[M:0]
Post by Nathan on May 7, 2008 17:34:48 GMT -6
Natopian culture is characterized by a general sense of aloofness, immaturity, and irreverence. All these traits are held in high regard and people tend to ostracize anyone perceived as "mature" or "overly serious." In official capacities, most Natopians will make concessions and keep their jibes to themselves when confronted with foreign nationals who take themselves too seriously, especially diplomats and heads of state enjoying the hospitality of the government. However, should a foreign national venture into the common areas of the Empire, they do so at their own risk. Visitors from professional and serious nations with governments incessantly pursuing protocol may feel out of place in Natopia at first due to complete abandon of protocols. However, travelers should take note that Natopians are by nature friendly, accessible, and playful.
The Empire is ruled by the pervasive and pointless Free Juice and Bagels Party. The Emperor, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister are all party members. According to party policies, all state occasions serve bagels and juice. The party adopted several other policies that never gained popular consent. Despite the party holding a monopoly in the executive branch and a majority in the Royal Frenzy, activity of the party is nonexistent. Party members proudly proclaims themselves as Bagelcratican, which speaks nothing to their political views on a "left-right" continuum and today proclaiming Bagelcraticanism is nothing more than a patriotic saying.
If there is one thing the Bagelcratican Party has achieved even during its dormancy, it is the fostering of Natopians' love of bagels and juice. While imperial laws only mandate that state occasions provide bagels and juice, the idea caught on in the private sector. You would be hard pressed to find a wedding reception, birthday, anniversary party, graduation, or even business meeting that did not have at least a platter of plain bagels and pitcher of cheap juice set on a table against the wall. Walking through any major city of Natopia, one will pass numerous bagel and juice shops and even the tiniest village will have bagels and juice available at the local diner. Due to a concession to Zachary Klaas in the formation of the Lavalonian Bagelcratican Party, tea is usually found alongside juice at most events.
If Natopians have one collective weakness as a nation, it is their passionate nationalism. This passion first surfaced after the Lavalonian Schism, when most Natopians felt Lavalon was directly responsible for the collapse of the Venerable Union of Aligned States, an organization used as a facade for Natopia's imperial asperations. Natopians desired empire, and Lavalon denied them that. Thus, following the collapse, the government only contributed to the common Natopian's eventual hatred of Lavalon, both that state and that nation as a whole. All diplomatic ties were ceased between Natopia and Lavalon, and a public holiday was established to demonize Lavalon. The holiday, Purification Day, celebrates the collapse of VUAS because Natopia was rid of Lavalon. This also shows Natopians' willingness to be persuaded by government policy for the ultimate goal of maintaining Natopia's good name. The VUAS collapse embarrassed Natopia, despite people's desire for domination. The word "Lavalonian" is sometimes used in Natopian speech to describe something that does not work, despite many attempts to get it right, each time starting over. This refers to how following the Lavalonian Schism, that country went through several constitutions, each time throwing the old government out.
The second occurance of this vicious passion surfaced on a global scale. As Lavalon was relatively isolationist in its foreign policy, its falling out with Natopia caused minor ripples on the international scene. When every other nation on Natopia's continent suddenly left Micras and the Micronational Cartography Society and relocated to a new planet, Giess, and joined the Geographical Standards Organization, Natopia was outraged. No notice had been sent to the government despite all the nations being allied with Natopia through the Novasolum Treaty. Natopians were expected to ignore this oversight because it was an honest mistake. However, Natopians felt that while the mistake was unfortunate and no one's fault, not enough was done to ensure Natopia's inclusion in such an important matter. Public opinion of Novasolum dropped and opinion of the Republic of Anthelia dropped even lower as the Imperial government pegged Anthelia as the leader of Novasolum and its president as the primary force behind the creation of the GSO. The public was furious. Any member of any other Novasolan or GSO nation was greeted by either barbed remarks by officials or full-blown threats by citizens. Things were smoothed over with practically all nations except Anthelia. Frenzy legislation was proposed to create social programs that would force Anthelian hatred into Natopian society. The legislation never officially passed but received wide support and little to no opposition. The word "Anthelian" is not in common usage but generally describes someone who is a puppetmaster, or hegemon.
One all-but-forgotten aspect of Natopian culture is the very first cultural initiative. The Natopabet is the creation of Nathan Shepard in late 2002. The new alphabet was designed to mainly be a code, creating new characters that paralleled the Roman alphabet. Nathan Shepard and Sherry Lochhaas are officially recognized as the only two people to be able to actually read the Natopabet. The original characters were complex and difficult to make, resulting in at least 2 revisions and simplifications. The current official Natopabet is further simplified so that characters can be produced on a computer. While it is generally held that the integrity of the unique characters largely survived the simplifications, typing these characters is very cumbersome and appears unbalanced and rather ugly on screen. The Natopabet has since been abandoned by the government, which used the Natopabet to print the motto on the first coat of arms.
The language of Natopia is officially Natspeak. Grammar and vocabulary are identical to American English, however the Natspeak Dictionary supplements the language. Most words merely allude to citizens' inside jokes and verbal quirks. Spelling of some words, especially easily contracted or slurred phrases is simplified and improper spellings are officialized. For example the sentence "I do not want to know what you ate," would be spoken thusly by a true Natspeaker, "I dunwano you ate." While legislation stipulates Natspeak as the only official language, all government business is conducted using standard English.
The national animal of Natopia is the second oldest symbol of Natopia, following the Cross of Sovereignty. The goat represents resourcefulness and steadiness and the people proudly embrace their national animal despite its quirkiness. The most popular eatery in Lindstrom City, which is famous for its famous clientèle, is named the Wild Goat Pub for the national animal.
The Empire is ruled by the pervasive and pointless Free Juice and Bagels Party. The Emperor, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister are all party members. According to party policies, all state occasions serve bagels and juice. The party adopted several other policies that never gained popular consent. Despite the party holding a monopoly in the executive branch and a majority in the Royal Frenzy, activity of the party is nonexistent. Party members proudly proclaims themselves as Bagelcratican, which speaks nothing to their political views on a "left-right" continuum and today proclaiming Bagelcraticanism is nothing more than a patriotic saying.
If there is one thing the Bagelcratican Party has achieved even during its dormancy, it is the fostering of Natopians' love of bagels and juice. While imperial laws only mandate that state occasions provide bagels and juice, the idea caught on in the private sector. You would be hard pressed to find a wedding reception, birthday, anniversary party, graduation, or even business meeting that did not have at least a platter of plain bagels and pitcher of cheap juice set on a table against the wall. Walking through any major city of Natopia, one will pass numerous bagel and juice shops and even the tiniest village will have bagels and juice available at the local diner. Due to a concession to Zachary Klaas in the formation of the Lavalonian Bagelcratican Party, tea is usually found alongside juice at most events.
If Natopians have one collective weakness as a nation, it is their passionate nationalism. This passion first surfaced after the Lavalonian Schism, when most Natopians felt Lavalon was directly responsible for the collapse of the Venerable Union of Aligned States, an organization used as a facade for Natopia's imperial asperations. Natopians desired empire, and Lavalon denied them that. Thus, following the collapse, the government only contributed to the common Natopian's eventual hatred of Lavalon, both that state and that nation as a whole. All diplomatic ties were ceased between Natopia and Lavalon, and a public holiday was established to demonize Lavalon. The holiday, Purification Day, celebrates the collapse of VUAS because Natopia was rid of Lavalon. This also shows Natopians' willingness to be persuaded by government policy for the ultimate goal of maintaining Natopia's good name. The VUAS collapse embarrassed Natopia, despite people's desire for domination. The word "Lavalonian" is sometimes used in Natopian speech to describe something that does not work, despite many attempts to get it right, each time starting over. This refers to how following the Lavalonian Schism, that country went through several constitutions, each time throwing the old government out.
The second occurance of this vicious passion surfaced on a global scale. As Lavalon was relatively isolationist in its foreign policy, its falling out with Natopia caused minor ripples on the international scene. When every other nation on Natopia's continent suddenly left Micras and the Micronational Cartography Society and relocated to a new planet, Giess, and joined the Geographical Standards Organization, Natopia was outraged. No notice had been sent to the government despite all the nations being allied with Natopia through the Novasolum Treaty. Natopians were expected to ignore this oversight because it was an honest mistake. However, Natopians felt that while the mistake was unfortunate and no one's fault, not enough was done to ensure Natopia's inclusion in such an important matter. Public opinion of Novasolum dropped and opinion of the Republic of Anthelia dropped even lower as the Imperial government pegged Anthelia as the leader of Novasolum and its president as the primary force behind the creation of the GSO. The public was furious. Any member of any other Novasolan or GSO nation was greeted by either barbed remarks by officials or full-blown threats by citizens. Things were smoothed over with practically all nations except Anthelia. Frenzy legislation was proposed to create social programs that would force Anthelian hatred into Natopian society. The legislation never officially passed but received wide support and little to no opposition. The word "Anthelian" is not in common usage but generally describes someone who is a puppetmaster, or hegemon.
One all-but-forgotten aspect of Natopian culture is the very first cultural initiative. The Natopabet is the creation of Nathan Shepard in late 2002. The new alphabet was designed to mainly be a code, creating new characters that paralleled the Roman alphabet. Nathan Shepard and Sherry Lochhaas are officially recognized as the only two people to be able to actually read the Natopabet. The original characters were complex and difficult to make, resulting in at least 2 revisions and simplifications. The current official Natopabet is further simplified so that characters can be produced on a computer. While it is generally held that the integrity of the unique characters largely survived the simplifications, typing these characters is very cumbersome and appears unbalanced and rather ugly on screen. The Natopabet has since been abandoned by the government, which used the Natopabet to print the motto on the first coat of arms.
The language of Natopia is officially Natspeak. Grammar and vocabulary are identical to American English, however the Natspeak Dictionary supplements the language. Most words merely allude to citizens' inside jokes and verbal quirks. Spelling of some words, especially easily contracted or slurred phrases is simplified and improper spellings are officialized. For example the sentence "I do not want to know what you ate," would be spoken thusly by a true Natspeaker, "I dunwano you ate." While legislation stipulates Natspeak as the only official language, all government business is conducted using standard English.
The national animal of Natopia is the second oldest symbol of Natopia, following the Cross of Sovereignty. The goat represents resourcefulness and steadiness and the people proudly embrace their national animal despite its quirkiness. The most popular eatery in Lindstrom City, which is famous for its famous clientèle, is named the Wild Goat Pub for the national animal.