saying because it is a qualitative claim about Balder and TNP's political culture.

Finally, I would like to thank those who enjoyed our coverage of the elections in Lazarus. I wish them all the best of luck and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Yep it was fun!

[Kogvuron]

We are not filled to the brim with extremists as we have seen with Lazarus.

Sorry, remind me who's delegate it was that wanted to keep the option open to attack other Sinkers?

So we aren't that partisan, at least compared to regions such as TRR & Lazarus which openly state to be defender. Perhaps if TRR was as open and accepting as Balder, it'd also have a greater amount of activity and interest?

I'm still waiting for a response on why my citizenship application was denied... I guess I am a defender extremist too!

It's no wonder Lazarenes hate Balder. We don't need to pretend our region is our home.

I mean, hate is a very strong word for an online game. But I'm sure it doesn't exactly help our view of Balder when its delegate-to-be makes statements like this.

[Milograd]

I mean, it's not like he authored a major law reform that has provided Balder with more electoral activity and more political interest. It's not like he spearheaded a treaty with Osiris that has created a new, joint military force which has already increased military activity for both regions despite only being in effect for a little over a month. It's not like the regular delivery of foreign updates has resumed during his tenure. It's not like the Balder forum overall has 9,500+ more posts than, for example, The Rejected Realms forum, despite the latter existing seven years longer than the former.

If that's all that he has to show for over one hundred days in the throne, then that more or less makes my point. I mean,

1. Resuming foreign updates is great, but it doesn't save you from being a snoozefest: updates aren't what you do, what you write about in the updates is what you do. The fact that you had to use updates as an example of an accomplishment is baffling.

2.TRR vs. Balder has nothing whatsoever to do with NES, and that "evidence" of NES not being a shoddy delegate is more telling of how little he has to show for. The overall post comparison between Balder and TRR doesn't relate to NES' reign on the throne. TRR wasn't very active until 2011, and it's come a long way since then, enjoying regular activity now. Similarly, NES' delegacy certainly isn't responsible for the total amount of posts on Balder's forum, since many of them came under previous delegates.

There isn't anything concrete or related to NES in that fact. It seems like you're just fishing.

3. What electoral activity and political interest? What has really changed?

4. ISRA's success is clearly something in dispute, but I'll concede that a merge can be interesting.

Osiris still can project her power on her own, as can Balder, but we can do it more effectively together.

Despite the TBR stuffing, I can accept that Osiris has some power to project. But Balder's military has always been a paper tiger, and here it's just been sold out for a juxtaposition of political reasons. Balder's military has been non-existent for ages, and ISRA only makes it slightly harder to see how the struggles in the regional military are neglected in favor of policies of unregretful opportunism.

IRSA might as well merge with the UIAF to make it honest. Cerebella and Consular were supposed to be running the show, and on top of the obvious personnel similarities it's acknowledged that ISRA was, in practice, a UIAF side-project.

Cormac personally has been rather unhelpful in this area, whose anti UIAF rhetoric has made my position untenable despite my willingness to contribute. Why alienating members of an organisation that has done nothing but help Osiris is a good idea, I do not know. Absolutely nobody can deny UIAF is successful, and we were hoping to build that same success here.

UIAF likes to build, and this is the NS equivalent of Empire-building.

The difference of course is that this initiative is succeeding, despite some bumps in initial implementation which are being easily ironed out. But the underlying principle, that more can be accomplished in cooperation with allies, is the same, so I would think you of all people would understand and support that.

How has ISRA been successful in practice? And how in Kanye West do these failures in command constitute any positive momentum for the supposed goal of enhancing the sovereignty of the involved regions? Hmm?

It looks to me like the birth of IRSA is rooted in the fact that it was known Balder couldn't support its own military, and that merging the armies was intended to make both of them appear bulkier than they actually could be in practice. And, evidently, we wound up with the typical UIAF crowd running the entire thing.

[Milograd]

we have not had coups in recent history (Lazarus & Osiris).

Lazarus has not had a coup since JAL.

The PRL was created by the constitutional government of Lazarus at its time, through a democratic vote by the Emerald Council. It was popularly approved and is only a coup as far as players like you pretend it was. The same players who pretend that Feux unilaterally banned NES and Vik, without first seeking the approval -- and gaining the necessary support-- of the Council.

We are not filled to the brim with extremists as we have seen with Lazarus.

Filled to the brim? Excluding your misconceptions and lack of knowledge about our population, I'll presume you're saying that almost everyone is an extremist, as that is what the term means

So, is DYP an extremist? Is Fantome an extremist? Is Bodobol an extremist? Is Hobbes an extremist?

How are you even defining extremist? Why would you even choose that word? Are you trying to make it sound like we're Al-Qaeda or something?

I mean, what happened to the supposed natives, did their hands fall off or something?

They were discouraged by the inactivity upheld by the likes of a delegate who logged in once a month, and when the Emerald Council wanted to make a change for the best, they found themselves being threatened with a coup by the high-influence old fart.

It always amuses me when you guys blame the Imperialists for the inactivity in Lazarus prior to the coups.

The truth is that no one who had time treated Lazarus like their first home. It was a region full of people who treated it as a secondary home, a stepping stone or something to do when they had exhausted most of their other options. Regions like Lazarus gave the GCRs a bad name for being inactive placeholders.

Where do you think King NES prioritized Lazarus compared to his other regions? Would he place it above Europeia, The New Inquisition, The Land of Kings and Emperors, or GB&I? I don't think so.

Interesting that you don't mention Griff, who regularly, and happily, let her nation go a month or so without logging in while serving as Kaisseren of the New Inquisition. Lazarus would've done a lot better if she gave even a fraction of the dedication to Lazarus that she did to TNI during the longest reign in our region's history. The culture of neglect in Lazarus was forwarded by many who sought to take advantage of it, and, evidently, it didn't really change until the PRL, which now enjoys a large population of players who put it first.

And Lazarus never gave the GCR's a bad name. The people who didn't treat it well did poorly by it. That sort of comment certainly has something to do with why we don't hold players like you in high regard.

You talk about Lazarus being a stepping stone, and yet my main nation has resided here for over a year now, my WA is regularly active in the regional army, and my posting activity is no less significant than it was during my delegacy. I log in to Lazarus first every day and, if you ask anyone, am more active in its affairs than any other region by far. It is my first region, and it is a primary region to others as well, such as DYP, Fantome, Earth and Freedom, Stu, Bodo, Llamas, Kazmr, Harm, Hobbes, and so on.

It's not like things have even changed all that much Kazmr might become the first Delegate in Lazarus in ages not to move on to bigger and better. Feux; Pacific Senator. Harmoneia; UDL for a while. Milograd; FRA AC.

Are you seriously suggesting that Harmoneia used Lazarus -- a region which she has been in from back when its delegate had ten endorsements -- as a stepping stone for power in the UDL? Pass me whatever you're smoking, because that must be that dank ass shit.

I may be FRA AC, but I am FRA AC as a Lazarene and have been no less active in Lazarus since then. Nice try.

Say what you want about Balder, but at least our delegates have been people who have dedicated themselves to the region in recent memory. It's no wonder Lazarenes hate Balder. We don't need to pretend our region is our home.

Cerebella, former King of Balder, was recently crowned Kaiser of The New Inquisition, all while being the King of Albion and a commanding presence in the United Imperial Armed Forces. Surely you aren't suggesting that that sort of scenario differs from the ones you just (inaccurately) criticized Lazarenes for?

And NES' recent history on NS is certainly one without stepping stones, aye.

What on Earth are you talking about?

---

We only have an issue with Balder because of its contribution to the misinformation campaign and slander against our region. Your own, personal diplomatic participation during that event was pointedly disrespectful, and it should be no surprise to you of all people that we hold your conduct against you and, by extension, the region that you served as Queen of at the time of the event. Relations between Lazarus and Balder cannot, and will not, improve until something greater than an insincere apology is provided to our community.

[Guy]

I find myself having to do some fact-checking. I have numbered statements for convenience--

(1) Furthermore, our executive offices not including the delegacy have 4,182 posts. Admittedly, our legislature only has 3,158 posts however, that is better than TRRs in terms of per year.

(2) So we aren't that partisan, at least compared to regions such as TRR & Lazarus which openly state to be defender. Perhaps if TRR was as open and accepting as Balder, it'd also have a greater amount of activity and interest?

(1) I don't believe it is. TRR's Assembly only goes back to January 2011, which is only a few months older than Balder.

(2) That is a rather unsubstantiated statement. Our designation as 'defender' is merely a reflection of the current Executive. The TRR government does not directly support defending endeavours. Whamabama, someone who is hardly an "extremist defender", was the second-longest serving TRR Delegate after Kandarin.

We have multiple invaders as our citizens. As I'm sure you would understand, seeing that the imperialist sphere considers itself at war with us, and has invaded us before (something that you, at the time, called "truly beautiful" if I recall correctly) we do not accept them as citizens. We were quite hesitant even to do that.