"Steps up to a podium in Memphis, Tennessee".
My friends, I want to thank you for the kindnesses that I have been privileged to receive from all of you wonderful people in the IDS over the past few months. In October, I had been asked before, by others to step up and take a role in Atlasia, to stand before the people of this great and glorious nation and serve them in their hour of need. Twice I was asked previously, and twice I did refuse.
But this call was different. The men of the past, the small men before, who had belittled and chastised me for what they viewed as my primitiveness, were gone. Swept away by the same tide that they themselves had sustained for so long and for so hard. I was asked, again, to take on the mantle of the IDS, and to serve the glorious people of this great and proud region, the foundation of the entire nation of Atlasia.
I must say, I had not expected said call. I had twice refused, and surely, I could not been seen as a reliable and erstwhile ally by those I had twice refused. But then again - they offered me the same deal as before. Except where once had bourn contempt, now bore respect, a profound understanding of the struggles facing our sturdy region.
And so, I accepted. Did I know that this task would be difficult? Indeed. I had little hope of gaining election and the support of the people in my mind, but you all surprised me once again. You voted for me, and insisted that I take my rightful place in the legislature as your representative. Then as now, I was stunned by the trust that you all showed in me. I trust that you all find your humble faith in me has been well rewarded.
It has not been an easy term. I am not going to sugarcoat the difficulties this region has faced from it's enemies within. We have had seatown, after losing an election in November, attempt to toss out the ballots of 12 atlasian citizens. The result would have been to elect seatown and was a transparent attempt to undermine the principles by which this region holds most dear - responsible government, a government elected by the people, for the people and of the people.
We owe much to the great justice Dibble who quashed Seatown's case and ensured that the people of the IDS would only be governed by a legislature chosen by then, and not handpicked by seatown. Not only was seatown defeated, he was also defeated in the supreme court of Atlasia by unanimous decision. We all are very thankful to JBrase who effectively defended this region in court. We own him a great debt that perhaps some day our people will be able to repay.
The party of Labor has followed up their great exertions by continuence of their attempts to overwhelm the legislature. They have continued to register men with little ties to the IDS and ferry them into their correct districts so that by voting they can nullify the votes of the actual residents. Their goal is clear - to transform this region beyond all recognition, and we must continue to fight these efforts through the recruitment of our own citizens to this great Cause.
Thirdly, there is the matter of the recall filed by Bacon King against yours most truly. I was not surprised to see Bacon King attempt to remove me after his first attemp at legislative control had been thwarted by Dibble. Nor was I much surprised to see the case filed as a petition. What did surprise me is that they were able to obtain, through the use of those same people they have moved into the region, sufficient votes for the recall.
Again, I am thankful for the deep show of faith by the IDS in my governance as a legislature. Not only did we beat off the recall, we demonstrated to Bacon King, that his values and his views are not representative of the people of the IDS.
Finally, there is the court case, also filed by Bacon King against me. I will say nothing more about that other than to say that I do not believe courtesy should be criminal.
I am going to tell a story that was once told here many years ago by a man whom I greatly respect, and I suspect some of you will recognise. This man one spoke here in a parable, explaining the situation that each and every one of us faces as a citizen of the IDS in these times.
You all have not stood by the side of the road, you have all stood up to be counted and for that I shall always be thankful. I am proud of my legislative record in standing up for individual liberties, fundamental freedoms, and the trusted traditions of the IDS against those who would wish to infringe all three. I promise that I will continue to pursue this agenda, to ensure that all voices are represented in the IDS.
I fear I must ask your help once again. There is much work that is left to be done. All of the bills that you have requested that I introduce remain on the order paper. Help me steer these bills through so that I can fulfill the trust you all placed in me back in October. Re-elect me to the IDS legislature!
And again, once more in closing from this same man in this same city, so many years ago.
"Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make Atlasia what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make Atlasia a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you. "
"I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop."
And I've seen the Promised Land.
Thank you all. God be with each and every one of you!
