Neufreistadt

State of the Nation Address

Claude Desmoulins, Leader of the Neufreistadt Representative Assembly, opened the Fifth Session with the following statement.

My fellow citizens, we stand at a pivotal moment.

In the last fifteen months we have grown from a handful of brave souls on a private island that no one was sure could be sustained to a community of more than 35 members.

We have weathered our greatest storm and answered one of the questions that precipitated the founding of the city, "Can a community survive the departure of its founders?"

The answer to that question is a resounding "Yes."

As we look back at the last few months, we ask, "What makes Neufreistadt what it is?"

Is it our theme?

In this sim, Fachwerken coexist with ominous towers and Roman temples. Bauhaus and Biergarten stand mere tens of meters apart. We prepare to expand into a sim filled with Corinthian columns rather than half timbered buildings.

Is it our theme? It is not.

Is it our builds?

With no disrespect to the many fine builders here whose work you see throughout the city, it is not. On April 28 and again on June 2, the virtual sun rose on a city with builds and roads and walls missing.

Did Neufreistadt end? It did not.

Is it our documents?

While they are a civic framework unparalleled in Second Life, they are not. The turbulent events through which we have passed were triggered, in part, by a proposal to change those documents. Some even suggested they be replaced entirely.

Despite the ensuing acrimony and disagreement, did Neufreistadt tear itself to shreds? It did not.

Our greatest strength can be seen in our response to the calamity of June 2. Rather than petitioning the SC for this or that, or asking what bill had to be passed to fix things,
citizens came and asked, "What can I do to help?" They came to rebuild something bigger and more important than their house or their lot. What mattered for Neufreistadt at this darkest moment wasn't the theme, wasn't the builds, and wasn't the documents.

It was our sense of community that was, and is, our greatest strength.

As we go forward, many challenges await us. How to expand — How to reform.
As we face these challenges, let us not forget our neighbors and neighborhoods.

As we grow, let us not forget our community.

No matter what obstacles we face.

No matter what opportunities we seize.

This community can survive and thrive.

If we do so, we will do so because we stand together.