A Hogmanay Message
Dec 31, 2019 17:30:43 GMT -6
Sir C. M. Siervicül, Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h, and 1 more like this
Post by Eðo Grischun on Dec 31, 2019 17:30:43 GMT -6
Fellow Talossans,
As we exit one year and enter the next, I wish for all of you the very best of prosperity, health and happiness. A happy new year to everyone and to your families. From my house to yours; a cup a' kindness raised. Slàinte!
We are simultaneously entering a new calendar year, a new Cosa session and the beginning of Talossa's 41st year of existence. As we do so, I urge you all to join me in reflecting upon that question we have pondered many times before: What does being Talossan mean to me? For me, it's all about community and nationhood (and service to the same). Everything comes back to the nation. What makes Talossa a nation? What makes us citizens of that nation? What links us all to Talossa? What makes us a real community, rather than just a random assortment of acquaintances over the internet? For me, the answers to these questions are quite simple. It does not matter what colour your skin is. It does not matter which god, if any, you believe in. It does not matter where you come from. The only thing that matters is your belief in the principles laid out in the Talossan constitution. If you believe in our nation's guiding principles, if those ideas resonate with you, and you are willing to live by the values laid out in them, then you are a Talossan. It’s as uncomplicated as that.
I believe we should all be working to help shape this nation by encouraging a connection to the nation itself. By doing so there doesn’t need to be a shared cultural heritage or, indeed, even a historical link to the physical land we say we claim. All that is necessary to be a part of the Talossan Nation is the affirmative choice to belong to it alongside a commitment to uphold the institutions and ideals of it.
Of course, however, many people take great pride in Talossan culture and also go to great lengths in creating and shaping it. They view culture as a fundamental part of their Talossan experience and identity. Language, music, art and literature; these things help form an important part of the Talossan experience. I suppose that culture also gives people a sense of self, and a sense of belonging to something greater than just themselves. Citizens connect with the nation through this culture and they believe the larger community should reflect this. Do not think for a moment that my civic nationalist beliefs for Talossa diminish this for anyone. Talossan culture is something that is absolutely deserving of respect. The practicing of cultural traditions, in general, joins families and communities together, encourages connection, and, at the most fundamental level, creates happiness and joy. A civic nationalist view of Talossa does not prevent this from happening. On the contrary, there is ample room for traditional cultural practice to coexist alongside this belief system. In fact, it fundamentally guarantees the right of everyone to display their heritage in whatever way they wish, as long as it falls within the boundaries of our constitution. Because *that* is the heart of civic nationalism. The Talossan Nation of today is not built around an individual tribe, or an individual people. It is built around the Covenant of Rights and Freedoms and the universally held beliefs of our citizens. With our own communities, we connect using our culture and our traditions. We share our language and our food and our art. But with the nation, no matter the colour, gender or creed of our fellow Talossans, we share the Organic Law. We share our belief in our civil liberties, our legal and political institutions. Under civic nationalism, we are all Talossans. I do not want, and it is my belief that the general population also does not want, any one group to have cultural supremacy. We simply desire to live together, to act and believe in a common set of ideals, outside of culture, macronationality and, indeed, even, ethnicity.
So why should we adopt this belief as a fundamental and guiding principle for Talossa? Even at 40 years old, we are a relatively new nation. We do not have thousands or hundreds of years of history from which to draw our traditions from. What we do have, however, is a global community of citizens, from all walks of life, who believe wholeheartedly in the ideals of the Talossan Nation. That means we are in a prime position to form the future of the kingdom in a way that allows all of these people to be committed Talossan citizens, while also maintaining their unique global identities. None of these citizens should have to dilute or remove any part of their identities in order to be seen as Talossans. A new citizen from Ireland should not have to become less Irish in order to be Talossan. A new citizen from Italy should not have to forego Italian to learn the Talossan language. No one, no matter where they were born, should feel barred from being a true citizen of Talossa. Fluency in our language, and mastery of our history are admirable pursuits, ones that we should encourage as much as possible, however, they do not make someone a true Talossan. The only thing, the one requirement for that, is a belief in Talossa itself. A belief in what we stand for, what we believe in. Anyone who has that, is a Talossan.
This benefits us. It means we can, as a nation, draw from a wide well of experiences and perspectives. It means our culture can develop, as a mirror to the cultures of the world, building upon and improving them, creating a nation which can be admired the world over, for its diversity and for its vibrancy. We would become, in short, a nation of sharing and a nation of development. Both of those things would be incredible for Talossa, and stand to improve the lives of everyone here. Just imagine it. A culture of all cultures, brought together from around the world, united not by a specific language, or a specific ethnicity, but by a commitment to our democratic ideals, by a belief in our institutions. A belief in us, their political representatives. That is a large responsibility for us, but also a huge opportunity. We have the chance to govern for all of these people, to make them feel welcome in a nation that has made each and every one of us feel that way.
There is also the matter of growth. We can’t forget, no matter how you wish to frame it, that we are still, in essence, a micronation, despite all of our successes. Our survival depends on the continued growth of our population. Not only that, but the entire concept of a micronation is based on bringing people together. It is the beautiful idea that you can’t choose where you were born, but you absolutely can choose where you are from, and Talossa will welcome you with open arms. Our continued thriving relies on continued growth. It relies on more people becoming Talossans, and believing in Talossa. The democratic institutions we work within, require people to be represented. Taking the civic nationalist approach, means firmly placing that open arms approach into the fabric of the nation. It means wholeheartedly believing that anyone, no matter what, can be a citizen if they truly want to be, while still being themselves. If there are no unnecessary barriers for entry, then we can continue to grow, and continue to develop. Without growth, we can’t achieve the goals of Talossa.
My friends, we have an opportunity here, an opportunity individuals rarely get in the macronational world. We can shape a nation for years to come. We can make lasting and substantial changes to a place, that will affect each and every citizen. It is up to all of us to decide what kind of changes they will be. We can choose to be a nation of acceptance. We can choose to respect and elevate all people of all cultures. We can choose to celebrate our traditions while adopting and creating new ones. Hand in hand we can move Talossa forwards, to be a multicultural, welcoming home for whoever wishes to find one, and hand in hand we should. Hand in hand we should.
Auld Lang Syne,
Bliadhna Mhath Ùr,
Slàinte,
Eddie.
As we exit one year and enter the next, I wish for all of you the very best of prosperity, health and happiness. A happy new year to everyone and to your families. From my house to yours; a cup a' kindness raised. Slàinte!
We are simultaneously entering a new calendar year, a new Cosa session and the beginning of Talossa's 41st year of existence. As we do so, I urge you all to join me in reflecting upon that question we have pondered many times before: What does being Talossan mean to me? For me, it's all about community and nationhood (and service to the same). Everything comes back to the nation. What makes Talossa a nation? What makes us citizens of that nation? What links us all to Talossa? What makes us a real community, rather than just a random assortment of acquaintances over the internet? For me, the answers to these questions are quite simple. It does not matter what colour your skin is. It does not matter which god, if any, you believe in. It does not matter where you come from. The only thing that matters is your belief in the principles laid out in the Talossan constitution. If you believe in our nation's guiding principles, if those ideas resonate with you, and you are willing to live by the values laid out in them, then you are a Talossan. It’s as uncomplicated as that.
I believe we should all be working to help shape this nation by encouraging a connection to the nation itself. By doing so there doesn’t need to be a shared cultural heritage or, indeed, even a historical link to the physical land we say we claim. All that is necessary to be a part of the Talossan Nation is the affirmative choice to belong to it alongside a commitment to uphold the institutions and ideals of it.
Of course, however, many people take great pride in Talossan culture and also go to great lengths in creating and shaping it. They view culture as a fundamental part of their Talossan experience and identity. Language, music, art and literature; these things help form an important part of the Talossan experience. I suppose that culture also gives people a sense of self, and a sense of belonging to something greater than just themselves. Citizens connect with the nation through this culture and they believe the larger community should reflect this. Do not think for a moment that my civic nationalist beliefs for Talossa diminish this for anyone. Talossan culture is something that is absolutely deserving of respect. The practicing of cultural traditions, in general, joins families and communities together, encourages connection, and, at the most fundamental level, creates happiness and joy. A civic nationalist view of Talossa does not prevent this from happening. On the contrary, there is ample room for traditional cultural practice to coexist alongside this belief system. In fact, it fundamentally guarantees the right of everyone to display their heritage in whatever way they wish, as long as it falls within the boundaries of our constitution. Because *that* is the heart of civic nationalism. The Talossan Nation of today is not built around an individual tribe, or an individual people. It is built around the Covenant of Rights and Freedoms and the universally held beliefs of our citizens. With our own communities, we connect using our culture and our traditions. We share our language and our food and our art. But with the nation, no matter the colour, gender or creed of our fellow Talossans, we share the Organic Law. We share our belief in our civil liberties, our legal and political institutions. Under civic nationalism, we are all Talossans. I do not want, and it is my belief that the general population also does not want, any one group to have cultural supremacy. We simply desire to live together, to act and believe in a common set of ideals, outside of culture, macronationality and, indeed, even, ethnicity.
So why should we adopt this belief as a fundamental and guiding principle for Talossa? Even at 40 years old, we are a relatively new nation. We do not have thousands or hundreds of years of history from which to draw our traditions from. What we do have, however, is a global community of citizens, from all walks of life, who believe wholeheartedly in the ideals of the Talossan Nation. That means we are in a prime position to form the future of the kingdom in a way that allows all of these people to be committed Talossan citizens, while also maintaining their unique global identities. None of these citizens should have to dilute or remove any part of their identities in order to be seen as Talossans. A new citizen from Ireland should not have to become less Irish in order to be Talossan. A new citizen from Italy should not have to forego Italian to learn the Talossan language. No one, no matter where they were born, should feel barred from being a true citizen of Talossa. Fluency in our language, and mastery of our history are admirable pursuits, ones that we should encourage as much as possible, however, they do not make someone a true Talossan. The only thing, the one requirement for that, is a belief in Talossa itself. A belief in what we stand for, what we believe in. Anyone who has that, is a Talossan.
This benefits us. It means we can, as a nation, draw from a wide well of experiences and perspectives. It means our culture can develop, as a mirror to the cultures of the world, building upon and improving them, creating a nation which can be admired the world over, for its diversity and for its vibrancy. We would become, in short, a nation of sharing and a nation of development. Both of those things would be incredible for Talossa, and stand to improve the lives of everyone here. Just imagine it. A culture of all cultures, brought together from around the world, united not by a specific language, or a specific ethnicity, but by a commitment to our democratic ideals, by a belief in our institutions. A belief in us, their political representatives. That is a large responsibility for us, but also a huge opportunity. We have the chance to govern for all of these people, to make them feel welcome in a nation that has made each and every one of us feel that way.
There is also the matter of growth. We can’t forget, no matter how you wish to frame it, that we are still, in essence, a micronation, despite all of our successes. Our survival depends on the continued growth of our population. Not only that, but the entire concept of a micronation is based on bringing people together. It is the beautiful idea that you can’t choose where you were born, but you absolutely can choose where you are from, and Talossa will welcome you with open arms. Our continued thriving relies on continued growth. It relies on more people becoming Talossans, and believing in Talossa. The democratic institutions we work within, require people to be represented. Taking the civic nationalist approach, means firmly placing that open arms approach into the fabric of the nation. It means wholeheartedly believing that anyone, no matter what, can be a citizen if they truly want to be, while still being themselves. If there are no unnecessary barriers for entry, then we can continue to grow, and continue to develop. Without growth, we can’t achieve the goals of Talossa.
My friends, we have an opportunity here, an opportunity individuals rarely get in the macronational world. We can shape a nation for years to come. We can make lasting and substantial changes to a place, that will affect each and every citizen. It is up to all of us to decide what kind of changes they will be. We can choose to be a nation of acceptance. We can choose to respect and elevate all people of all cultures. We can choose to celebrate our traditions while adopting and creating new ones. Hand in hand we can move Talossa forwards, to be a multicultural, welcoming home for whoever wishes to find one, and hand in hand we should. Hand in hand we should.
Auld Lang Syne,
Bliadhna Mhath Ùr,
Slàinte,
Eddie.