I agree that the Grand Tour isn't about multi-culturalism, but I don't think it's a necessity to prevent civil war - Frederick never did it and by and large he gets along with them.
True that civil war is an extreme outcome. I'd point out though that Fredrick is a galactic, and has a much broader world view than just Avernus, and that has aided him.
I'm concerned about some of Syr's attitude that seems to be "Avernus is the best, and I want to be a great general like my father."
It's rather... provincial. Understanding more of the universe and the breadth of experience even just inside the Trust can only be a good thing.
That's not entirely related though. Frederick was a bureaucrat who dealt with tons of different worlds on a daily basis before he became governor. Syr has no such experience to draw from.
I agree that it's not too big of a deal though. We can do without it, just as is the case for any of the education options.
We can do without it. I over-reacted to the charge of doing it just for multiculturalism benefits.
This isn't pre-civil war US where you have too heavily diverging parties at odds with each other- no one can afford to walk away. It also isn't medieval Europe where flash points can erupt over any sorts of things and foreign policy is simply the whims of the Heads of State. - Like seriously, comparing coherent and complex nation-states to feudal societies when it comes to foreign policy? That's insane. Vanaheim is more than Governor Olaf, shooting the shit with him isn't a bad idea, but the kind of networking the Grand Tour is all about is obsolete to a large extent.
Actually... to be fair, the whims of the Heads of State are quite powerful. Asgard, Midgard, Alfheim, Avernus, and Jotunheim are all essentially dictatorships. Even Vanaheim and Svartalfheim are ruled by oligarchies in which networking is actually more important in some ways. 40K can easily be medieval in many ways politically, and our part of the universe is more so than most. (Part of the anachronism stew).
Granted, networking with Nilfheim is likely pointless, and Muspelheim less effective.
And I would point out that the main reason the Trust formed as strongly as it did is because Avernus and Muspelheim made extreme efforts to tie it together. We had to trade in something like three favors with Asgard, and favors with Vanaheim, Midgard, and Alfheim.
Those natural divisions are slowly being buried by the continued integration of the Trust, but certain events could reopen those fault lines. It's important that Syr be positioned to be able to smooth over any such divisions that arise. Understanding the perspective of the various systems, and having networked some relationships through out the trust will be invaluable for that.
Remember that the US antebellum era developed in many ways because the political class stoked regional divisions instead of encouraging unity. This was because the political class was regionally divided themselves.
Also, I accept your apology, and I apologize myself for lashing back so harshly. I shouldn't have done that. You just managed to hit one of my berserk points. (I'm actually descended from Lakaota Indians, and I find all the multiculturalism to be so much pretentious white liberalism. They say how much they admire the "Native American way of life" but in reality they wouldn't want to live it. I know I wouldn't. Besides, what does that even mean anyway? American Indian tribes all had extremely different lifestyles and imagined commonalities are so much hokism.)
You seem to be of the opinion it's the obligation of Avernus to know the capabilities, limitations, and agenda of each of the Trust Worlds. Am I correct?
I am of the opinion that it is extremely
advantageous to Avernus to know the capabilities, limitations, and agenda of each of the Trust Worlds.
And that therefor it is Syr's obligation to advance that understanding even if it means spending a decade away from Avernus. Since it is Syr's duty to improve Avernite position and strengths.
