Becoming the Stars Themselves

I’ve written of the stars in the past, and that the stars are different things to different people – but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I looked at them.   I saw us. All of us, each of us individually a transcendentally radiant star – powerful and strong, blazing a path through our enemies as we destroyed all comers in the Legendary Division. Our names famous across the world, people whispering them in admiration for our achievements (and some admittedly in terror because we are so badass, of course).

We can argue about how to best achieve these goals – but we can’t be complacent about the goals themselves. For if we don’t create opportunity for all people, the disaffection and division that has stalled our progress will only sharpen in days to come.

I plan to abdicate the presidency peacefully. In reviewing the incidents during the past weeks I am unconscious of intentional error, but I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think that I have not committed many errors. I want all of you to realize how big a job, how hard a job, it is for your r5s, r4’s and diplomats and our future president to make sure we succeed but also ensure everyone has an opportunity to enjoy themselves.

To our next President, I say: Our state’s future  leadership and prestige amongst the States depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of internal state peace and human betterment.  In the face of threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion, protectionism. We must recognize the dangers of sectionalism and factionalism, the divisions based on alliance that seem to grow more and more bitter as internal strife goes on.  The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge – a natural party to dissension – will only allow external enemies the ability to divide and conquer. It is not just one alliance that can help us in the coming days of State versus State, but all. We need each and every person, whether as a fighter or in a supporting role.

It is up to all of us to make sure our next government can help us meet the many challenges we still face.  We have everything we need to do so at our disposal. Our strength, our drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention (and changing avatars and usernames!) means the future should be ours.  But that potential will only be realized if we work together. Only if our words reflect the decency of our people. Only if we become as the stars themselves.