Our unified nation is the product of generations of development; a system where citizens are loyal, peaceful, well-informed, and

proud to participate in a government readily adaptable to the changing needs of society. Our government will not be composed of the wealthy or strong elite; it will be composed of ordinary and educated people with honorable intents. They understand and appreciate our duties to the planet and the human race. We embrace diversity in our citizens; something vital for long term survival. Our leaders, free of corruption and greed, will guide us to an era, the culmination of hundreds of thousands of years of human on Earth, in which we expand our knowledge beyond the realms of what was thought to be impossible. We will continue to drive our ambition and fulfill our fate on our road to a more perfect world. We will help not only ourselves, but the world, achieve peace and prosperity under non-oppressive governments free of suffering and irrationalism. We will honor the deeds of our citizens and value their accomplishments no matter what they are; art, music, writing, science, math, are all on equal terms. We will not deprive our children, but teach them the facts and the knowledge we possess so that they understand their role in the universe, and can grow to continue our legacy. We must not repress their curiosity or urges, as infants showered with affection and knowledge will grow to be the continuation of ourselves. They will grow to be dedicated students with a strong determination to improve upon their world. Education should be presented to them in a manner as accessible and affordable as possible. We will welcome them to a loving environment full of reason, logic, and kindness. They will understand their task to their country, to the human race, to the Earth; to love, to appreciate, to learn, to innovate, to help, to preserve. We will take great care in introducing new life to the Earth; the responsibility inherited in such a task cannot be understated. Life itself is built upon the same particles that were violently ejected from the thermonuclear processes taking place in the cores of stars. As Neil deGrasse Tyson once pointed out, the universe is in us. We are not isolated observers of an evasive cosmos, but components of it; we are the universe. It so follows that it is our duty to grasp it. We are terrifyingly ignorant about the principles that govern the universe, but the universe is not hostile; it is simply indifferent. But if we can come to terms with this indifference, then our

existence as a species can have genuine meaning. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light. Something should be said about the motivations of our self-proclaimed duties. We acknowledge that there is almost certainly no grand meaning behind our existence, at least in the religious sense, and the study of astronomy has only revealed that the fate of the universe is a death warrant to life everywhere. Based on this information, one might question the purpose of our struggle to progress. Perhaps it is the inborn desire for fulfillment in our lives, and refusal to accept our insignificance. This stubborn philosophy has carried civilization to the point at which it stands now. What right do we have to discontinue the legacy? This way of thinking has undeniably brought us far. It defines us. True, all of our self-proclaimed duties to ourselves and the universe have no real incentive other than the promise of a more fulfilling life. But is that not enough? It is far more than a frivolous yearning. Evolution has equipped us with this unique quality for our survival. Science has clearly proven itself as a provider of satisfaction in our lives and will continue to do so for future generations. In addition, it is far too premature to accept the death of the universe as inevitable. If there is one thing one can learn from history, it is that the endurance of the human spirit cannot be underestimated. We must never lose our spirit. We must appreciate that the world is so vast, so beautiful, and so exquisite; that there is no reason to fight and kill amongst fellow human beings. We cannot deceive ourselves with pretty stories where there is little evidence. It is far better to look death in the eye and be grateful for the short but magnificent opportunity life gives. Science is a character-building experience; it allows us to grasp the universe as it really is rather than dwelling in delusion, no matter how satisfying. We will embrace new technology rather than fear it. The ultimate goal in life is to be able to engage as deeply as possible with the miracle of human consciousness that we have developed through evolution, something more spiritually powerful than any religion can offer. The powerful potential of evolution is demonstrated best in us, humans. At birth, we are all instilled with a sense of longing to seek answers and improve our condition. The sheer fact we ponder our existence is a testament to the remarkable ability of humans to desire understanding. As far as we know, no other organism has so deep an inclination to understand

their place in the grand cosmic timeline. It is likely that our existence is simply a remarkable coincidence, perhaps an inevitable byproduct of galactic chemistry. But with the examination of human history, we arrive at the profound conclusion that we should be incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and hopeful to what we will achieve next. We must instead revel in the glory of the universe and its beautiful diversity, its mysteries and elusiveness, and the fact that we are, at least for a tiny moment in its epic timeline, allowed a glimpse into its secrets, collectively and unified as a nation, a privilege denied to ninety-nine percent everyone in human history. We follow the ideal of a social contract; that our citizens have a duty to provide and contribute to our society, in return for protection of their liberties and a high quality of living. Our government will not interfere in matters beyond its power, unless it affects the welfare of our planet or our citizens. Our government will go to great lengths to ensure that the rights of every citizen of which they are entitled to be fulfilled. It shall establish a great presence in the world, while always reflecting the opinions of the majority of the people, and remaining responsive to the changing wills of the people. Our technology has given us power to change the world. Because of this, we are alive at the best time to be alive in the history of the Earth. We now know more about the universe than we ever have before and live in an era of massive promotion of intellectual power. We understand the endeavors that took place to get to where we are now and we appreciate our role in the cosmic timeline. However, our technology comes not without danger. We must now be more careful than ever before to reject ignorance in matters that affect the welfare of our planet and think on larger timescales with concern to our future generations. The Earth is a tiny, fragile, complex, and beautiful planet with much not yet understood. It is where we rose to awareness of our place in the universe. For that, we must cherish it. We will continue what the ancients have slaved upon for centuries; the advancement of science, the greatest thing humans have ever created. Carl Sagan wrote one last plea for his generation before death; this concluding remark is a summary of his views- Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager,

every hero and coward, every war and revolution, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every artist and philosopher, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every tragic relationship, every accomplishment, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. We are a small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. There is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The future is up to us. Science underscores our responsibility to deal kindly and compassionately with each other. We must preserve and cherish our home, the only home we have ever known. That is the single aim of Arcadia, and the foundation upon which we stand. We will fulfill it to the best of our ability, through just and equitable methods. We can only hope it will serve as a beacon of light and inspiration to illuminate all the dark corners of suffering in humanity. We are pioneers and innovators, we are artists and historians, we are scientists and engineers, we are writers and musicians, we are Arcadians; but above all else, we are incontestably and inexpressibly human.