To address Senator Cerra's and Senator Star's superficially convincing argument that a planet should be able to "decide for itself" its policies with respect to religion, I would caution you, Senators—down this path lies religious demagoguery of the worst kind. You and your planets mean well, but there are planets that, if given this same opportunity to legislate religiously, would not do so only for the banal purpose of holidays, as you would. I have no desire to see the law used to enforce religious principles or occasions of any kind, whether it pertains to a holiday or whether, potentially, it pertains to beheadings, stonings, and all manner of barbarity. That, to me, is why the Imperial policy on this issue is quite clear in opposing "any and all state support of religion."

Remember also, Senators, that a law may be passed encouraging religious extremism on one world, but that world's religious extremism is rarely, if ever, the problem of that world alone. As long as it exists on any world, it is a potential danger to all worlds, and should never be encouraged by law (intentionally or, in this case, unintentionally). I would also humbly recommend reading more into the Imperial policy that I referred to a moment ago—you will find, I think, other convincing arguments against Imperial worlds legislating religiously. I would simply conclude this point by drawing your attention to the fact that the potential dangers of this path far outweigh whatever superficial "benefit" or, perhaps, comfort that Life Day will bring to your people.

With respect to Senator Cerra's argument that "the majority of holidays have some sort of religious connotation to them," this simply isn't the case on Brentaal, and on most worlds that I know of. Brentaal, like most Core Worlds, celebrates fete weeks like the Festival of Life, which is similar to Life Day but without religious connotations. We also celebrate the Festival of the Stars, which commemorates space travel. And, of course, we join all Core Worlds, including Imperial Center, in celebrating the New Year Festival. I would also suggest to Senator Ryuun that Empire Day is a terrific occasion to unite us all. Under the circumstances, there is certainly no reason why the government of Brentaal, or of any Imperial world, should recognize, observe, or participate in Life Day—a petty, provincial holiday celebrating a tree on a planet that happens to be revolting. You may take the word "revolting" in whatever sense you would like.

But Senators, my proposal is not unreasonable. The people of your worlds may, of course, celebrate Life Day if they wish (even if I happen to believe, personally, that this borders on an act of subversion against the Empire). My proposal simply clarifies that the governments of Imperial planets—which are bound together by the Empire, funded by the Empire, defended by the Empire—shall not support Life Day in defiance of Imperial policy.

I come, finally, to you, Senator Domon. If it is the desire of your world to strip Life Day of all of its religious meaning, and spiritual meaning, and geographic meaning, and racial meaning, and political meaning, and national meaning, and recognize it on Sluis Van for "whatever reason is necessary," as you phrased it, you are perfectly able to do so under existing law and this proposal would not affect your ability to. Why go to all this trouble, though, instead of simply having a holiday to celebrate something unique about Sluis Van and its people, I cannot imagine. I would think that, considering your planet's fleet has no ships manufactured by your planet's shipyards, some gesture in honor of your planet would be appreciated by your people.