Post by Giovanni Facilli on Aug 17, 2010 12:31:25 GMT -5
Guesseppe sat in his favorite red chair, and looked towards the man as he operated the large camera. Within a few seconds, the man gave him the Thumbs up. Guesseppe watched as the Light went to red, and then to green.
If you were watching Television at the time, it would switch to an image that would say:
Guesseppe smiled at the Camera, then began to speak.
"Good evening my fellow citizens. We now stand a quarter of a way through a century that has seen more wars than any century in Europe’s history.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the Italian Empire had no armaments industry. Italian makers of plowshares could, with time, and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, twelve and a half million men and women are directly involved in our defense. Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new, in the Empire’s experience.
I myself am an industrialist, and I viewed, from the start as patriarch of Head of Franco Arms, realized that the industrialists of today do not have the right mindset. What they wanted, and still want, is capital, and they are willing to get as much as possible, despite harming the people. I liked to believe that I wasn’t, and still am not, that type of person, and I believe you think that too.
The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city, every state house, and every branch of the Government. We recognize the imperative need for this development, yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all on the line, and so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwanted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties, or our fine government processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense, with our peaceful messages and goals.
The Administration before mine was different than what this government was founded on. Giovanni wanted the government to, if possible, allow the people to know everything possible, and not to hide important facts from the people, not to keep them from their knowledge which was so much a founding right of the revolution that gave this government power. They[Alessandros Admnistration] hid facts from you, instead of informing you, they denied information, instead of giving it out, and they kept the newspapers, the printing press, the keyboard, from delivering the truth. They kept information on the government, closed meetings, and denied rights.
The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are, as a people, inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago, That the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers, which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our Empire, if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is a very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning, to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit, or allow, to the extent that it is in my control.
And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes, or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know.
For we are opposed, around the world, by a monolithic, and ruthless conspiracy, that relies primarily on covet means, for expanding its sphere of influence. On infiltration, instead of invasion, on subversion, instead of election, on intimidation, instead of free choice, on guerillas by night, instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted, vast human and material resources, into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine, that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, and no secret is revealed.
No leader, no Emperor, should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding, and from that understanding comes support, or opposition, and both are necessary. I am not asking your newspapers to support an administration, but I am asking your help, in the tremendous task, of informing and alerting the People of this Empire.
I have complete confidence in the response and dedication of our citizens, whenever they are fully informed. I not only could not stifle controversy among your readers, I welcome it. This administration intends to be candid about its errors, for as a wise man once said, “An error does not become a mistake, until you refuse to correct it”. We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors, and we expect you to point them out when we miss them.
Without debate, without criticism, no administration can succeed, and no country, no Empire, can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solo, decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press is protected by our Constitution of the Revolution that happened years ago, the only business in Italy, specifically protected by the constitution. Not primarily to amuse, and entertain, not to emphasis the trivial and sentimental, not to simply give the people what they want, but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mole, educate, and sometimes even anger, public opinion.
This means greater coverage and analysis of international news, for it is no longer far away, and foreign, but close at hand and local. It means a greater intention to improve understanding of the news, as well as improved transmission. And it means, finally, that government should provide you, at all levels, with the fullest possible information, outside the narrowest limits of national security. I am confident, that with your help, the help of the People, that man in this Empire, and with its help, other countries, will be what he was born to be.
Free and Independent.
I thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to listen, and wish you, one and all, a Good night."
The Camera light went red, then turned off, and Guesseppe Smiled. A new way, For a new Administration.
If you were watching Television at the time, it would switch to an image that would say:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, We inturrupt your Six O'clock News for a Message from The Emperor of the Italian Empire."
Guesseppe smiled at the Camera, then began to speak.
"Good evening my fellow citizens. We now stand a quarter of a way through a century that has seen more wars than any century in Europe’s history.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the Italian Empire had no armaments industry. Italian makers of plowshares could, with time, and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, twelve and a half million men and women are directly involved in our defense. Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new, in the Empire’s experience.
I myself am an industrialist, and I viewed, from the start as patriarch of Head of Franco Arms, realized that the industrialists of today do not have the right mindset. What they wanted, and still want, is capital, and they are willing to get as much as possible, despite harming the people. I liked to believe that I wasn’t, and still am not, that type of person, and I believe you think that too.
The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city, every state house, and every branch of the Government. We recognize the imperative need for this development, yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all on the line, and so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwanted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties, or our fine government processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense, with our peaceful messages and goals.
The Administration before mine was different than what this government was founded on. Giovanni wanted the government to, if possible, allow the people to know everything possible, and not to hide important facts from the people, not to keep them from their knowledge which was so much a founding right of the revolution that gave this government power. They[Alessandros Admnistration] hid facts from you, instead of informing you, they denied information, instead of giving it out, and they kept the newspapers, the printing press, the keyboard, from delivering the truth. They kept information on the government, closed meetings, and denied rights.
The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are, as a people, inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago, That the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers, which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our Empire, if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is a very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning, to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit, or allow, to the extent that it is in my control.
And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes, or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know.
For we are opposed, around the world, by a monolithic, and ruthless conspiracy, that relies primarily on covet means, for expanding its sphere of influence. On infiltration, instead of invasion, on subversion, instead of election, on intimidation, instead of free choice, on guerillas by night, instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted, vast human and material resources, into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine, that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, and no secret is revealed.
No leader, no Emperor, should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding, and from that understanding comes support, or opposition, and both are necessary. I am not asking your newspapers to support an administration, but I am asking your help, in the tremendous task, of informing and alerting the People of this Empire.
I have complete confidence in the response and dedication of our citizens, whenever they are fully informed. I not only could not stifle controversy among your readers, I welcome it. This administration intends to be candid about its errors, for as a wise man once said, “An error does not become a mistake, until you refuse to correct it”. We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors, and we expect you to point them out when we miss them.
Without debate, without criticism, no administration can succeed, and no country, no Empire, can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solo, decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press is protected by our Constitution of the Revolution that happened years ago, the only business in Italy, specifically protected by the constitution. Not primarily to amuse, and entertain, not to emphasis the trivial and sentimental, not to simply give the people what they want, but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mole, educate, and sometimes even anger, public opinion.
This means greater coverage and analysis of international news, for it is no longer far away, and foreign, but close at hand and local. It means a greater intention to improve understanding of the news, as well as improved transmission. And it means, finally, that government should provide you, at all levels, with the fullest possible information, outside the narrowest limits of national security. I am confident, that with your help, the help of the People, that man in this Empire, and with its help, other countries, will be what he was born to be.
Free and Independent.
I thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to listen, and wish you, one and all, a Good night."
The Camera light went red, then turned off, and Guesseppe Smiled. A new way, For a new Administration.
Ave Guesseppe.
