These Are The Times…
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. — Thomas Paine – The Crisis, December 1776.
These truly are the times that try men’s souls. But now is not the time to give up the fight. Yes, conservatism may have lost a battle yesterday, but the war for the future of this country is not over. Your Mandarin pleads with you not to give in to despair, not to become petty and just reflexively oppose every idea from the other side, but rather steel yourself for the consequences of this election.
It is now up to your Gormogons and fellow like minded conservatives to keep the ideals of conservatism alive and to shelter it for our children. For when the policies of the Progressives knock this country to its knees, it will be the principles of conservatism and our children that will rise to restore this country to its rightful place as that shining city on the hill.
You may be saying that while that sounds nice, what can we do now most inscrutable Mandarin to save the country. Your Mandarin wants you to remain engaged in the political process, continue to practice your faith, provide for the well being of your family, and remember that half the country shared you beliefs last night.
The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.
The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.
The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.