From the Desk of His Highness,

Michael

Regent of Lemuria

Captain-General of the Realm

KS, CT

 

 

 

                                                                                                            September 09, 2001

 

 

OPEN LETTER

 

To The People of the World,

 

 

            Although I know that the above letterhead may be startling, please allow me to explain.

 

            Over the course of many years, I have become increasingly aware of a serious, and growing, discontent and dislocation within modern society. The implications of this ongoing and progressing situation are frightening.

 

            It has been recognized since the 1970's that European-based civilization is in decline. While regrettable, when viewed against the record of its accomplishments, this is a natural process of societal evolution. However, throughout history it has been shown that, even as a society began its downward descent, another society arose to replace it. This 'incoming' society was present and identifiable as such to the inhabitants of the declining structure, and was often remarked upon in that society's literature and correspondence, even if those denizen's did not acknowledge or accept the reality before them.

 

            The current situation lies in contravention of the historical norm. Even as European-based society descends, no organized group or paradigm is rising to replace it, either through supplantation or conquest. Increasingly, the societies of the world are homogenized and listless; as information becomes more and more widespread, as previously 'secret', or 'classified' information is revealed, it becomes increasingly apparent that the promise of the democratic/republican/federalist/capitalist/ consumerist/materialist social structure was, at best, a veil; at worst, a sham to anaesthetize the body- politic to the advantage of a select oligarchy.

 

            Remember that human societies wither and die. For the two hundred years prior to its end, the Roman Empire ruled its world; from Ireland to Iran, from Belgium to the Ethiopian frontier, there was one language, one government, one army, one currency, in a society where true illiteracy among the 'settled' population was something to be remarked upon. One hundred years later, illiterate shepherds grazed their flocks in the ruins of Rome itself; to them, the very idea of coinage and the use of money was considered a form of magic.

 

            This reversal occurred at a time when society existed at a relatively pastoral level. Imagine, if you will, the effect of a total socio-economic collapse on today's society, a collapse on the scale of the Great Depression. No honestly run model I have seen predicts even the eventual recovery of society to its current level of sophistication within one hundred years of the causative event.

 

            If human society is to increase and achieve the promise it is capable of, if human society is to avoid the Great Darkness that looms, profound action must be taken. A light must be ignited, giving the searchers a beacon, an ideal, to home in on; a beacon to wrench the attention of the complacent away from their soporifics, and to make them aware of their plight.

 

            To this effect, as of the date of this letter, I have proclaimed the resurrection of the Empire of Lemuria, with myself as Regent. While this action may seem rash, pretentious, even ridiculous to some, the first step had to be taken by someone. While it may be somewhat pedantic, I must say to you that this is not a game, nor is it a mere exercise in political thought. To paraphrase the words of George Washington, upon accepting his commission from the Continental Congress, I do not think that I am the best person for this, but I will stand in the breach until the True Emperor can be proclaimed.

 

            With this letter, I am asking for your aid in this great task. I realize that I am asking you to commit much. I am asking you to commit your life, your fortune and your Sacred Honor, not for the mere pursuit of filthy lucre, but for the goal of uplifting the Human Race as a whole, bring Humanity to its next level, and to fend off the Great Darkness.

 

            The first question you must have is: Why Lemuria? Briefly, we are products of our history. We need a historical base to draw from; at the same time, we must start anew. This is the reasoning behind an empire, rather than a republic; republics, at best, work well only on the small scale. By way of contrast, an empire is a conglomeration of societies operating under one semi-diffuse authority. Lemuria? A name was needed, not simply a made-up name, but a name that tugs at a racial memory of another time and place, while avoiding the implications of a firmly recognized historical epoch.

 

            What is Lemuria? What is the vision, the Light, that I am speaking of? A place where you may speak freely; a place where, when your leaders walk by, you do not have to hold your nose; a place where, even if the government has to stoop to 'dirty tricks' to beat back the Dark, we never do it at the expense of our own.

 

            What is this Dark that I speak of? It is placid, blissful ignorance; it is fear; it is, to paraphrase the words of author Robert A. Heinlein, the freedom of Kafka, the 'freedom' granted by Hitler and Stalin, the freedom to pace back and forth in your cage...It is a soft, comfortable serfdom...a polite slavery.

 

            For the moment, this where the situation must lie. With your help, we will move forward and bear the Light of Knowledge to those enraptured by the Darkness of Ignorance.

 

            Thank you, for your time, and your consideration.

 

 

 

                                                I am,

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        Michael,

                                                                        Regent of the Empire of Lemuria,

                                                                        Captain-General of the Realm