Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Face the Nation

______


The nation originally founded as the Unified Settlement has undergone a bit of a transformation, as the very concept of its nature has been refined.


The name, Unified Settlement, was a bit contrived. While it may be applied to a physical location at some point in the future, it is better to refer to this nation of Earth as, simply, the Nation of Earth. At any rate it will likely translate much better to other languages, and is certainly more descriptive.

It is often best to keep things as simple as possible.

"So," you may ask, "what is this Nation of Earth you speak of, and is it any different from the Unified Settlement?"

What it is, is a continuation, an evolution. Where the concept of the Unified Settlement seemed to always be difficult to explain, the concept of a Nation of Earth is nearly self-evident. Besides the name, there isn't really anything different from what we most recently understood the Unified Settlement to be...

...which is a Nation of Earth, THE Nation of Earth, whatever people may call it, however informal its organization, and however far-flung those who recognize it may be.

It is something which already exists, something that continues to grow organically -- as opposed to something someone thought up and is trying to get others to accept.

You might say that this conveniently takes some weight off my shoulders, and perhaps I am indeed 'passing the torch', but if it is to be one nation for all of Earth, it's probably better if it doesn't have some silly name and one relatively young man known as its 'Founder'.

As I've repeatedly stated, the Nation of Earth represents a natural and inevitable state, one of virtual 'State'-lessness. It's an EVENTUALITY, fercryinoutloud, not something that any one person can be credited for initiating.

This is not to say that all we can do is sit back and watch it unfold. There is much to be done, though I may be the last person one should ask for direction.

But, if anyone asks, my advice is to visualize the best possible future and do what you can to steer things toward it. That was my intent in February 2004 when I (somewhat arrogantly) founded the Unified Settlement. Now 2 years wiser, my stance is much more relaxed yet fundamentally quite similar.

Jim Cadle's Flag of Earth is still the official flag of this nation, as far as I'm concerned: www.flagofearth.com

Peace!


Phil Smith
March 14, 2006

______