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| Dixie: Dinner with a Communist; Getting drunk with the Westphalian revolutionary leader | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 15 2012, 10:12 PM (150 Views) | |
| Jack Dixie | Oct 15 2012, 10:12 PM Post #1 |
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![]() Dinner with a Communist Getting drunk with the Westphalian revolutionary leader ![]() Westphalia is a peaceful region. Against the backdrop of other German-themed regions, most of which have a fascist tilt, Westphalia is a model democracy. It boasts high activity, a multi-party democracy and an active enough royal family. All in all, living is good here. Enter stage left. Andropoland is the larger-than-life leader of the Social-Democratic Reform Party, a socialist group. I’m a member of that party and had spent a lot of time lately trying to track down Andropo (as he is known) to get his thoughts on a manifesto I wrote for the paper, which I called the “Munster Declaration”. Time, he told me, was limited. I thought maybe if we did an interview, he would be more willing and I could get some answers. We met at a small Irish pub two doors down from the hotel I’d been staying at. It was, for a Friday night, completely empty. I had suggested this place because it was so close to my hotel but I was now regretting it. Perhaps we should have just done coffee. The bar was filled with old bearded Westphalian men drinking huge quantities of beer and reminiscing on old times. It was more German than Irish. Andropoland showed up and seemed to check the room to make sure nobody was interesting here before sitting down. A buxom waitress took our order. I got a burger and fries, classic pub fare. Andropoland got a steak. We both ordered drinks, which came in glasses that required two hands, and some muscle, to drink. He would periodically smoke a massive Cuban cigar as if to refute any claim to being distinct from Castro. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but feel how different we looked. I was in a suit and tie while he was dressed in camo and was noticeably tanned, as if he’d just come back from some jungle. It must be hard to guess we were both of the same party. I decided to just dive into the questions. I began by asking him about the difference between his party and the Visionary Progressives, a more liberal “progressive” party. He seemed keen to answer. “For one, we are more strictly left-wing, while the VPP has already proclaimed that it is not, in fact, actually left-wing, only "Progressive". Also, I do believe that we hold a few more select interests that the Visionary Progressives may or may not, such as the creation of a military, fall of the monarchy, etc.” “Radical change seems to be a theme of yours. The region has been doing, by all accounts, well. Is now really the time for scrapping the system of government, which includes the monarchy?” “We don't need to scrap the government. Our new system, which we are using now, and I have been elected into an executive position in, doesn't include a Monarchy of any kind, and I intend to keep it that way. However, if any Royal titles or positions still exist, I plan to destory those with much haste as Executor.” “Let's talk about the military. Would you bring this new military into any international organizations or alliances?” “Preferably, no... Westphalia's army should serve Westphalia's purposes, not those of other, multi-regional organs. However, if such an organization is seen to be in Westphalia's best interests to be aligned with, I may make an exception.” “I'm curious about that. What instances could an organization be seen to be acting in Westphalia's best interests? Would you consider allying with German-cultured groups our best interests? Or allying with socialist regions?” “Well, seeing as how the vast majority of "German-Cultured" regions in NationStates are Fascist, I'd have to say no to that. And I believe that allying outselves with Socialist regions may be going a bit too far. However, I wouldn’t not be opposed to seeing Westphalia joining an Anti-fascist group, such as Antifa, or any Raider-leaning military organizations that may increase Westphalia's strength as a region.” “Do you see how someone could look at that and say "you only consider it in the best interests of the region if it agrees with your politics"?” “If they think that being anti-fascist is only my own politics, I'd laugh in their face.” ![]() “If they think that being anti-fascist is only my own politics, I'd laugh in their face.” “Anti-communism is not an empty room either, to be fair. ” “And the only reason I'd prefer to see the region lean more Raider than Defender is because I've seent that small Raider militaries are usually much more active than defender militaries. Are there any anti-Communists in this region that would like to oppose my policies? If there are, I'd like to meet them.” “I'm curious about you. Where does your left-wing politics come from? I'm assuming you weren't brought up in Havana.” “My personal values. I believe that Equality and Freedom are two very important aspects of modern life that are being threatened by Capitalism. And especially systematic governments such as Fascism, and religion-based governments.” “Without an economy, do you still feel capitalism threatens life in Westphalia?” “No, of course not.” (He chuckled) (We both ordered more beer, which came quickly and seemed to lighten the mood) “Then why form a socialist party and join Antifa? ” “To fight Fascism, which does pose a serious risk to Westphalia and her values. That's the part in the name that I'd like to emphasize, anti-FA. There are already a few non-Socialist members of Antifa, it's not all reds in there, even thought they do make up a vast majoirty of the force. And the fact that our region is named after a German province means that we are a prime target for any Fascist raider groups that come along if our founder nation ever CTEs.” “Can you be, as you call it, a "red" and support a Westphalian monarchy? Can you be a red and be opposed to an army?” “Do you mean can a left-leaning person support a Monarchy, or are you refering to myself explicitly?” “I'm more after the party which you and I belong to, and you lead. Are there monarchists welcome in your party? Or pacifists? ” “Pacifists? Of course, not everyone has to agree with every position I take as party leader. I plan to hold popularity votes quite often, as I did with my party in Renaissance. If a prospective member of my party disagrees with anything I say, all they really need to do to change my mind is to join the party and vote. And also, I'd like to go off on a tangent and mention something, if that's okay with you? You keep refering to the Monarchy as if it is still the ruling faction in Westphalia, as it most certianly is not. It has already, in effect, been replaced with the current two-headed executive system. At the moment, the only part of the "Monarchy" still around are the member titles of many of our members. That is the only thing that still needs to be removed. Everything else has already been, for the most part, abolished.” “In what ways do you think Westphalia would be different if you had your way? ” “Not much, really. Most of what I am proposing, aside from my slightly unrealistic end-game goals, is simple electoral reform to make the system more representative. Most of this only includes the way votes are counted. I doubt anyone would notice either way, but I still believe such reforms are important.” I decided this was a good point to end the interview. I asked him if he was happy and he indicated he’d like to do another interview sometime. As I left Westphalia’s quietest Irish pub, and dinner with a communist, I wasn’t clear how much of Andropoland’s beliefs were playing the part of a revolutionary and how many were simply theatre. It seemed sometimes as if he just wanted to lead and had built a persona that he had seen work in the past. For someone who mentioned fighting fascists, it seemed sometimes he just wanted to lead a movement. Still, he’s not alone. It’s hard not to feel Westphalia is the exception not the rule in German Nationstates, which is a breeding ground of far-right racism. If the Social-Democratic Reform Party is going to take them on, Andropoland certainly has his work cut out for him. |
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