Portfolio: CitizenCon

“Today is meant to remind everyone that the future of the UEE is what we make it. If we want a better universe for not only ourselves, but for the generations to come, then we must create one.”
• Imperator Erin Toi, CitizenCon 2793
For over a century and a half, CitizenCon has celebrated those that strive to make the UEE a better place. This annual conference spotlights the civic-minded, celebrates their achievements, and focuses on how to make the UEE better by highlighting and discussing the vital topics of the day. In short, CitizenCon embodies the hopes and dreams of those working to improve the universe for all.

CitizenCon typically occurs every October 10th SET and is the marquee event celebrating the Empire-wide holiday, Citizen Day. While people across the UEE observe the holiday in various ways, only one city gets to host CitizenCon itself. The event rotates locations each year, and hosting it is considered both an honor and a significant undertaking, much like achieving citizenship.

2948 brings CitizenCon back to New Austin. Over the decades, Terra has hosted the event numerous times. Only Earth has hosted it more, going back to the first ever CitizenCon in 2793 at a time when the Empire was still grappling with rebuilding itself after the fall of the Messers. Imperator Toi pushed the event as a way to provide hope and optimism that the UEE so desperately needed at that time.

Citizen Day Creation
The UEE celebrated Citizen Day for centuries before holding the first CitizenCon. When the governments of Earth first introduced the modern concept of Citizenship in the 22nd century, Citizen Day followed soon after as a way to celebrate civic responsibility. It would also become the day on which new citizens were sworn in. For hundreds of years, it was seen mostly as a bank holiday in which people would get a day off work and children would be reminded of the importance of achieving citizenship.

However, this would change under the Messer regime. While Galor Messer IX is generally credited with creating the modern elaborate version of the holiday in 2734, records released under the Historical Truth Act revealed that it was actually proposed by high-level military advisors. At the time, a surge in Vanduul raids in the Tiber system had the military concerned. Their troops were suffering losses, resources were stretched thin, and they worried that redeploying forces from the Perry Line to Tiber would be perceived as weakness by the Xi’an. The military needed more pilots, starmen, and soldiers to properly address the issue, but their recruitment numbers had been dropping for decades. Thus, they proposed that Messer IX inspire the masses into service by refocusing Citizen Day as a holiday that “celebrates citizens and the sacrifices they make in creating a better UEE.”

Galor Messer IX wholeheartedly endorsed the idea and planned lavish celebrations across the UEE on 2734-10-10. Messer IX wished to rally support for massive tax hikes to pay for his biggest obsession, constructing and remodeling government buildings in the Meta-Baroque style. Meanwhile, the military used the holiday to stir up xenophobic fears and launch a successful new recruitment effort. On the surface, this Citizen Day celebration achieved its goals, though it also made an impact in ways that Messer IX or the military never intended.

While many people came to greatly enjoy the yearly celebration, for years, Citizen Day festivities were forced upon the inhabitants of Terra and other systems opposed to Messer’s fascist and militaristic regime. A move meant to remind them of who truly ruled the UEE. Yet, celebrations in those locations took a very different tone. With massive protests against the Messer regime effectively illegal, activists turned Citizen Day into a chance to gather and subvertly celebrate the true power in the UEE – the citizens. Speeches given at events in Terra reinforced the idea that it was the sacrifices of citizens that made the UEE great. They strongly implied, but never outright stated, that the Messer regime would only remain in power as long as the citizens allowed. An Advocacy investigation from 2741, which was released as part of the Historical Truth Act, found that following Citizen Day there was a ‘substantial increase in membership of subversive groups.’ The civic holiday proved itself equally good at stirring loyalties, no matter which side of the political spectrum they lay. The fact that Citizen Day actually helped empower citizens to create a better future makes it a rare remnant of the Messer regime that persists in a positive way to this day.

A Celebration of Citizens
When the Messer regime fell in 2792, Erin Toi, the UEE’s first freely elected Imperator, understood the importance Citizen Day had in the early days of Humanity’s expansion. Facing a seemingly impossible task of restoring faith in the UEE government, Imperator Toi hoped Citizen Day could now be used to rally people to a new cause, the rebuilding of a wounded Empire. To lay out her case for the potential future of the UEE, Imperator Toi held the first ever Citizen Day Conference in New York on 2793-10-10. The symbolism of having it on Earth, the former center of the Messer regime’s power, was not lost on anyone. Imperator Toi used the occasion to give a rousing, inspirational speech about how the future of the UEE was now truly in the hands of its citizens.

Most people deemed the inaugural CitizenCon, as it would come to be known, a success. Some critics called it nothing more than a bloated campaign rally in the spirit of the former regime’s antics, and pointed out that the proceedings lacked specifics on how to improve the Empire. Imperator Toi took the critiques to heart and adjusted the format for the following year. Prime hosted CitizenCon in 2794, which officially focused on ‘Solutions for the Future.’ A not-so-subtle acknowledgement that Terra was the center of anti-Messer activism and the progressive politics that lead to their ousting. The second event featured a variety of booths and speeches tailored to a specific theme. The format set the standard for CitizenCon, though as history has shown, the organizers are not afraid to make further adjustments if necessary.

CitizenCon has produced many memorable moments, from last year’s unveiling of the revolutionary Consolidated Outland Pioneer to the often mocked ‘talent competitions’ of the early 2850s. For over a century and a half, CitizenCon has both informed, entertained, and inspired. Many of today’s current political, cultural, and economic leaders can point to a past CitizenCon as a source of inspiration. It is on this day that all the people of the Empire are reminded just how important Citizenship is, and hold it up as an ideal to be strived for and earned, no matter how humble the origins or difficult the journey.

In 2948, Citizen Day is set to be observed with great enthusiasm across the Empire, with a record crowd expected to attend the CitizenCon celebration in New Austin, with even more people joining to watch Drake Interplanetary’s keynote address on Spectrum. It reflects that the true heart and soul of the Empire is its citizens, who deserve to be celebrated for making the UEE what it is today. As Imperator Toi famously said during her opening speech at CitizenCon 2793, “The UEE is a dream that’s only possible with the support of the people. It’s a reflection of the universe they want and will fight to maintain. As long as the citizens stay strong, so will the UEE.”

If the sustained success of CitizenCon is any indication, the UEE is in good hands going forward.

"Heute soll jeder daran erinnert werden, dass die Zukunft der UEE das ist, was wir daraus machen. Wenn wir ein besseres Universum für nicht nur uns selbst, sondern auch für die kommenden Generationen wollen, dann müssen wir eines schaffen."
- Importeur Erin Toi, CitizenCon 2793
Seit über eineinhalb Jahrhunderten feiert CitizenCon diejenigen, die sich dafür einsetzen, die UEE zu einem besseren Ort zu machen. Diese jährliche Konferenz stellt die Bürgerinnen und Bürger in den Mittelpunkt, feiert ihre Leistungen und konzentriert sich darauf, wie man die UEE besser machen kann, indem man die wichtigsten Themen des Tages hervorhebt und diskutiert. Kurz gesagt, CitizenCon verkörpert die Hoffnungen und Träume derjenigen, die daran arbeiten, das Universum für alle zu verbessern.

CitizenCon findet in der Regel jedes Jahr am 10. Oktober statt und ist die Zeltveranstaltung, die den empireweiten Feiertag, den Bürgertag, feiert. Während die Menschen in der UEE den Feiertag auf verschiedene Weise beobachten, darf nur eine Stadt CitizenCon selbst veranstalten. Die Veranstaltung wechselt jedes Jahr die Standorte, und ihre Ausrichtung gilt als Ehre und bedeutendes Unterfangen, ähnlich wie die Verleihung der Staatsbürgerschaft.

2948 bringt CitizenCon zurück nach New Austin. Im Laufe der Jahrzehnte hat Terra die Veranstaltung mehrmals veranstaltet. Nur die Erde hat sie mehr beherbergt und geht zurück auf die erste CitizenCon 2793, zu einer Zeit, als das Imperium noch mit dem Wiederaufbau nach dem Fall der Messers zu kämpfen hatte. Imperator Toi drängte die Veranstaltung, um Hoffnung und Optimismus zu wecken, die die UEE damals so dringend benötigte.

Erstellung von Bürgertagen
Die UEE feierte Jahrhunderte lang den Bürgertag, bevor sie die erste CitizenCon veranstaltete. Als die Regierungen der Erde im 22. Jahrhundert das moderne Konzept der Staatsbürgerschaft einführten, folgte bald darauf der Bürgertag, um die bürgerliche Verantwortung zu feiern. Es würde auch der Tag werden, an dem neue Bürger vereidigt wurden. Hunderte von Jahren lang wurde es vor allem als ein Feiertag angesehen, an dem die Menschen einen freien Tag bekommen und die Kinder an die Bedeutung der Staatsbürgerschaft erinnert werden.

Dies würde sich jedoch unter dem Messer-Regime ändern. Während Galor Messer IX im Allgemeinen die Schaffung der modernen, aufwendigen Version des Feiertags im Jahr 2734 zugeschrieben wird, ergaben Aufzeichnungen, die im Rahmen des Historical Truth Act veröffentlicht wurden, dass er tatsächlich von hochrangigen Militärberatern vorgeschlagen wurde. Damals hatte eine Welle von Vanduul-Angriffen auf das Tiber-System das betroffene Militär. Ihre Truppen erlitten Verluste, die Ressourcen waren dünn besetzt, und sie befürchteten, dass die Verlegung von Truppen von der Perry-Linie nach Tiber von den Xi'an als Schwäche wahrgenommen würde. Das Militär brauchte mehr Piloten, Starmen und Soldaten, um das Problem richtig anzugehen, aber ihre Rekrutierungszahlen waren seit Jahrzehnten rückläufig. So schlugen sie vor, dass Messer IX die Massen zu ihrem Dienst inspiriert, indem es den Bürgertag als einen Feiertag neu in den Mittelpunkt stellt, der "die Bürger und ihre Opfer bei der Schaffung einer besseren UEE feiert".

Galor Messer IX unterstützte die Idee uneingeschränkt und plante am 2734-10-10-10 üppige Feste in der UEE. Messer IX wollte sich für massive Steuererhöhungen einsetzen, um seine größte Leidenschaft zu bezahlen, den Bau und Umbau von Regierungsgebäuden im metabarocken Stil. Unterdessen nutzte das Militär den Feiertag, um fremdenfeindliche Ängste zu schüren und eine erfolgreiche neue Rekrutierung einzuleiten. An der Oberfläche hat diese Bürgertagsfeier ihre Ziele erreicht, aber auch in einer Weise, die Messer IX oder das Militär nie beabsichtigt haben.

Während viele Menschen die jährliche Feier sehr genossen, wurden den Bewohnern von Terra und anderen Systemen, die sich gegen das faschistische und militärische Regime von Messer wehrten, jahrelang Bürgertagsfeste aufgezwungen. Ein Zug, der sie daran erinnern sollte, wer die UEE wirklich regiert hat. Doch die Feierlichkeiten an diesen Orten nahmen einen ganz anderen Ton an. Mit massiven Protesten gegen das Messer-Regime, die effektiv illegal waren, machten Aktivisten den Bürgertag zu einer Gelegenheit, die wahre Macht in der UEE - die Bürger - zu sammeln und untergraben. Reden auf Veranstaltungen in Terra bekräftigten die Idee, dass es die Opfer der Bürger waren, die die UEE groß gemacht haben. Sie deuteten stark an, erklärten aber nie ganz, dass das Messer-Regime nur so lange an der Macht bleiben würde, wie es die Bürger zuließen. Eine Advocacy-Untersuchung von 2741, die als Teil des Historical Truth Act veröffentlicht wurde, ergab, dass es nach dem Bürgertag einen "erheblichen Anstieg der Mitgliedschaft in subversiven Gruppen" gab. Der Bürgerfeiertag erwies sich als ebenso gut darin, Loyalitäten zu wecken, egal auf welcher Seite des politischen Spektrums sie liegen. Die Tatsache, dass der Bürgertag tatsächlich dazu beigetragen hat, die Bürger zu befähigen, eine bessere Zukunft zu schaffen, macht ihn zu einem seltenen Überbleibsel des Messer-Regimes, das bis heute auf positive Weise fortbesteht.

Ein Fest der Bürgerinnen und Bürger
Als das Messer-Regime 2792 fiel, verstand Erin Toi, die erste frei gewählte Imperatorin der UEE, die Bedeutung des Bürgertages in den ersten Tagen der Expansion der Menschheit. Angesichts einer scheinbar unmöglichen Aufgabe, den Glauben an die UEE-Regierung wiederherzustellen, hoffte Imperator Toi, dass der Bürgertag nun genutzt werden könnte, um Menschen für eine neue Sache zu gewinnen, den Wiederaufbau eines verwundeten Reiches. Um ihr Argument für die mögliche Zukunft der UEE darzulegen, veranstaltete Imperator Toi am 2793-10-10-10 in New York die erste Bürgertagskonferenz. Die Symbolik, es auf der Erde zu haben, dem ehemaligen Zentrum der Macht des Messer-Regimes, ging niemandem verloren. Imperator Toi nutzte die Gelegenheit, um eine mitreißende, inspirierende Rede darüber zu halten, wie die Zukunft der UEE jetzt wirklich in den Händen ihrer Bürger liegt.

Die meisten Leute hielten die erste CitizenCon, wie sie bekannt sein würde, für einen Erfolg. Einige Kritiker nannten es nichts anderes als eine aufgeblähte Wahlkampfkundgebung im Geiste der Eskapaden des ehemaligen Regimes und wiesen darauf hin, dass dem Verfahren keine genauen Angaben darüber fehlten, wie man das Imperium verbessern könne. Imperator Toi nahm sich die Kritik zu Herzen und passte das Format für das folgende Jahr an. Prime veranstaltete 2794 die CitizenCon, die sich offiziell auf das Thema "Lösungen für die Zukunft" konzentrierte. Eine nicht ganz so subtile Anerkennung, dass Terra das Zentrum des Anti-Messer-Aktivismus und der fortschrittlichen Politik war, die zu ihrer Vertreibung führte. Die zweite Veranstaltung umfasste eine Vielzahl von Ständen und Reden, die auf ein bestimmtes Thema zugeschnitten waren. Das Format hat den Standard für CitizenCon gesetzt, aber wie die Geschichte zeigt, scheuen sich die Organisatoren nicht, bei Bedarf weitere Anpassungen vorzunehmen.

CitizenCon hat viele unvergessliche Momente hervorgebracht, von der Enthüllung des revolutionären Consolidated Outland Pioneer im letzten Jahr bis hin zu den oft verspotteten "Talentwettbewerben" der frühen 2850er Jahre. Seit über eineinhalb Jahrhunderten informiert, unterhält und inspiriert CitizenCon. Viele der heutigen politischen, kulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Führungskräfte können auf eine vergangene CitizenCon als Inspirationsquelle verweisen. An diesem Tag werden alle Menschen des Imperiums daran erinnert, wie wichtig die Staatsbürgerschaft ist, und sie als ein Ideal hochhalten, das angestrebt und verdient werden kann, egal wie bescheiden die Ursprünge oder schwierig der Weg ist.

Im Jahr 2948 wird der Bürgertag im ganzen Reich mit großer Begeisterung verfolgt, mit einer Rekordmenge, die zur CitizenCon-Feier in Neu-Austin erwartet wird, und noch mehr Menschen kommen, um Drake Interplanets Grundsatzrede auf Spectrum zu sehen. Es zeigt, dass das wahre Herz und die wahre Seele des Imperiums seine Bürger sind, die es verdienen, gefeiert zu werden, weil sie die UEE zu dem gemacht haben, was sie heute ist. Wie Imperator Toi in ihrer Eröffnungsrede auf der CitizenCon 2793 berühmt sagte: "Die UEE ist ein Traum, der nur mit der Unterstützung der Menschen möglich ist. Es ist ein Spiegelbild des Universums, das sie wollen und erhalten wollen. Solange die Bürger stark bleiben, werden auch die UEE stark bleiben."

Wenn der nachhaltige Erfolg von CitizenCon ein Hinweis darauf ist, ist die UEE auch in Zukunft in guten Händen.

“Today is meant to remind everyone that the future of the UEE is what we make it. If we want a better universe for not only ourselves, but for the generations to come, then we must create one.”
• Imperator Erin Toi, CitizenCon 2793
For over a century and a half, CitizenCon has celebrated those that strive to make the UEE a better place. This annual conference spotlights the civic-minded, celebrates their achievements, and focuses on how to make the UEE better by highlighting and discussing the vital topics of the day. In short, CitizenCon embodies the hopes and dreams of those working to improve the universe for all.

CitizenCon typically occurs every October 10th SET and is the marquee event celebrating the Empire-wide holiday, Citizen Day. While people across the UEE observe the holiday in various ways, only one city gets to host CitizenCon itself. The event rotates locations each year, and hosting it is considered both an honor and a significant undertaking, much like achieving citizenship.

2948 brings CitizenCon back to New Austin. Over the decades, Terra has hosted the event numerous times. Only Earth has hosted it more, going back to the first ever CitizenCon in 2793 at a time when the Empire was still grappling with rebuilding itself after the fall of the Messers. Imperator Toi pushed the event as a way to provide hope and optimism that the UEE so desperately needed at that time.

Citizen Day Creation
The UEE celebrated Citizen Day for centuries before holding the first CitizenCon. When the governments of Earth first introduced the modern concept of Citizenship in the 22nd century, Citizen Day followed soon after as a way to celebrate civic responsibility. It would also become the day on which new citizens were sworn in. For hundreds of years, it was seen mostly as a bank holiday in which people would get a day off work and children would be reminded of the importance of achieving citizenship.

However, this would change under the Messer regime. While Galor Messer IX is generally credited with creating the modern elaborate version of the holiday in 2734, records released under the Historical Truth Act revealed that it was actually proposed by high-level military advisors. At the time, a surge in Vanduul raids in the Tiber system had the military concerned. Their troops were suffering losses, resources were stretched thin, and they worried that redeploying forces from the Perry Line to Tiber would be perceived as weakness by the Xi’an. The military needed more pilots, starmen, and soldiers to properly address the issue, but their recruitment numbers had been dropping for decades. Thus, they proposed that Messer IX inspire the masses into service by refocusing Citizen Day as a holiday that “celebrates citizens and the sacrifices they make in creating a better UEE.”

Galor Messer IX wholeheartedly endorsed the idea and planned lavish celebrations across the UEE on 2734-10-10. Messer IX wished to rally support for massive tax hikes to pay for his biggest obsession, constructing and remodeling government buildings in the Meta-Baroque style. Meanwhile, the military used the holiday to stir up xenophobic fears and launch a successful new recruitment effort. On the surface, this Citizen Day celebration achieved its goals, though it also made an impact in ways that Messer IX or the military never intended.

While many people came to greatly enjoy the yearly celebration, for years, Citizen Day festivities were forced upon the inhabitants of Terra and other systems opposed to Messer’s fascist and militaristic regime. A move meant to remind them of who truly ruled the UEE. Yet, celebrations in those locations took a very different tone. With massive protests against the Messer regime effectively illegal, activists turned Citizen Day into a chance to gather and subvertly celebrate the true power in the UEE – the citizens. Speeches given at events in Terra reinforced the idea that it was the sacrifices of citizens that made the UEE great. They strongly implied, but never outright stated, that the Messer regime would only remain in power as long as the citizens allowed. An Advocacy investigation from 2741, which was released as part of the Historical Truth Act, found that following Citizen Day there was a ‘substantial increase in membership of subversive groups.’ The civic holiday proved itself equally good at stirring loyalties, no matter which side of the political spectrum they lay. The fact that Citizen Day actually helped empower citizens to create a better future makes it a rare remnant of the Messer regime that persists in a positive way to this day.

A Celebration of Citizens
When the Messer regime fell in 2792, Erin Toi, the UEE’s first freely elected Imperator, understood the importance Citizen Day had in the early days of Humanity’s expansion. Facing a seemingly impossible task of restoring faith in the UEE government, Imperator Toi hoped Citizen Day could now be used to rally people to a new cause, the rebuilding of a wounded Empire. To lay out her case for the potential future of the UEE, Imperator Toi held the first ever Citizen Day Conference in New York on 2793-10-10. The symbolism of having it on Earth, the former center of the Messer regime’s power, was not lost on anyone. Imperator Toi used the occasion to give a rousing, inspirational speech about how the future of the UEE was now truly in the hands of its citizens.

Most people deemed the inaugural CitizenCon, as it would come to be known, a success. Some critics called it nothing more than a bloated campaign rally in the spirit of the former regime’s antics, and pointed out that the proceedings lacked specifics on how to improve the Empire. Imperator Toi took the critiques to heart and adjusted the format for the following year. Prime hosted CitizenCon in 2794, which officially focused on ‘Solutions for the Future.’ A not-so-subtle acknowledgement that Terra was the center of anti-Messer activism and the progressive politics that lead to their ousting. The second event featured a variety of booths and speeches tailored to a specific theme. The format set the standard for CitizenCon, though as history has shown, the organizers are not afraid to make further adjustments if necessary.

CitizenCon has produced many memorable moments, from last year’s unveiling of the revolutionary Consolidated Outland Pioneer to the often mocked ‘talent competitions’ of the early 2850s. For over a century and a half, CitizenCon has both informed, entertained, and inspired. Many of today’s current political, cultural, and economic leaders can point to a past CitizenCon as a source of inspiration. It is on this day that all the people of the Empire are reminded just how important Citizenship is, and hold it up as an ideal to be strived for and earned, no matter how humble the origins or difficult the journey.

In 2948, Citizen Day is set to be observed with great enthusiasm across the Empire, with a record crowd expected to attend the CitizenCon celebration in New Austin, with even more people joining to watch Drake Interplanetary’s keynote address on Spectrum. It reflects that the true heart and soul of the Empire is its citizens, who deserve to be celebrated for making the UEE what it is today. As Imperator Toi famously said during her opening speech at CitizenCon 2793, “The UEE is a dream that’s only possible with the support of the people. It’s a reflection of the universe they want and will fight to maintain. As long as the citizens stay strong, so will the UEE.”

If the sustained success of CitizenCon is any indication, the UEE is in good hands going forward.