...and Elizabeth I of Scotland, as many Scots will readily point out.

I speak only for myself, but I know I echo the sentiments of everyone in Talossa in thanking all that is good, right, and holy for her long life and brilliant reign.  I'm sorry she did not surpass the Sun King in terms of length, but she seems to me to have been a far better monarch.

May Charles at least come somewhat close to that example - an example for all heads of state and all those in leadership in our world.

When one said, 'the Queen', everyone knew who they meant.

GV, Senator for Fiova

I will say this right now.  I am completely averse to any return to hereditary monarchial succession.

That being said, I would be receptive to some sort of confirmatory vote for any 'heir' who may succeed Herr Woolley in due course.

57RZ15 Contra
57RZ16 Për
57RZ17 Për
57RZ18 Për
57RZ19 Për

GV, Fiova

https://www.youtube.com/c/LittleWarsTV

The wargaming these guys do is pretty amazing.  They just finished uploading a Pyrric war campaign that came down to the final battle and gave the overall victor the narrowest of victories.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 30, 2022, 12:51:36 PM
Seems like the reference to me is a taunt, but I don't quite get about what...?

Not sure I ever read this document in full before.  It's a modified version of the American Declaration of Independence, right?

Yes, the verbiage directly mimics the American Declaration of Independence.  And the intended taunt was meant in good fun only.  :-)

AD loooves this speech.  It really is his favorite.  ;-)

The new Proclamation of Independence of Talossa.

In Unity, hereby dedicated and signed 1 June 2004
The unanimous Declaration of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Talossa,

Whereas in the history of the sovereign nationette of Talossa we have long endured the foibles of our royal family, from quirky ancient histories to multiple miniature "revolutions", through Gloria Estefan revivals and street­naming, one thing has gone long untouched, unseen, unspoken: the King is incapable of allowing true alternate opinions from forming and taking shape within Talossa's borders, both physical and electronic. It is the right of Talossans everywhere to keep and preserve their peace, their liberty, their freedom, and, as such, we Talossans hereby stand together as one, united in our assertion that Talossa is a great community, much greater than the sum of its parts; a community wrought not by one man, but by all Talossans everywhere, throughout her history; a community that will survive on the blood, sweat, and tears of her people for­ever.

When we cast a glance upon our beloved nationette, where fair freedom we have long enjoyed, sorrow fills our hearts to behold her struggling under the heavy load of oppression and tyranny. But when we extend our sight a little farther, and view the iron hand that is lifted against us, behold it is our King; he who, by his oath and station, is bound to support and defend us in the quiet enjoyment of all our glorious rights as free Talossans. We Talossans hereby declare that we are a free people and a free community and, above all, a free nation dedicated to Talossan ideals through actual freedom, not a form of bound and restricted freedom maintained by a tyrant. We cry 'Tyrant!', for the king has acted most unjust in his own manner, seeking to harm those with whom he is in disagreement.

In the pursuit of a singular agenda to drive out all who oppose him in any strong fashion, the King has, especially recently, decided to circumvent every law and tradition Talossa has ever had concerning the safety and welfare of Talossan citizens.

A few years ago, the question of independence from the monarchy would have put us into a surprise, and, we apprehend, would have been treated with the utmost contempt. We then looked on ourselves happy in being subjects of the king of Talossa. We have always looked upon it as our duty, as well as our interest to defend and support the honour of the crown of Talossa, and we have always done it, counting ourselves happy when in the strictest union and connection with our monarchy. However, in all provinces, existing by compact, protection and allegiance are reciprocal; the latter being only due in consequence of the former. The history of the present king of Talossa is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these provinces. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

Whereas, Robert Rouergue, King of Talossa, in violation of the principles of the Talossan Organic Law, and of the laws of justice and humanity, has, by an accumulation of oppression unparalleled in our history, excluded the inhabitants of Wittenberg from his protection;

    He has investigated the pasts of various individuals, both citizen and prospective;
    He has accused citizens not only of committing crimes in Talossa, but of committing crimes outside Talossa, including violent crimes and he has offered no evidence to prove such crimes, but seeks to tarnish any reputation each Talossan has earned on their own;
    He has sought to drive citizens out of Talossa;
    He has sought the passage of bills of attainder, specifically targeting Talossans;
    He has instilled a horrid sense of suspicion amongst the Talossan citizens;
    He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good;
    He has conspired to work against other parties while laying accusations of conspiracy against these parties;
    He has refused to appoint a prime minister until installing his own long after the prescribed legal deadline and he has refused to follow the law of the land by announcing the continuation of the incumbent;
    He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his appointment of valid justices;
    He has sought a means by which he may circumvent the proper election laws;
    He has cast aspersions at the characters of democratically elected leaders;
    He has inexorably determined upon the ruin of our liberties;
    He has conspired to oust legitimately placed officials of state;
    He has acted in a manner of inconsistency, claiming illegality of actions he has previously supported;
    He has been complicit in sedition, and did overthrow a legitimate government;
    He has rescinded on promises of appointment to position for citizens;
    He has sought to remove the citizenship of Talossans through every means, including those means extra­Talossan;
    He has committed to the fraud of an electorate by casting illegal votes in the name of others;
    He has sought to harm the binds of friendship between Talossans by scheming to create allegiance to him and his station against all others;
    He has offered only puppets of state in the stead of popularly elected officials;
    He has accused many Talossans of crimes of treason, declaring that we are not Talossan, but traitorous;
    He has made himself unavailable to the officers and affairs of state;
    He has sought to re­write Talossan history by laying claims of illegality and impropriety where none existed;
    He has vowed never to offer reconciliation or to assent to such reconciliations;
    He has threatened the welfare of Talossan citizens, upon the arrival of certain citizens to these shores;
    He has exacerbated our calamities, by declaring that he will show us no mercy until he has reduced us;

A monarch whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. We have sought to end all hostility through civil and determined means, through legal redress, and through simple dialogue, and all avenues before us have been trampled thin with the hostility that has been shown by the crown. He has blatantly refused to co­operate with any Talossan who does not support his agenda of hatred.

As a result of the actions of the king, we are obliged, by necessity, and it becomes our highest duty, to use every means, with which we have been furnished, in support of our invaluable rights and privileges; to oppose that power which is exerted only for our destruction.

Be it enacted by the authority of the people that Robert Rouergue is hereby deposed from the kingly office within this government and absolutely divested of all its rights, powers, and prerogatives; and that he and his descendants and all persons claiming by or through him, and all other purposes whatsoever shall be and for­ever remain incapable of the same; and that the said office shall henceforth cease and nevermore either in name or substance be re­established within this Republic.

We the delegates of the people of Talossa do declare that the King of Talossa has violated his inherent compact with this people, and that they owe no more allegiance to him. The measures still pursued against Talossa leave no room to expect such an interposition from motives of goodness and affection. King Robert the First has manifested deliberate enmity towards us and, under the character of a parent, persists in behaving as a tyrant, and so we renounce allegiance not to Talossa but to him, personally, forever.

We declare the right of the people of Talossa to the ownership of Talossa, and to the unfettered control of Talossan destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a corrupt monarchy has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Talossan people. In every generation the Talossan people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Talossan Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades­in­arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

We, therefore, the representatives of the free provinces of Talossa, in general agreement, assembled, appealing to the will of the people for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these provinces, being Maritiimi­Maxhestic, Cézembre, Maricopa, and Florenciâ, solemnly publish and declare, that this free Talossa is and of right ought to be a free and independent state; that it is absolved from all allegiance to the crown, and that all political connection between it and the House of Rouergue, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as a free and independent state, it may establish a free government, devoid of monarchist trappings, devoid of feudal relationships, devoid of tyranny. And for the support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our time, our effort, and our dedication.

Signed by the representatives of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Talossa,

    Michael P
    C C Gruber
    Andrew L
    Jeffrey R
    Andrea T
    Lisa S
    Gregory T
    Gjermund H
    Jeremiah P
    UC
    Matthias M

Many congrats to all. 

Re https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=1716.new#new

I have nothing to say save that 'apology' rings ever-hollow.  Ian L. knows what I mean, and he has always known.

GV

Quote from: King John on August 22, 2022, 03:02:43 PM
Dama Miestra makes what I think is a good suggestion.  Another point for discussion here is whether (in the opinion of y'all) it seems proper for the Monarch to take an active role in the Courts.  I'd have to recuse myself, of course, from pretty much anything with a political angle to it.

Estimada Audrada, I haven't touched a bow (well, at least I haven't shot one) in about 50 years.  Or do darts count?

-- John R

A monarch should not be a part of the judiciary in any capacity.  My extended screed in response to this thread will be posted in due course.  :-)

'The Campaign for North Africa' was published in 1978-ish, and it's so complicated it takes an estimated 1500 hours to complete.

Here is its most famous bit of instructions: https://youtu.be/X6zag8oBAZs?t=828

Mike P. says:

One year ago today (12 August 2022), I checked myself into the hospital.  I'd had Covid for two weeks and I was not getting any better, instead I was finding it harder and harder to breathe.  Some of you will remember that I dropped off the face of the earth for a couple of months last year - during that time, I was on a ventilator and unconscious.  I was in a medically-induced coma for 28 days straight, and even after I was considered awake, I was in a very fogged-out mental state due to the medications I was on.  Between hospital treatment, acute care treatment, a second hospital stay for pneumonia and a month and a half of physical therapy, I was finally able to return home in January. After coming home, I had to use a walker and a cane until I could walk on my own and it was at least a month before I could tackle the stairs.  Today, I am probably 95% recovered physically. I think I probably look ungainly when I walk, and I walk more slowly and tire more quickly than I did pre-hospital, but the progress I have made up to now is very visible to me and I continue to grow stronger each day. I know many of you were praying for me, and I believe that has made the difference. Early on, one of the doctors told my wife that I was going to die. I feel thankful every day that he was wrong and that I am still here, and I am thankful that I have had such a supportive family - my wife, kids, siblings and parents all helped me get through the interminable hospital stay and therapy, and helped me get back on my feet after returning home, and I will always remember and appreciate that.
*Edited to add*: I also am grateful for the nurses, doctors and therapists who kept me going and helped keep my spirits up.

When I get the go-ahead, I'll copy-paste his public Facebook post (12 Aug. 2022) to this thread.  Suffice to say the last year saw the esteemed former PM and Leader of the Progressive Conservatives get a near-fatal case of COVID-19, a stark reminder this bug is no joke.

Mike is recovered to at least 95% of his pre-bug health, and his brain seems not to have been affected. 

The world needs more people like Mike P.  He continues to be one of the best parts of Talossa, and I know I speak for all in sending prayers, vibes, and white light to him and his family.

GV

57RZ9 enthusiastic për
57RZ10 enthusiastic për
57RZ11 contrâ
57RZ12 enthusiasic për - ya'll had to do some digging to get my name from the far-away past lol
57RZ13 për
57RZ14 për

GV, Fiova

As GV gets ready to give John a piece of his mind...

I actually admire, like, and respect John immensely.  I'm genuinely sorry it was Talossa and not real life through which I 'met' him and Hooligan.  Both seem like amazing people.  Ditto for AD.

That's all.

GV

As to MMP, MMMP, MmMmMmP, or whatever, I leave that to wiser brains than mine.

As to the King himself, the only thing I wish from him is at least some semblance of him giving the Republic of Talossa at least a bit of slack for the provocation for its very existence.  'Betrayed, Stolen, Kept' is still a sticking point with a number of us.  John could have put out that fire years ago, but continues to let it live on in the collective Talossan memory undisturbed.

Reunision happened de jure.  Reunision of the heart has never even come close to coming about, and until that happens, it will be a festering cancer - a cancer in the heart of Talossa.