Awfully weak story... or is it? [WARNING:SPOILERS]

[Linadae]

To be honest, you answered your own question when it comes to the Empire and why we're not rushing to sign up.

They are FORCING change on people who don't want to change. They don't just want to get rid of the primals. They want to get rid of the Twelve, who like the Primals, they consider false gods. They indocternate the children of any country they take over so within one generation they are Garleans and have forgotten their own culture.

Look back in our own history and you will find many instances of the same thing. From the Spanish Inquisition to what the Europeans did to the Native Americans, to the purposeful destruction of the Cajun French language in the 50's. One side believed they were 'saving' the other side. While the side being 'saved' thought of them as villains trying to change a way of life that had served them well.

[LloydShade]

To be honest, you answered your own question when it comes to the Empire and why we're not rushing to sign up. They are FORCING change on people who don't want to change.

To be fair, nowhere in the game it is presented that the people of Eorzea doesn't want this change. It is well presented though that the situation in Ul'dah is critical, with way too many homeless, jobless. People are hungry, desperate, while the rich folks in Ul'dah are shopping for a new pair of shoes. Primals are messing the minds of a lot of people and the only cure is death.

They indocternate the children of any country they take over so within one generation they are Garleans and have forgotten their own culture.

My friend said the same thing. Problem is, it was never shown in game and I'm almost sure it was not even stated (or so quickly it's super easy to miss).

[Vanguard319]

They are FORCING change on people who don't want to change. They don't just want to get rid of the primals. They want to get rid of the Twelve, who like the Primals, they consider false gods.

Agreed. They genuinely believe that they alone have the wisdom to rule Eorzea, and all counter arguments are heresy or the ignorance of misguided individuals. The Eorzean alliance sees it for what it is: The empire doesn't care about Eorzea's people, they only care about control. You only need to look at history to see that dictatorships generally are bad, no matter how they try to justify themselves as being for the greater good. Consider how many of Rome's Emperors were tyrants and despots, and how easily some of them gained power.

Eorzea simply wants to keep it's culture and traditions, it seeks alternative solutions to the Primals aside from genocide, Something the empire as a conqueror cannot understand. Conflict was inevitable.