Every year the heads of the different factions of Extinctionism gather in Free Dome to discuss politics and history. Heavy security goes hand in hand with nervous crowds ready to defend themselves against "the law" (or what there is of it). Finally, after a lengthy and uneventful opening ceremony Extinctionism's influential and wealthy (as well as several multiversal tourists) have settled down to listen to this year's speeches.
First up is Ra To, retired General and current leader of the Militarist Party of Extinctionism:
We cannot die before we haven't made sure that no human will survive us. But consequently, we all have to be ready to die every day. Death is the greatest gift, the highest accolade, and the inevitable result of life. We can only hope to bestow it upon countless others before it is bestowed upon us. Those who cannot see this and those who are unwilling to see it, must die by our hands so that our extinction may be achieved.
Several of the wealthiest members of the audience can be seen applauding and nodding in agreement, but they are drowned out by angry teenagers shouting and screaming in a large crowd outside.
Meanwhile Min Liu of the Voluntary Human Extinctionist Party replaced Ra To:
Humanity has always been searching for the source of its suffering. We blamed otherworldly beings, other lifeforms and diseases, the inhumane in us. But the true cause is the only thing we are unwilling to blame: Humanity. Before The Fall only a select few could see the truth. They saw the suffering man caused other lifeforms, and they started to see that it was mankind itself that is to blame for all suffering. But the masses ignored the truth because it was convenient.
Only when the Humanists tried to justify the suffering of the survivors of The Fall with the greater good for humanity and disguised it as kindness, just like they'd done many times before, the eyes of the world's masses were opened.
The Fall was good. It ultimately failed, however. Mankind did not end that day, the suffering continued. It continued because the Humanists had been given another enemy, another supposed cause of all suffering they could use: They'd been given us. And they banded together, and most followed them like sheep forgetting all the lies they had been told to accept an easy lie instead of the damning truth. Therefore, there is once again only a few of us. Therefore, some of us want to repeat the fall once more. We disagree. We cannot extinct mankind by trying to kill all of it. We cannot extinct humanity by trying to become inhuman. We can only extinct humanity through voluntariness. We can refrain from reproduction, we can show all of mankind the dark sides of life and educate them. We can turn the Humanists weapon of knowledge against them: They claim to seek the truth, let us give it to them.
The audience reacts with frowns and stares of disapproval. The speech apparently did not cater to the crowd outside either who booed all throughout it.
Next up is Nkrwsa Lksmu, member of the Extinction of Humanity Movement:
The VHEP got one thing right: Humanity is the source of all suffering. But they claim that we cannot stop suffering by trying to become inhuman. They gave no reasons for this.
They did not because they could not because their statement is illogical. If humanity is the lone source of all suffering, all which is not human is not the source of suffering. Thus, becoming inhuman relinquishes suffering.
Therefore, we advocate transcendence. We can abandon all that makes us human. We can become something more, something better. We can live without pain. We just have to be willing. Willing to suffer. For our humanity fights to stay a part of us, to stay alive. Thus, transcendence entails suffering, but only through transcendence may we permanently escape suffering.
The speech definitely made the seated audience uncomfortable: Even though there are no discussions, a few business men have resorted to staring to express their opinions. There does, however, not seem to be a consensus outside either as part of the crowd seems to be shouting insults while another part is hooting for joy.
Now Tek Gideon of the Complete Extinctionist Drive begins his speech:
We tend to forget that this nation was named Extinctionism. Not Human Extinctionism, not Extinctionism of Humanity, not Nation of Celibates. Our forefathers named it Extinctionism because they had discovered the actual truth of The Fall: It failed because our ancestors weren't strong enough to see the whole truth. They did not dare to go far enough. They tried to extinct humanity without harming the rest of our planet's lifeforms. Technologically, they were advanced enough to blast the Multiverse out of existence, but they chose only to end human suffering. Now ask yourself this: Where did humanity come from? Did we not evolve from animals? Are they not capable of feeling suffering? If you have ever read one of the VHEP's fliers, you certainly know that they do. But unlike us, they would have you believe that all non-human suffering is caused by us humans. This makes them guilty of the same crime they accuse the Humanists of: Ignoring the inconvenient truth!
Life is responsible for suffering. Not only human life, but all life! Without humans there will still be suffering. Worse, eventually another species just like ours will emerge and it will take them just as long as it took us to begin seeing the truth.
Thus, the only way we can prevent humanity from reoccurring - the only way to prevent suffering - is complete extinction. Only by eliminating all that is alive can we bring peace.
The first row has been chuckling all throughout the speech. Though most did so in a low voice you could clearly hear snippets of comments that sounded a lot like insults from members of the audience inside. Outside a violent brawl has broken out between several different parts of the crowd and what appears to be a mix of private contractors and law enforcement.
Finally, Dope D of the Fatalistic Party of Extinctionism rises to speak:
Once again we are arguing and wasting our time for no reason. Does the VHEP not usually state that our continued existence and the actions of the MPoE will eventually lead to the complete extinction of life on earth? Why try to save life on earth if it may or may not be as well responsible for suffering like the CED was kind enough to point out. Why risk it? Why not just make the best of our situation? Everything is going to die anyways, so why not have some fun? Those who are suffering only have to kill themselves. Those who want to end all life can try to do that. Those who want to abstain from reproduction can stop reproducing. We just want to do what we want. We are living in Extinctionism and not in Extinctionistland for a reason: Extinction will happen anyways. Whether we want it to or not. So why argue? That's all I have to say, excuse me.
Even though most of the audience inside gave Dope D disapproving looks, some openly shared their appreciation. The crowd outside is still at it and seems to have missed this speech entirely.
The podium is now empty waiting for the next speaker. And though some people left most are still sitting, waiting for one of the foreigners to take the floor and make a statement.