He paused for a moment, smiling and looked at his Texan counterparts.
"You know what our new alliance stands for, a better future for all our people - a future not influenced by war loving raving lunatics, and the great powers that fight for dominion over the planet." Anastasiy said and looked the Emperor straight in the eye. "What say you Emperor Norton, will you join us in building a better future for our children?"
Through the whole duration of the constitution signing, Michael Ire was quiet. There were many firsts for the new nation of Texas. It was the first time that they helped a nation bring about sovereignty peacefully. It was a first that Texas cooperated in alliance with a socialist nation. It was a first that Texas was an original founding member of an alliance (ok, second time, but Athenia doesn't exist no more to give that record), and it was a first that Michael Ire wore a suit since high school...
At the reporter's lounge
During the press conference time when all the leaders went to give messages to their distinguished nations on this very enormous event, Michael Ire went to the Texan National Television (owned by FunCorp) station outside of the palace into a small corner garden of shrubbery and tomatoes, Ire cleared his throats and began when the reels were rolling.
"Ladies and gentlemen, young and old, poor and rich, Texans and friends all over, this day is a day of a new era for world foreign relations. It was just a decade ago, or less, when the most common way to greet a nation was by the gun. It was just a decade ago when imperialism was still in its climax, when the old empires were strong roaring machines. It was just a decade ago when every day was a massive conflict in North America or in Asia. It was just a decade ago when Athenia was whole and a fierce threat and Imperial China still had an empire, its territory, and us, when Bo Jin Cheng slaughtered thousands to feed his mutant farms. It was just a decade ago.
But humankind is quick to its feet and stop itself from destruction. It was just a decade when a single mutant said 'This is wrong' and ended Bo Jin Cheng's reign, for the Sovereign of China to become democratic, for France to allow a voice to its colonies, and when the Raj turned from a menacing wildfire into a beacon to the world with its humanitarian aid and kindness to Southern China by saving them from Maoist tyranny. It was just a decade for Brazil to help increase the overall peace of the world. It was just a decade when the Spanish Empire allowed free trade with us in our time of need, when it was easier if they kept to themselves... and it was just a decade when capitalists and communists united to talk peacefully("with the gradual triumph for capitalism soon." Michael ire said under a low breath, looking through his notecards..)
Today, this is the end of that decade, the year 1963. New Byzantium shall become a free land of free people wanting to break off the circle of the old Athenian ways of constant war and oppression. I won't lie or sugar-coat, but Emperor Norton 1 is a nutcase. He rides a bicycle to places instead of taking a limousine or personal aircraft, eats at the "finest burger stalls", wears archaic general clothes, gives decrees and edicts to individuals personally, and has eccentric behaviors. But hell, if he is the sanest and most benign leader in all of former Athenia, then that says something about the current state of the place.
As for the recent speech by Mr. Roosevelt, as much as I want to gleefully thank him for calling our nation and our people "anarcho-capitalistic, greed-emboldened Texans", which is a compliment to us, I must say that Texas didn't invade either. We had to regain lost assets that Athenia used carelessly in the invasion of Shroomalia. Sure, we looted and slaughtered. But we regret it, and is thankful that the Raj and Brazil got us to our senses. Sadly, that shall stain our nation's history as the most brutal atrocity we have done. Not only have we destroyed innocent lives in an innocent nation in hopes of a new imperialist doctrine, or the fact that we got into debt, but we have tainted the ideal of capitalism. Capitalism was the idea of free markets, where a milkman one day can become a corporate machine the next through hard work and networking, the idea that little Tommy can put up a lemonade stand without having a commissar shoot him for turf violation; not mercenaries going in nations and slaughtering children for an oil field, not corporations doing behind the door deals with foreign polities and though that isn't illegal or immoral, per se, doing so for war is. Yes, we have our share of atrocities and we are sorry. But I hope the nations, whether it be France, Mexico, Shroomalia, Russia, or any other nation we transgressed in hopes of imperial gains, shall forgive us. Ok, Fat Mao and Kim Jong little baby Il, fuck you, because no one cares for you. May you commies die in hellholes. I had no regrets in stomping your asses.
But anyway, all in all, Roosevelt is a big fat liar.
Now, I must go back to party. Details on this new Yugo-Texas-Byzantine-small nation alliance later. Adios."
Michael Ire waved the cameras to stop and went back inside for the party.
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.
-Joseph Campbell