Burkes tend to possess a libertarian outlook influenced by a multicultural ethos that is of Nordic, French, and Native American origin. However, Burkes are like the Icelanders in that they place a premium on independence and self-sufficiency. Over 95% of Burkes reportedly value independence as "very important". In addition, Burkish culture places great value on personal quests for honor and glory, leading many to travel and take part in missions abroad. Thousands of Burkes currently serve with foreign militias such as the YPG in Syria, and humanitarian service movements such as the Free Burma Rangers in Myanmar. While the Burkes generally oppose interventionist policies, they are proud that thousands of their own volunteer to fight for human rights all over the globe. Because of this individualist empowerment, most Burkes are capable warriors in their own right. Older generations often pass down training in martial arts, marksmanship, trauma care, etc. to their descendants, and the public education system mandates gun safety and first aid courses.
However, it would be inaccurate to think of Burkes as war-mongering brutes obsessed with fighting and warfare; glory and honor mean something different to them. It can be gained from any worthy challenge, regardless of whether one succeeds or fails. It does not matter if a child places last in a middle school spelling bee, or if a renowned war hero defeats a hundred enemies with his bare hands, as long as they fought to overcome their challenges with all their strength, then honor is gained. The only times failure is looked down upon is when one does not fight with honor and with all their strength; laziness, dishonesty, cheating, and cowardice are reviled among Burkes, and can lead to social isolation until one proves themselves worthy again.
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:43 am
by The Empire of Occitania
These Burkes are definitely not berks by the sounds of it then. They seem like fantastic and self-possessed people, and I like that. In fact, their values as mentioned in the second paragraph sound somewhat similar to the important Occitan concept of paratge. Speaking of which... Whilst Occitania venerates competitive spirits, individualism, and liberty as core national values, the core values of the Occitan people are perhaps best described by the concept of paratge. The components of paratge are: honour, civility, tolerance, right living, balance, courtesy, excellence, grace and nobility of soul.
Honour: The worth or status of individuals or communities according to the degree to which their lives reflect the norms that they hold in great significance and value. For the people of Occitania, this often means the degree to which they adhere to the other principles of paratge. Civility: Civilised conduct. Politeness towards others even when in disagreement. Tolerance: Essentially, freedom from bigotry. To have a permissive and fair attitude toward others whose opinions, practices, race, religion, gender, or nationality differ from one's own. Right Living: Doing what is right because it is consistent with a higher set of values (such as paratge), rather than shunning what is right for immediate advantage, or simply because you can get away with it. Balance: A state of equilibrium. The avoidance of excess. A condition of being in harmony with the universe. Courtesy: Gentle politeness and courtly manners. Excellence: The pursuit of a talent, skill, or quality that so surpasses the ordinary as to set a standard to which people can aspire. Grace: Elegance or beauty of form, movement or manner. The charm and courtliness of the Occitan people is an expression of grace. Nobility of Soul: The refusal to yield to the forces of chaos or evil, and to defend cherished virtues even when facing overwhelming odds. The Finnish concept of sisu is very similar to this.
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:13 am
by The Burke Islands
Paratge is a cool set of values, and an interesting concept from a lore-building perspective. I think the world would be so much better if everyone strove to embody the values of the Occitan people.
Burkes are stereotyped as a cynical, distrustful lot. But their distrust of foreigners is more directed at foreign governments rather than foreign individuals themselves. They tend to assume the worst of non-Burkish leaders, but have a particularly strong distaste for monarchies and empires. This distrust of foreign government stems from a long history of subjugation and oppression. It was only a few years ago that the North Hess Isles were finally liberated from foreign rule. A few generations before that, the Burke Islands endured over twenty years of brutal oppression at the hands of Arstassigon, who betrayed the Burke Islands during the Second World War and invaded, razing Fontaine City in the process. A century ago, the Empire of Great Hekktorium ruled for over eighty years before the honorable Emperor Vulcan saō Ðardanexia XIX of Syagros (AquilaJordyn) released the Burkes out of sympathy. And a century before that, the British Empire had ruled with an iron fist. The Burke Islands as it exists today has endured over 170 years of foreign rule; almost two-thirds of its entire existence has been under the pawn of imperial monarchies. The scars of oppression are still fresh for the Burkes, and their memories and grudges are long.
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:44 am
by Champagne Socialist Sharifistan
The Burke Islands wrote:Paratge is a cool set of values, and an interesting concept from a lore-building perspective. I think the world would be so much better if everyone strove to embody the values of the Occitan people.
Burkes are stereotyped as a cynical, distrustful lot. But their distrust of foreigners is more directed at foreign governments rather than foreign individuals themselves. They tend to assume the worst of non-Burkish leaders, but have a particularly strong distaste for monarchies and empires. This distrust of foreign government stems from a long history of subjugation and oppression. It was only a few years ago that the North Hess Isles were finally liberated from foreign rule. A few generations before that, the Burke Islands endured over twenty years of brutal oppression at the hands of Arstassigon, who betrayed the Burke Islands during the Second World War and invaded, razing Fontaine City in the process. A century ago, the Empire of Great Hekktorium ruled for over eighty years before the honorable Emperor Vulcan saō Ðardanexia XIX of Syagros (AquilaJordyn) released the Burkes out of sympathy. And a century before that, the British Empire had ruled with an iron fist. The Burke Islands as it exists today has endured over 170 years of foreign rule; almost two-thirds of its entire existence has been under the pawn of imperial monarchies. The scars of oppression are still fresh for the Burkes, and their memories and grudges are long.
Understandable.
In Sharifistan members of the Army can only be arrested by members of the Gendarmerie and members of the Air Cavalry can only be arrested by the Air Cavalry Police. This means that soldiers are more likely to get away with breaking some laws(such as mandatory teetotalism) as members of these organisations don’t want to arrest their comrades.
The Burke Islands wrote:Paratge is a cool set of values, and an interesting concept from a lore-building perspective. I think the world would be so much better if everyone strove to embody the values of the Occitan people.
Burkes are stereotyped as a cynical, distrustful lot. But their distrust of foreigners is more directed at foreign governments rather than foreign individuals themselves. They tend to assume the worst of non-Burkish leaders, but have a particularly strong distaste for monarchies and empires. This distrust of foreign government stems from a long history of subjugation and oppression. It was only a few years ago that the North Hess Isles were finally liberated from foreign rule. A few generations before that, the Burke Islands endured over twenty years of brutal oppression at the hands of Arstassigon, who betrayed the Burke Islands during the Second World War and invaded, razing Fontaine City in the process. A century ago, the Empire of Great Hekktorium ruled for over eighty years before the honorable Emperor Vulcan saō Ðardanexia XIX of Syagros (AquilaJordyn) released the Burkes out of sympathy. And a century before that, the British Empire had ruled with an iron fist. The Burke Islands as it exists today has endured over 170 years of foreign rule; almost two-thirds of its entire existence has been under the pawn of imperial monarchies. The scars of oppression are still fresh for the Burkes, and their memories and grudges are long.
Understandable.
In Sharifistan members of the Army can only be arrested by members of the Gendarmerie and members of the Air Cavalry can only be arrested by the Air Cavalry Police. This means that soldiers are more likely to get away with breaking some laws(such as mandatory teetotalism) as members of these organisations don’t want to arrest their comrades.
Wouldn't that obstruct justice?
Nacrad has conscription, but its peacetime military is only 1% of its citizens. The factbook is outdated.
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 9:56 am
by Ostsee Empire
Responding up to Burke because the two above responses were utterly terrible
The Burke Islands: I could say a somewhat similar attitude is prevalent in North Germany. We don't really like non-Germans -the governments of all countries outside of the German Confederation and to a lesser degree the European Border are seen with absolute distrust, and the foreigners living in North Germany tend to have a poor social life if they don't "Germanize"- but our hatred is really more for Republics than for Monarchies. Of course, approximately half of the German Confederation itself is also republican which often makes things awkward.
Champagne Socialist Sharifistan: The lack of an independent body for military judicial affairs is embarrassing imo.
Nacrad: That's somewhat true for most countries with conscription. The "standing army" is what is counted, not the conscription. We... are somewhat the same; given North Germany Also has a active conscription (which means you're in active service, and viable to get deployed in between 18-25. Despite being religiously-created in origin as a Christian Crusader State and despite its arguable interaction with Jews throughout its history as a secularized state, Terra Mariana has one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe with a population of 1.5 million. While its population is, by the virtue of the sheer size of those nations, by no means as large as that of Poland or Germany (respectively 6,500,000 and 4,000,000), compared to its total population of 11.675 million, it is staggering. This is in part due to the fact that the Baltic region was, after Poland, the most popular spot for Jews in Europe (and Russia) that were fleeing from a Pogrom. The most staggering loss of life for the Jews in Terra Mariana was during our world's Second World War, which resulted in the death of at least 100,000 Jews during the period Terra Mariana was under Russian occupation (Of course the occupation resulted in the death of 35% of the country's population and wasn't really targeting Jews in particular)
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 11:52 am
by Catsfern
well as long as they're not being oppressed good for them. I hope their communities are thriving.
The legislative branch of Catsfern is divided into two houses The Common House and The Specialized House. The Common House is responsible for making legislation that effects the every day lives of Catsfernian citizens; taxation policy, work standards, safety regulations, criminal justice, civil rights issues, and building codes are all sorts of issues that would be debated in The Common House. The specialized House is responsible for making policies that effect Catsfern as a political entity; issues debated in The Specialized house include tariff rates, weather or not to go to war, immigration policy, and visa policy. The legislative branch also does not actually create laws, rater they debate an issue in one of the two houses and as the issue is debated draft several possible policies to adopt. These possible policies are then sent to the President who then chooses one to make into actual law. If the president does not find a policy that is acceptable to be made into law the issue goes back to the house for future debate.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:51 am
by Ostsee Empire
/bump
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:57 am
by Silver Commonwealth
Opinion:Huh, so The Specialized House probably deals with a narrower set of issues. However, the fact, that the president can just straight up reject some of the proposals and send them back has its own loopholes, especially if they reject it based on political sympathies, and perhaps president's powers should be reduced a bit.
Ministry of Education
Fact time!
''SC's relationship with freemasonry is fairly complicated - Before the reformist period, there was a general anti-mason stance, and conspiracy theories perpetuated by Father America resulted in many of the lodges in western hemisphere being destroyed or closed by Intelligence services, but sometimes - by angry mob. Britain and Australia didn't have it easier either after the Commonwealth's conquest of them. However, in more recent times, SC has developed some sort of cooperation with some of the lodges, as reformist period saw some of the anti-masonic laws and bills repealed by the reformists. The most notable case is Liberia's lodge - a group influential in True Whig party, which was the ruling party of Liberia before most of Africa became a part of the disputed zone after Great Nuke War, and Three Superstate treaty, which was a disaster for any form of organized government in the region for decades to come. There was also a wave of increasing tension between Congau people (Descendants of the settlers, which led most of the country's major sectors, and ruled as a small, yet powerful minority) and the indigenous people. Although the Disputed Zone's war severely damaged the lodge as well, and its temple in Monrovia was razed as collateral damage by missiles from both superstates, the lodge managed to held out for the decades of warfare, and started rebuilding almost immediately after the other two superstates collapsed, and SC retreated from Disputed Zone - for a while. It is rumored, that when the SC started the Scramble for the World, the lodge managed to propose terms which satisfied both sides, and it is probably the reason, why the SC's beachhead at Liberian coast faced relatively little resistance. Either way, SC's South Africa and Megastates have invested a lot of resources and money in process of rebuilding Liberia and Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast is one of the bigger regions created by SC in Africa after its victory, Liberia serves as its core, because the capital of the region is located there), resulting in Ivory Coast's army being one of the most effective and modern military forces in Africa north from the Congo-Angola line (During Disputed Zone's warfare, it was the border between SC's frontier in Africa and the lawlessness further north), along with one of the fastest industrialization speed in the continent. Monrovia is also one of the fastest growing cities of SC's Africa.''
''However, there is an another important group in the SC's Ivory Coast - the Poro secret society. From all of the societies, it is the most important in rural regions, as the entire native population is governed by its laws, and it has its own rituals, language, tattoos, and other customs, yet little is known about them, even by the lodge itself, due of their secrecy. The Order of Ivory Coast (Liberia's lodge was renamed after it gained the status as governor of the SC's Africa's Ivory Coast region) rules in the urban and large cities, with new temples being opened in them. The various colonialist descendant and indigenous Grandmasters and other members of lodge take orders from the Main Grandmaster of the Republic in Monrovia, while Poro governs the rural areas with mask of secrecy (At first the doors were closed to indigenous members, but after the Scramble for the World, the restriction was eased, in order for new members to influx). In fact, one of the many mottos Ivory Coast has is the concept ''Ifa mo'', which means "Do not speak it", which is a reference towards the predisposition of secrecy in religion of the region (SC's regions can have more than a single motto''). Those two groups usually both have to fight off the various anti-SC's revolutionaries in the area, and Pan-Africanist wing agitators. However, unconfirmed SCPS reports imply, that socialistic, and Pan-African ideas are growing within the secret society itself, and that relations between the lodge and poro have been strained for a long time - even when looking back at SCPS reports from 2030s, a remark from one of the intelligence chiefs has noted, that ''there are two groups which have a big control at the region, and seem to be shifting between alliances and rivalries''.(Deeefinitely not inspired by the Liberia's lore in Kaiserreich.''
Opinion:Huh, so The Specialized House probably deals with a narrower set of issues. However, the fact, that the president can just straight up reject some of the proposals and send them back has its own loopholes, especially if they reject it based on political sympathies, and perhaps president's powers should be reduced a bit.
Ministry of Education
Fact time!
''SC's relationship with freemasonry is fairly complicated - Before the reformist period, there was a general anti-mason stance, and conspiracy theories perpetuated by Father America resulted in many of the lodges in western hemisphere being destroyed or closed by Intelligence services, but sometimes - by angry mob. Britain and Australia didn't have it easier either after the Commonwealth's conquest of them. However, in more recent times, SC has developed some sort of cooperation with some of the lodges, as reformist period saw some of the anti-masonic laws and bills repealed by the reformists. The most notable case is Liberia's lodge - a group influential in True Whig party, which was the ruling party of Liberia before most of Africa became a part of the disputed zone after Great Nuke War, and Three Superstate treaty, which was a disaster for any form of organized government in the region for decades to come. There was also a wave of increasing tension between Congau people (Descendants of the settlers, which led most of the country's major sectors, and ruled as a small, yet powerful minority) and the indigenous people. Although the Disputed Zone's war severely damaged the lodge as well, and its temple in Monrovia was razed as collateral damage by missiles from both superstates, the lodge managed to held out for the decades of warfare, and started rebuilding almost immediately after the other two superstates collapsed, and SC retreated from Disputed Zone - for a while. It is rumored, that when the SC started the Scramble for the World, the lodge managed to propose terms which satisfied both sides, and it is probably the reason, why the SC's beachhead at Liberian coast faced relatively little resistance. Either way, SC's South Africa and Megastates have invested a lot of resources and money in process of rebuilding Liberia and Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast is one of the bigger regions created by SC in Africa after its victory, Liberia serves as its core, because the capital of the region is located there), resulting in Ivory Coast's army being one of the most effective and modern military forces in Africa north from the Congo-Angola line (During Disputed Zone's warfare, it was the border between SC's frontier in Africa and the lawlessness further north), along with one of the fastest industrialization speed in the continent. Monrovia is also one of the fastest growing cities of SC's Africa.''
''However, there is an another important group in the SC's Ivory Coast - the Poro secret society. From all of the societies, it is the most important in rural regions, as the entire native population is governed by its laws, and it has its own rituals, language, tattoos, and other customs, yet little is known about them, even by the lodge itself, due of their secrecy. The Order of Ivory Coast (Liberia's lodge was renamed after it gained the status as governor of the SC's Africa's Ivory Coast region) rules in the urban and large cities, with new temples being opened in them. The various colonialist descendant and indigenous Grandmasters and other members of lodge take orders from the Main Grandmaster of the Republic in Monrovia, while Poro governs the rural areas with mask of secrecy (At first the doors were closed to indigenous members, but after the Scramble for the World, the restriction was eased, in order for new members to influx). In fact, one of the many mottos Ivory Coast has is the concept ''Ifa mo'', which means "Do not speak it", which is a reference towards the predisposition of secrecy in religion of the region (SC's regions can have more than a single motto''). Those two groups usually both have to fight off the various anti-SC's revolutionaries in the area, and Pan-Africanist wing agitators. However, unconfirmed SCPS reports imply, that socialistic, and Pan-African ideas are growing within the secret society itself, and that relations between the lodge and poro have been strained for a long time - even when looking back at SCPS reports from 2030s, a remark from one of the intelligence chiefs has noted, that ''there are two groups which have a big control at the region, and seem to be shifting between alliances and rivalries''.(Deeefinitely not inspired by the Liberia's lore in Kaiserreich.''
I would have thought they suppressed masonry for the same reasons Mussolini cracked down on organised crime.
Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash are both very popular in Saranidia. Marty Robbins is especially popular in tribal areas whilst Johnny Cash is most popular in New Sirte
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 3:03 pm
by Britannia Maior
Though I have no idea who Marty Robbins is, I am pleased to know that Johnny Cash is appreciated. Though he’s an American and I’m not generally a fan of country music I’ve always liked Cash’s tracks. Good tastes.
Britannia Maior is the most ethnically, linguistically, culturally and religiously diverse country on the planet. It encompasses the territory of the RL British Empire at its height and more, leading to its current situation as the country with both the largest Christian and Hindu populations in the world and one of the largest Muslim populations. Due to its sheer diversity, Britannia needs to be inclusive and tolerant, so much so that mutual respect of background and belief is a core British value. However, the empire’s education focus in its Muslim provinces has led to the explosion in rates of atheism amongst the population, which has agitated religious leaders and strongly religious communities in the provinces.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:43 pm
by Palmyrion
Melting pots exploding? What a normal day. "Chupa" used to be a Palmyrian unit of measure for capacity (most especially for rice).
Now it's Palmyrian for "blowjob".
(OOC: Palmyrian is essentially identical to the RL Filipino language.)
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:13 am
by Godular
Gives a whole new meaning behind chupacabra.
Kal’Shazzar is often seen wielding a can topped by an eagle with its wings outspread. This cane, while innocuous in appearance, happens to possess immense combat potential. Thanks to a supply of nanomachines and quantum-entangled particles that are connected to a dedicated offsite generator, Kal’shazzar’s cane can form into most any kind of weapon (anti-capital weaponry included). This includes a personal replication array that can spawn fully functional Kython reinforcements or even the more esoteric Godulan weapons, such as Mourning Glory.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 2:39 am
by Ostsee Empire
I'd want to ask why Kal-Shazzar would even need such a weapon, cool and advanced as it is.
Despite being religiously-created in origin as a Christian Crusader State and despite its arguable interaction with Jews throughout its history as a secularized state, Terra Mariana has one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe with a population of 1.5 million. While its population is, by the virtue of the sheer size of those nations, by no means as large as that of Poland or Germany (respectively 6,500,000 and 4,000,000), compared to its total population of 11.675 million, it is staggering. This is in part due to the fact that the Baltic region was, after Poland, the most popular spot for Jews in Europe (and Russia) that were fleeing from a Pogrom. The most staggering loss of life for the Jews in Terra Mariana was during our world's Second World War, which resulted in the death of at least 100,000 Jews during the period Terra Mariana was under Russian occupation (Of course the occupation resulted in the death of 35% of the country's population and wasn't really targeting Jews in particular)
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:27 am
by Champagne Socialist Sharifistan
Ostsee Empire wrote:I'd want to ask why Kal-Shazzar would even need such a weapon, cool and advanced as it is.
Despite being religiously-created in origin as a Christian Crusader State and despite its arguable interaction with Jews throughout its history as a secularized state, Terra Mariana has one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe with a population of 1.5 million. While its population is, by the virtue of the sheer size of those nations, by no means as large as that of Poland or Germany (respectively 6,500,000 and 4,000,000), compared to its total population of 11.675 million, it is staggering. This is in part due to the fact that the Baltic region was, after Poland, the most popular spot for Jews in Europe (and Russia) that were fleeing from a Pogrom. The most staggering loss of life for the Jews in Terra Mariana was during our world's Second World War, which resulted in the death of at least 100,000 Jews during the period Terra Mariana was under Russian occupation (Of course the occupation resulted in the death of 35% of the country's population and wasn't really targeting Jews in particular)
Don’t like secularism But are glad they are tolerant.
The Ottomans are revered here.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:45 am
by Britannia Maior
The opposite is true in Britannia Maior. The Ottoman Empire is reviled and Turkey has unfortunately inherited the Turkophobia that became common throughout the Balkans and Middle East following our First Great War.
The Greater British Empire has great ambitions for the Moon and Mars. It plans to send another manned mission to the Moon in the next 5 years, establish a base on the Moon in 10 and land Britons on Mars in 15 years. However funding has recently been diverted to focus on issues closer to home, namely education, infrastructure and modernisation in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:55 am
by Ostsee Empire
That's awesome. We have seven satellites in space (2 military, 4 civilian, 1 private) but we lack a base on the moon, instead sharing the European Space Association's base (which also has crew from Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and France) The current space-related project administered by the Baltic government is deploying a fully operational space station. The Station's first phase, currently named König-Gustavsraumstation (King Gustav's Space Station) is expected to be launched in February 2020 (the next month). We have prepared it to have a crew of three scientists and 2 technicians, but we also hope to attach further structures to the station in the next phases; including docking ports, experiment bays, shuttle manufacturing, and (eventually) orbital weaponry. The final phase of the station -provided it works- is to make it mobile, rather than stationary and orbital.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:10 pm
by Borgevia
Weaponising space is a horrible concept if it's done in the name of a nation-state actor and not a collective human effort. However, the fact your nation still wish to push the current limits of humanity is admirable. Santiago is the most popular tourist destination during the Lunar New Year season in the West, it's also the largest CNY festival in Latin America and the Western world due to its population. Visitors would come to check out replicas of historical buildings that is essentially the size of a small city whose buildings represent half a dozen Eastern cultures, partake in region-wide performances, shows, public banquets, military parades, and celebrating historical events that happened on Lunar New Year in Borgovia. One example being the detente between the People's Republic of China and Borgovia during the Cold War, a pact of cooperation economically and culturally was signed between the People's Republic of China, Socialist Republic of Cambodia, Socialist Republic of Laos, and the signatories of Borgovia, France, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia on Lunar New Year. 5 years after that detente pact was signed between the 3 communist countries and their former allies who sided with the USA during the Cold War, the PRC opened relations with the Republic of Taiwan despite still recognising it as their territory, also on Lunar New Year.
However, the most popular but also most recent addition to Borgovia's take on Lunar New Year is the "Pokemon Parade" originally meant as a light humour to Emperor Akihito. The President at the time thought he might need a more casual approach as '...forced formality appeared too stressful for him [Akihito]'. He had to delay his visit to Borgovia a few days and finally arrived on Lunar New Year in 2006. The President of Borgovia and Mayor of Santiago thought it'd be a nice gesture to have a Houndoom Parade as part of the celebration since he'll be arriving on the Year of the Dog. Akihito enjoyed that 'spontaneous welcome' and it became a thing every year where a Pokemon resembling the zodiac animal of the year became a theme on the Pokemon Parade. In 2008 and 2020, it was a Pikachu Parade. It also became a thing in Japan despite not really celebrating Lunar New Year. It's due to Akihito's wholesome smile and laughter at seeing his "spontaneous welcome".
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:56 am
by Palmyrion
A cute piece of culture and history. I see that your Nation is a nation of culture.
The LGBT community in Palmyrion has been largely accepted from the dawn of the Palmyrian nation, starting with gender crossing males taking up the role of babaylans, who religious leaders which were traditionally female.
The significance of the babaylan continued to the Thalassocratic era, in addition to "homosexual men" - known today in Palmyrion as "bakla" - gaining prominent roles in government; it also helped that Palmyrion's then dominant religion, Marshism, fully accepted LGBT in its clergy and adherents, and even held gay marriage rights.
What really set back LGBT acceptance was the Spanish colonisation that demonised babaylans and actively hunted down gays and lesbians, with the Spanish setting up sodomy laws; this continued all the way to the British colonial regime, and much less so into the independence of Palmyrion.
From 1820 up to 1935, Palmyrion's LGBT community rose again into prominence, even as the Catholic and Anglican churches remained dominant. However, the reemergence of Marshism - Palmyrion's oldest organised religion - challenged the predominantly Christian mindset; in a militaristic but increasingly socially progressive society, Marshists, especially among them gays who flocked to the Marshist faith due to rejection from the Catholic and Anglican churches, quickly gained prominence by becoming battle-renowned junior and senior military officers, primarily in the 1820-1935 campaigns of the Long War (100 BCE - 2000 CE), and the Mokan War of Independence (1839-1842), perhaps vastly more so than their Christian or Muslim counterparts. Same sex marriage was legal, but such unions were not recognised by the state.
The Dark Era (1929-1984) would undo all of this as the Fascist Tripartition and the Stalinist regimes resorted to criminalising the LGBT community and actively hunting them down; this slaughter ended on 1984 with the victory of the Commonwealth Counter-Revolutionary Front, with anti-LGBT laws struck down on 1985. The most recent victory for the Palmyrian LGBT community was a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that discrimination of basic necessities - goods, assets and services - on the bases of race, gender, sexual orientation, and political creed was unconstitutional, rendering moot the "religious freedom" propositions then being debated, followed by another ruling saying that the State should legally recognise same sex marriages, which will avail of the same Rights and Privileges and be subject to the same Responsibilities and Duties as stipulated in the Family Code 1990 (subsequently amended to allow same sex marital unions).
This was met with violent backlash however, as a Christian falangist group committed Palmyrion's deadliest terror attack so far: 1,287 killed (including the former monarch of Palmyrion) and 9,295 wounded in a terror attack at the 2019 Pride March at the Commonwealth Square.
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 2:35 pm
by Britannia Maior
The mistreatment and injustice endured by the non-heterosexual population at the hands of the Abrahamist, colonialist and totalitarian forces is something to lament and be ashamed over. I strongly sympathise with the LGBT+ community and am truly saddened to see discrimination and hatred against them continue to this day. The horrific attack upon Palmyrion’s people by the Falangists is impossible to truly imagine, and my heart goes to all those who lost loved ones in the catastrophe. I hope the Falangists get what’s coming to them if they’re not already dealt with.
Due to the vastly different populations of the Greater British Empire, the federal government is constantly required to compromise with its less progressive provinces over certain Acts of Parliament. Though non-heterosexuality is legal, all places of worship and civic centres are permitted to refuse to marry non-heterosexual individuals, are exempt from taxation and in some instances can maintain traditional religious laws. It is worst in Muslim majority provinces, where non-heterosexuals actually receive aid in migrating to more progressive provinces and regions, such as Britain itself, Oceania or another similarly developed region. However it is highly likely that these compromises will begin to be rolled back as these provinces become more developed and join the modern world, aided by the rise of the non-religious community and non-traditional beliefs in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 3:19 pm
by North German Realm
If I recall correctly, a problem somewhat like this very issue is what the Imperial Federation did not come to be: New Zealand, which already had problems with Australia's less tolerant native laws, had no mood for South Africa's apartheid and would not accept to be part of a sovereign state that was ruled by those values. One of the most terrible acts of cruelty the modern North German Federation has done to a fellow country was the issue of Fatima Mahdi, an activist in Hashemite Arabia. She came into prominence during the Hashemite-Persian War (2004-2007) where she became famous for her fiery criticism of the North German participation in the war. The activist came as far as to name Kaiser Friedrich II (Sophie's predecessor) as a criminal. Once the war was over, she was assassinated -along 185 others- by a North German missile strike that destroyed the apartment complex she lived in, an act that North Germany claimed responsibility for only days after it occurred. When Hashemite Arabia took the matter to the Hague, it began a legal process taking 12 years that ended in a North German legal victory. The European state claimed that Mahdi provided a security risk to North Germans living in Amman by her speeches (and admittedly, two North German civilians had been killed by riots incited by said speeches in 2005) and as such it was ruled that not only was North Germany justified in removing a potential security threat, but Hashemite Arabia was responsible for paying the cost it took for said elimination.
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:54 pm
by A m e n r i a
A sensible move to an evil nation opposed to good itself. Why assassination and not other, quicker, and cleaner means of shutting her up though?
When he was a villain, Tianshi's secret identity was named Karma, and the organisation he led was called RevengeЯ, founded in late 2017. It was a group that carried out assassinations, assault, and robbery. The reason it got so many members to support it was the pressure felt by Chinese youth at the time. With high rates of suicide, Karma came to depressed individuals, encouraging them to join so they can take out their frustrations on their abusers instead of taking their own lives.
In 2019, the RevengeЯ was disbanded following Karma's change of heart. While some of his employees started earning an honest living while continuing their studies, some who still believed in his warped cause started a similar organisation, named Revenger ReborИ.
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:08 pm
by Champagne Socialist Sharifistan
A m e n r i a wrote:A sensible move to an evil nation opposed to good itself. Why assassination and not other, quicker, and cleaner means of shutting her up though?
When he was a villain, Tianshi's secret identity was named Karma, and the organisation he led was called RevengeЯ, founded in late 2017. It was a group that carried out assassinations, assault, and robbery. The reason it got so many members to support it was the pressure felt by Chinese youth at the time. With high rates of suicide, Karma came to depressed individuals, encouraging them to join so they can take out their frustrations on their abusers instead of taking their own lives.
In 2019, the RevengeЯ was disbanded following Karma's change of heart. While some of his employees started earning an honest living while continuing their studies, some who still believed in his warped cause started a similar organisation, named Revenger ReborИ.
“Well Draft them into the Army!”- Qadi Mehmet Khan
In Sharifistan drunk drivers must choose between prison and the Army. This is because the Army is believed to be able to instill discipline and also to redeem themselves. They endangered life; now they must protect it.
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:19 pm
by Tsukitai
"I think it's a neat way of rehabilitation! Brings both honor and ample punishments to those people, but perhaps it's a bit too harsh for drunk driving?" -Empress Matsuki I
"So be it. They must pay for their crimes, either by prison sentence or serving their country. We should look into installing this here too." -Head of Military Miya Hajime
Approximately 43% of the Lunar Army Corps is Female. The Air Arm is 87% Female and the Imperial Lunar Navy is 55% Female.
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 5:35 pm
by The Zravvisk
Why is the Air Arm so female dominated? Also why do your have an Air Arm if you're on the Moon? Are they just for raiding Earth?
The Armada practices what they considered armed pacifism. The Armada doesn't want a fight and will almost always try to deescalate and negotiate to avoid or end a fight. However, if you force them into a fight, they won't hesitate to brutally fight back. Zravvisk warriors won't hesitate to cut down or burn hundreds of enemy soldiers nor will they hesitate to stand down if surrender or peace is offered. As a result, despite that the Armada would almost never consider beginning a war of aggression, they still maintain of the the largest militaries in the galaxy for their own defense.
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:01 am