[Proposal] Treaty of Fuhuo Text and Discussion

[Cormac]

I'm going to sound harsh here, probably, but it has to be said.

Should we bend to the whims of foreign regions? Why should we shy away from allying ourselves with potential allies because they lean raider? We do not lean raider, and have made that clear. The fact that raider leaning regions currently are our allies does by no means entail we ourselves are raider leaning. We are a sovereign region, Cormac, if you hadn't guessed, and our current allies being raider, again, does not mean we raid. We stand up for our sovereignty, and don't choose a side in the R/D conflict. Are you demanding we treaty ourselves with a defender-leaning region just so we don't appear to be raider-leaning? Everyone who holds Lazarus' sovereignty in regard knows that we do not take a side. I don't think, at all, that we are obligated to ally ourselves with either side just to appear not to be taking the opposite side. We are, once again, a neutral region, and we stand for that. We are not, however, GP's plaything to call us raider/defender/whatever they feel like.

Well, for starters, I'm not demanding anything. I'm stating a dissenting opinion.  :blink:

That aside, no, I'm not saying we should necessarily enter into a treaty with a defender-leaning region, though there are a few of those that would make good allies. It's also worth noting there are more options out there than raider and raider-leaning, defender and defender-leaning. If anything, I think we ought to be looking more toward regions that aren't all that R/D-focused in the first place, just as Lazarus is not all that R/D-focused. Looking primarily toward other neutral and non-aligned regions would be my preference. Common ground is the foundation upon which healthy, enduring alliances are built.

That said, I'm not averse to treaties with raider or raider-leaning regions, but I am averse to just thoughtlessly entering into any treaty for no real rhyme or reason. What is it about the West Pacific that even makes it an appealing ally for Lazarus? What is it about the West Pacific's allies that would make us want Lazarus to be numbered as one of them? Treaties have meaning. When we say yes to a certain sphere of regions, and move ever closer to them, we are closing the door inch by inch on relations with other regions that are averse to that sphere. Personally, I don't want to see Lazarus stuck in a sphere of influence that includes the West Pacific, The East Pacific, Balder, and The Land of Kings and Emperors. Those regions have never been interested in upholding Lazarus' sovereignty, or demonstrated any regard for Lazarus' community, in the past. Why would we think they would now? Just because Halo is a good guy and is currently Delegate of the West Pacific? That isn't enough. Delegates change, but nothing has changed about the West Pacific's ideology.

It's not just that this is a treaty with another raider-leaning region. That's not the objectionable part. If we have good reason for a treaty with a raider or raider-leaning region, if it makes sense for Lazarus, then let's do it. I have no problem with it. But this is a treaty that doesn't seem to make any sense for Lazarus. This isn't like with Osiris, where there was a preexisting strong relationship, and a treaty just obviously made sense. I haven't seen anyone present a clear argument in favor of this alliance, all I've really seen is "Eh, why not?" You don't enter into alliances based on "Eh, why not?", especially not with a region that has the troubling history, ideology, and alliance network of the West Pacific. I'd like to hear some affirmative reasoning for this treaty. How does a treaty with the history, ideology, and alliance network of the West Pacific make sense? How does it benefit Lazarus? Those aren't unreasonable questions.