Crisis of Legitimacy
Oa Kieretsu
(IRRK) -- The rebirth of the Council of Truth was heralded as a bold move towards bringing about a form of full democracy to the Clan population. Recently however, all eyes seem focused not on the process, but on the whispers and rumors of a crisis of legitimacy that is brewing around Henry Radiman.
Henry Radiman. To many, the man represents the very essence of the Clans. Noble, eloquent, and righteous, he has been a figurehead for the Clan population for over ten years. Mr. Radiman's background has always been shrouded in mystery, from his true origins and Clan affiliation to his family history, and to his mysterious 'pilgrimages' across the northern deserts of Rubi-Ka.
Mr. Radiman was first appointed as the leader of the Council of Truth on January 13, 29467, at the peak of Rubi-Ka's third civil war. He would preside over the final three years of the conflict, guiding Clan forces to strategic victories and pushing Omni-Tek forces to the very gates of Omni-1. To this day, many speculate that the Clans could have taken advantage of the fact that Omni-Tek Corporation of Rubi-Ka (OTRK) was essentially left stranded by the parent corporation, and marched directly on the capitol city.
However, undoubtedly due in no small part to Mr. Radiman's tireless diplomatic efforts, a ninety-day ceasefire was announced between the Clans and OTRK. This diplomatic exchange would eventually lead to a full pull back by Clan forces, and more significantly, to the signing of the Tir Accord.
The Tir Accord and the ensuing Amnesty brought a measure of peace to Rubi-Ka, and an unprecedented level of diplomatic exchange between the two bitter rivals. As was reported by the IRRK in its article entitled The Council of Truth/Dust Brigade Link - Myth or Fact?, this would all change as a result of Mr. Radiman's alleged ties to the Dust Brigade.
These alleged ties were not the only factor undermining Mr. Radiman's legitimacy, and to many Clan members, certainly not the most significant. More disturbingly were his two disappearances, the first in the spring of 29476, and the second after the fall of the Council of Truth in September of the same year. That latter disappearance lasted for almost one full year.
Mr. Radiman has been quite cryptic and unspecific in offering concrete reasons for his abandonment of his sworn duties. In a statement released to UniClanCast on July 26, 29476, Mr. Radiman stated, "I have been away from Tir and from the Council on a pilgrimage, to rediscover myself and the cause for which we fight. The events that transpired in the months before my departure had left me weary and disheartened. Our failure to find a peaceful and unified solution to the conflict that divides our planet was something that I found hard to acknowledge. And the continued absence of certain individuals who were close to me had taken its toll. More than anything, I needed time away from the world."
At the time, many Clan citizens welcomed Mr. Radiman's return, and sympathized with his words. However, less than three months later, he would vanish yet again. It would not be until September of 29477 that he returned, with visions of David Marlin dancing in his head. To this day, Mr. Radiman has yet to publicly explain this latter absence.
The planet of Rubi-Ka, and more specifically, the Clan population, seems at the crux of a pivotal moment in its history. The Council of Truth Clerical Staff, and the various representatives sent to the Council from the smaller Clans, are working patiently trying to establish the needed administrative framework to ensure the proper functioning of this renewed effort. And while there is near unanimous consensus on the need to see this process, and the Council itself, through to fruition, many are unsure and even against Mr. Radiman leading them, as was recently evidenced by a recent discussion on the Council of Truth's gridsite concerning Mr. Radiman's legitimacy.
"You know, he didn't make too many friends with his strange behavior prior to the fall of the Council." Corrine 'Daimoness' Wright, a Veteran with Clan Apocalypse explained in a recent interview. "Vanishing, reappearing, vanishing again. And when we would have needed a speaker for the Clan cause most, he chose to go on a pilgrimage. I do not think a simple explanation would be enough to restore my faith in him."
Ms. Wright echoes a mentality which appears to pervade people's opinions of Mr. Radiman. Yet, she seemed to temper her opposition when asked what Mr. Radiman could do to regain the trust and support of the Clans.
"I still think he has done much for the Council and the Clans. I do not hate him on a personal level. But I lost my trust in him when he left his duties without a word, and failed to appoint any successor or at least someone to take his place until he would return. If he would present an explanation for his absences that can iron out the situation, it would be the first step, yes."
Ms. Wright also offered very clear conditions for Mr. Radiman, should he wish to secure her support again. "The first step would be for him to explain his past actions in a way that people would understand." Ms. Wright began. "Second, he and his staff would need to be more...present. In the past, Radiman was an elusive person, so remote that he seemed unreal to many of us. Mr. Radiman should appear on a more regular schedule, to show the Clanners that he is indeed there for them. I do not think it is impossible for him to regain the trust of the clans, but it's not exactly a walk in the park."
Sonny 'Ramid' Bichrest, President of Clan Veritas, and the spark which ignited the original debate, offered his opinion of Mr. Radiman during a recent discussion in Newland City.
"I've made no secret that during the last convening of the Council of Truth I was against him." Mr. Bichrest stated. "I feel that his decisions were often not beneficial to the clans, and when we needed leadership he wavered and stalled. My problems with Radiman in its most simple form are that he plays his own game, one that the people he claims to represent cannot see. I just hope that the loss of trust in the original Council of Truth has taught him not to ignore the feelings and opinions of the clans." Mr. Bichrest refused to speculate further on the exact nature of Mr. Radiman's alleged 'own game'.
"Mr. Radiman can be a good leader of the Council. However, I too question some of his motives." Cautious yet conciliatory, Abram 'Cemetarygate' Kerans, President of Clan Lifeless Immortality expressed his support for Mr. Radiman. However, his concerns seemed to mirror those of Ms. Wright and Mr. Bichrest. "If people will not believe Radiman's reasons for fleeing and hiding, then they would probably not believe his denying ties to Dust Brigade. However, despite that, I feel some people would find comfort in hearing him make a public statement about his disappearances and his alleged ties to the Dust Brigade. Though allegations are just that, allegations. Until there is concrete proof I see no reason to question whether or not there is any link between the two."
As to Mr. Radiman's most recent disappearance in September of 29476, Mr. Kerans seemed to support Mr. Radiman's decision. "Stay and be incarcerated by Omni-Tek, or live to fight another day. I think his decision to lay low was a wise choice. If not for that, he would probably not be here to help today, but rather behind bars."
Despite the rampant uncertainty as to both Mr. Radiman's past behavior as well as the lingering allegations of his ties to the Dust Brigade, no one seems to have a better alternative in mind. Ms. Wright states that although "Mr. Radiman still has a reputation, it would be hard to find someone that could step in his shoes."
"Is this really the person we want as the public face of the Clans?" Asked Len 'Biggreen' Thompon, President of Clan Rising Phoenix. "I'm not saying he'll have as much influence as before, that has been pretty well stated. It hardly matters though. Put Radiman back in the public view as the spokesperson and a majority of the Clans and Omni who care about politics will shrug and say 'more of the same'. We need a new voice. A new symbol. Who that person is in my mind matters less than who it is not. We need to demonstrate that this is a new Council of Truth and not the reformation of the old. If no-one else of the major Clans will step down to take this role, then I'd suggest that a leader of one of the minor Clans take the spot, or that it rotates between certain members over a period of time."
Has Mr. Radiman's past history of disappearing without notice harmed his credibility too much? Will this brewing crisis impede the efforts of the revived Council of Truth? The above statements are a mere microcosm of a prevailing opinion that Mr. Radiman's recent attempts at re-inspiring the Clan cause may be failing.
To some, Henry Radiman is a leader and visionary. To others, he is a terrorist, a delusional religious fanatic, and a mere shell of a man that The Art Gallery once called an 'Absent Father'. While most of the common Clan population seems to lurk somewhere in between those two extremes, it is becoming increasingly apparent that ever-increasing numbers are tending to the latter.