Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty Speaks at ODEN Smokeout
Warns against Political Extremism; Introduces Headliners
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 7, 5583


Her Imperial Majesty makes a guest appearance at public Rally in Kaliburg

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto was on hand at the 5583 ODEN Smokeout on the Mall in Downtown Kaliburg.  She was there at the Smokeout to promote the Organization of Drug Exporting Nations, of which Kalistan is still a member.  Her Imperial Majesty was asked to introduce this year's smokeout headliners, Kaliburg's Neolithic Empress, but was welcomed to give a short speech on political matters during the introduction.  While on stage, she applauded Kalistan's welcoming attitude toward Baltusian refugees, and their willingness to continue Kalistani support for the various institutions of the Empire.  Below are Her Imperial Majesty's comments, delivered amid wild applause by the mostly well behaved but mostly intoxicated crowd.

"Thank you.  Thank you.  We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be here with you today.  We are a long time supporter of the Smokeout...  Yes, yes, yes... We were at the first one...  Yes...  Thank you.  Now, we will get to the music, that's a promise.  But first...  Yes, We have been asked to make a few comments about ODEN and our place in the world.  As you all know, ODEN has been with us for a very long time.  In this whole time, ODEN has served as a cornerstone in our Nation's Economy.  Whether in the time of the Republic or during the Empire, ODEN has long served as an integral institution in Kalistan and a key player in the trade of various recreational and pharmaceutical drugs in the world.  We do not need to point out how ubiquitous the neighborhood ODEN dispensary is in Kalistan's cities and towns.

Yes...  Thank you...  ODEN is not only an important part of our economy, but an important part of the world's economy.  And ODEN products are around the world too, but whether other countries join us or not, it does not matter:  ODEN-K's International Warehouse, just over that way about a mile and a half, remains the single most important entrepôt for storing and selling the world whatever people who seek to use recreational drugs and inexpensive but effective pharmaceuticals want to buy.  Other nations have a black market, we have a supermarket, and for every pound of anything sold in the world's black markets, 10 of those 16 ounces, on average, originate here in Kaliburg.

Just keep in mind that the only way we can maintain an institution like ODEN, or any of the institutions that we maintain, is because we, here in Kalistan, welcome the world.  We are not plagued by extremist attitudes or ideologies.  Around the world, we see the perennial scourge of Communism.  Whether in Istalia, where communist aggression has led to unprovoked attacks on other Majatran nations, or right here in Seleya, where the sudden reappearance of a communist government in our southern neighbor has led to a refugee crisis that has given us the opportunity to welcome more than 20,000 Athosians to date to our Empire--Communism is on the march in Terra, and it threatens those who love freedom, and wish they had the sort of freedoms that we have here in Kalistan.

But an more dangerous threat than even international communism is the ever present menace of fascism.  Clearly, the fascist specter looms, even in free countries like the land of our birth, the Kundrati Union.  We watch the developments there and the horrific rhetoric coming from the Kundrati Legion and we are reminded of Kalistan's own history, where fascist parties like the Liberal Patriotic League have menaced our own people, with a lot of the same hatred and fear that the KL is currently trading in.  And what's worse, many in Kundrati will probably go to the polls to support that hatred, not because they acually agree with it, but because they are stupidly attracted to the shiny and the new.  And who will suffer?  Well, it will be the Kundrati people who will suffer.  The fascists who could very well win in the upcoming elections will not suffer one iota because they are the source of the misery, not the target of it.

Kalistan's Institutions, like ODEN, like the Monarchy, like our National Industries, like our National Service Program, like our Social welfare programs, they serve to protect Kalistan from the horrors that our former co-nationals are about to experience.  Kalistani Institutionalism is what protects Kalistani people from the twin and equal extremes of Communism and Fascism.  To our view, Communists of the Far left and the the Fascists of the far right, represented by people, and we don't even know if that's the correct term... of organizations like the Kundrati Legion, are equal.  There is no daylight between their ideologies--they are one in the same.  And it is Kalistani Institutionalism which will stand in the way of their advancement across the globe.  Every.  Single.  Time.

Now:  We have some good news for you all.  Yes, Yes, we know you are all waiting...  One more Kalistani Institution that brings brightness to the world.  Yes, it is the Kalistani Music Industry!  It's what you all are here for right?  Kalistani Music is the bright sun in a dark night sky of International Culture.  Our nation is the single greater exporter of popular music on the face of the Planet, and literally nobody comes close.  And just like so many other things, ODEN is here for you too!  Over the centuries, ODEN has played a pivotal role in promoting live music here in Kalistan:  From the GanJams of old to the Smokeouts of today...  Haha.  To the Smokeouts of today, ODEN is one of the largest and most robust supporters of the Kalistani Concert Scene, and we just love them for it!  We are so proud of that fact, and it is such an honor... Yes. yes..  we know... Just...  Yes  Alright...  haha...  Yes... Alright... Alright you guys...  Well, you have to let me say it!  Ha ha...

Now:  You all have been jammin to the heaviest music playing right now anywhere in Terra, all day long.
You're probably pretty tired, right?  No?  What's that?  Haha...  No?  Well, then maybe they got one more band for you...  Yeah...  Ok... Yeah, you've been waiting for these guys all day...  Right...  Alright, without further ado, let us present to you, recording with KMI, our close, personal friends, Brothers of the Herb, if you know you know... Right...  ha ha ha...  Yes.  Alright.  We want to see you all go crazy... here they are-- Kaliburg, Your very own Neolithic Empress!!!!"

With that, Neolithic Empress, who had been taking the stage as Her Imperial Majesty finished speaking, launched into a hyped set opener and current number 10 single, "Gift that you Give to Me" and for the next hour, Neolithic proceeded to deafen everyone with the pure sounds of Kalistani Alternative, closing with the scorcher "Holding the Noose"  Her Imperial Majesty remained in the wings the entire set, joined by His Highness, The Prince Consort William Ananto-Sandoval and held a short informal audience with the band following the set.

Here's the Set Opener "Gift that you Give to Me" and Show Closer "Asleep at the Wheel" from the 5583 ODEN Smokeout.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMC8R8NII_Y]
Neolithic Empress opens their set with "Gift that you Give to Me"

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2H3x_kMJtg]
Neolithic Empress closes the Smokeout with "Holding the Noose"