Erid Lor
19-10-2008, 08:56
Lord Henry Parallax II walked onto the stage, surrounded by bodyguards with stern military faces and dressed in black business suits. The leader of the High Republic strode quickly down the corridor which led to the podium set up at the National Stadium of Erid’Lor, an architectural masterpiece which formed the capital Genevia’s main sports arena, alongside the Aquatics Center, also known as the ‘Water Cube’ to locals, and Genevia Stadium, a smaller one but still beautiful.
Reaching the doors, one bodyguard pulled it open and he nodded thanks before stepping through to the blazing light of the floodlights illuminating the spot upon which he stood, the dazzle of camera flashes, the raucous noise of crowds cheering, clapping, hollering. Two of the four bodyguards stayed behind to guard the doors, two stayed on the side upon which he stood, standing in the at-ease position.
Sighing, the middle-aged Lord nodded and smiled to the crowd, waiting for them to quiet down. Sometimes people were like that, and he smiled wryly to himself. “Thank you, thank you.”
Finally, the crowds begin to hush, and a silence began to fall like a slow drizzle of rain upon the stadium. “It’s time,” thought Parallax, and he began.
“My friends- of the international community, of allies, friends and neighbours; of the immigrants and foreigners in our nation; but most of all, Eridites; I come to you tonight with a grave message.”
Murmuring among the crowd.
“When nations such as IStormistan and Ralkovia sell their own people into slavery for a fast injection of money, as we have learnt in the past few days, something is grievously wrong with the world. When nations like Dagobah V sell tanks to another nation then recklessly declare war upon that nation when a storm sinks the ship upon which the cargo is carried and no survivors are found! When there is a Ministry of Execution in a certain nation! When a protestor is killed by said Ministry of Execution for simply demanding a better life and representation in the government! When all this happens in such a short span of time,” he paused, “we know that something is wrong with the world at large. When such blatant human rights abuses occur… It is a sad situation indeed.’
“Those who stand up to the tyrants, the despots, the oppressors, are indicted as warmongers; they are said to care nothing for the sovereignty of other nations. Well, I have some news for those who brand the nations who care more for the people than do their governments as warmongers and disregarders of national sovereignty: Two pieces of news. First, that sometimes, it is justified- when democracy falls, when freedom and equality,” he paused again, “when human rights and justice fall too, and instead of those core values, tyranny, oppression, slavery and draconian laws prevail; yes, I believe it is justified, and I applaud those nations which act accordingly.’
“Secondly, I wonder if nations realize that sovereignty matters little or nothing to many nations, but is only a small veil to hide behind in the case of the tyrant nations like Roef, Ralkovia, and IStormistan. It certainly doesn’t matter to the true warmongers, who recklessly invade other states for small offences, weather, and losses of pride- national animals being stolen by bandits who don’t even represent the nation’s government; having lost a previous war; a ship being sunk by a storm, etc. etc. Those warmongers don’t give happiness, prosperity, progress; they don’t give democracy, equality, fairness; they take away. Therein lies the key difference. These ‘warmongers’- a term which is in fact false- bring in a government from the people, for the people, by the people; not some tyrannical state; they convert the system to one where progress can be made for the betterment of the nation, where there is none of the misery of slavery or being sold into captivity, where there is no fear of being executed for protests, where there is no need to be afraid of becoming an inferior at the whim of a tyrant government.’
“Erid’Lor was founded upon the principles that still guide us today; democracy- we have a constitutional monarchy with an elected Parliament, equality and right to pursue freedom and happiness. We do not seek to impose our will on other nations; rather we seek to bring progress to the world- that people shall have freedom, prosperity, rights, right to pursue progress, and most importantly happiness. To this end we ask the governments of Ralkovia and IStormistan, together with Roef, to cease and desist from these inhuman actions which threaten the very core of nations, which threaten the de-facto world order in which human rights must prevail above such things as slavery and draconian laws. We ask Dagobah V to also cease and desist from this idiotic invasion because of a simple weather front. To this end, we ask the nations of the world to join us in our condemnation of inhuman acts, to join the ranks of the many who would fulfill the noble and honourable task that is to set the world right, as much as it can be. To this end, Erid’Lor is ready to fight for the freedom and rights of humans in general.’
“With that, I close. Erid’Lor Excelsior, friends.” He paused, then finished, “Thank you.”
Applause erupted as he pivoted and briskly walked back through the doors that he had come through, surrounded once more by the bodyguards. Seeing the Prime Minister, Gael H. Liegelor, waiting for him, Parallax walked over. “How?” he asked.
“Very nice, Henry. I wonder how the international community will react…” replied Liegelor.
“As do I.”
“There were many news agencies- not just local- covering this, you realize?”
“Yep.”
Reaching the doors, one bodyguard pulled it open and he nodded thanks before stepping through to the blazing light of the floodlights illuminating the spot upon which he stood, the dazzle of camera flashes, the raucous noise of crowds cheering, clapping, hollering. Two of the four bodyguards stayed behind to guard the doors, two stayed on the side upon which he stood, standing in the at-ease position.
Sighing, the middle-aged Lord nodded and smiled to the crowd, waiting for them to quiet down. Sometimes people were like that, and he smiled wryly to himself. “Thank you, thank you.”
Finally, the crowds begin to hush, and a silence began to fall like a slow drizzle of rain upon the stadium. “It’s time,” thought Parallax, and he began.
“My friends- of the international community, of allies, friends and neighbours; of the immigrants and foreigners in our nation; but most of all, Eridites; I come to you tonight with a grave message.”
Murmuring among the crowd.
“When nations such as IStormistan and Ralkovia sell their own people into slavery for a fast injection of money, as we have learnt in the past few days, something is grievously wrong with the world. When nations like Dagobah V sell tanks to another nation then recklessly declare war upon that nation when a storm sinks the ship upon which the cargo is carried and no survivors are found! When there is a Ministry of Execution in a certain nation! When a protestor is killed by said Ministry of Execution for simply demanding a better life and representation in the government! When all this happens in such a short span of time,” he paused, “we know that something is wrong with the world at large. When such blatant human rights abuses occur… It is a sad situation indeed.’
“Those who stand up to the tyrants, the despots, the oppressors, are indicted as warmongers; they are said to care nothing for the sovereignty of other nations. Well, I have some news for those who brand the nations who care more for the people than do their governments as warmongers and disregarders of national sovereignty: Two pieces of news. First, that sometimes, it is justified- when democracy falls, when freedom and equality,” he paused again, “when human rights and justice fall too, and instead of those core values, tyranny, oppression, slavery and draconian laws prevail; yes, I believe it is justified, and I applaud those nations which act accordingly.’
“Secondly, I wonder if nations realize that sovereignty matters little or nothing to many nations, but is only a small veil to hide behind in the case of the tyrant nations like Roef, Ralkovia, and IStormistan. It certainly doesn’t matter to the true warmongers, who recklessly invade other states for small offences, weather, and losses of pride- national animals being stolen by bandits who don’t even represent the nation’s government; having lost a previous war; a ship being sunk by a storm, etc. etc. Those warmongers don’t give happiness, prosperity, progress; they don’t give democracy, equality, fairness; they take away. Therein lies the key difference. These ‘warmongers’- a term which is in fact false- bring in a government from the people, for the people, by the people; not some tyrannical state; they convert the system to one where progress can be made for the betterment of the nation, where there is none of the misery of slavery or being sold into captivity, where there is no fear of being executed for protests, where there is no need to be afraid of becoming an inferior at the whim of a tyrant government.’
“Erid’Lor was founded upon the principles that still guide us today; democracy- we have a constitutional monarchy with an elected Parliament, equality and right to pursue freedom and happiness. We do not seek to impose our will on other nations; rather we seek to bring progress to the world- that people shall have freedom, prosperity, rights, right to pursue progress, and most importantly happiness. To this end we ask the governments of Ralkovia and IStormistan, together with Roef, to cease and desist from these inhuman actions which threaten the very core of nations, which threaten the de-facto world order in which human rights must prevail above such things as slavery and draconian laws. We ask Dagobah V to also cease and desist from this idiotic invasion because of a simple weather front. To this end, we ask the nations of the world to join us in our condemnation of inhuman acts, to join the ranks of the many who would fulfill the noble and honourable task that is to set the world right, as much as it can be. To this end, Erid’Lor is ready to fight for the freedom and rights of humans in general.’
“With that, I close. Erid’Lor Excelsior, friends.” He paused, then finished, “Thank you.”
Applause erupted as he pivoted and briskly walked back through the doors that he had come through, surrounded once more by the bodyguards. Seeing the Prime Minister, Gael H. Liegelor, waiting for him, Parallax walked over. “How?” he asked.
“Very nice, Henry. I wonder how the international community will react…” replied Liegelor.
“As do I.”
“There were many news agencies- not just local- covering this, you realize?”
“Yep.”