| The World Over |
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| THE WORLD OVER |
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| WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. MICRONATIONALISTS SOUND-OFF ON IRAQ AS BUSH TELLS UN TO GO TO HELL |
| Alto-Reino. In a shaply-worded condemnation of President George Bush's declared willingness to invade Iraq without UN approval, King Bruno-Thomas of the Noble Monarchy of Alto-Reino officially placed his Brazil-based nation in opposition to the leader of the free world. Bruno-Thomas' "High Manifesto #001" formally protested the Bush Administration's disregard for the United Nations, declaring that "use of military force against the Iraqi nation would constitute an undeniable violation of the rules of International Law, of human rights and of Iraqi sovereignty." The manifesto went on to charge that the Bush Administration's sole reason for wanting to oust Saddam was to control Iraq's oil, calling America's motives, "cowardly, selfish, covetous and pugnatious." The manifesto, which was distributed to micronational and macronational leaders alike, met with the disapproval of Hanover's Prince David, cousin of King James I. His Royal Highness, upon reading the manifesto, wondered that so many nations were so quick to demonize America and yet so tolerant of Iraq's brutal dictator. "What if people had thought this way when Hitler was killing his own people?" the Prince commented. The Hanoverian Royals responded to Bruno-Thomas' manifesto declaring that the House of Marchmain supported the US in it's "noble quest to rid the world of terrorism". The Marchmains went on to say that the Kingdom of Hanover "lovingly remembers the many young American, Canadian and British men and women who gallantly sacrificed their lives to free their brothers and sisters in other lands from the tyrannical regimes of evil dictators such as Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini and now, Saddam Hussein. As the dueling Royals shook hands, agreeing to disagree over Iraq, the debate continued at the Common Grounds cafe in Bergen where cafe manager (and sometimes Morovian Regent) Bill Bekkenhuis expressed his concerns over the Bush Administrations' policies. "G. W. Bush has rolled back civil liberties to the point where he can legally detain or kill anyone - including Americans - if he - and he alone - determines they are 'enemy combatants'," alleged Bekkenhuis. "He has all but destroyed the economy, even without an attack on Iraq." Sir Kieran Bennet agreed with Bekkenhuis, charging that Bush was "acting in the best interests of his class, the mega-rich of the USA." King James I allowed himself to speak his mind on the issue at the popular coffee bar, defending the President saying that "A man concerned only about Oil doesn't demand in a State of the Union address that Detroit make haste to develop automobiles which run on alternative fuels. A petty and narrow man of no compassion who cares only about his wealthy friends does not, as a Republican, dedicate a significant portion of his State of the Union address passionately pleading with Congress to fund relief efforts aimed at treating persons dying of AIDS in Africa and at home. That simply does not happen." Commenting on the King's mom-and-apple-pie defenses of the "cause of the Western Allies" one patron quipped, "I thought he was gonna come out on the bloody balcony in an Admiral's uniform with the Queen on his arm singing 'Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover' for the love of God." The debate will continue to rage in Hanover and around the globe as the world waits to see what will happen next, bracing itself for war. In a recent poll asking Hanoverians whether the US ought to attack Iraq, 50% of those responding said "Yes, even without UN support." 14.3% said "Yes, but only with UN backing." 14.3% answered "No. Not at all." 14.3% insisted "It's gonna happen anyway, let's get it over with," and 7.1% chose the "No Comment" response. Ed note: 7.1% actually went out of their way to say, "no comment". Alrighty then. |
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| The President of the United States prepares America for war |
| Alto-Reino's Bruno-Thomas I and Hanover's David agree to disagree on Iraq |
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| To attack or not to attack? Hanover's media listens to patrons exiting Common Grounds Cafe |
| WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN? MOROVIA'S REGENT WAITS FOR THE RETURN OF KING VINCENT III |
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| Briesk. You could almost hear Morovia's House of Law begin to weep like a church on Monday morning last month as Morovia's Regent, Lord Bill Bekkenhuis, standing before an empty Royal Assembly chamber, announced that all executive, legislative and judicial power in the realm would be in his hands now. The actions were not those of a power-hungry tyrant but rather of a reluctant ruler facing the unpalatable reality that he was, in fact, Morovia's last remaining "inhabitant". The once great micronation's colorful cast of poets, priests and politicians had all been swept away with the wind months before. King Vincent III, enjoying an extended Christmas holiday, has left the reins of government in the hands of Bill Bekkenhuis, who never wanted to become involved in government at all. On December 12, 2002, Bekkenhuis was named "Lord Regent" of Morovia with a mandate from Vincent to excercise royal authority in his name. Although "Vanishing Vinny" hasn't been heard from since that time, the Lord Regent has been, even if he was the only one listening. “Let me begin by saying that, knowing no more of His Majesty's intention than is revealed in Royal Decree 136, the circumstances of this Second Regency are as mysterious to me as they are to you.This Regency could last months... or it could end the day after Christmas,” announced the Regent in his first pronouncement as Morovia's head of state. As time went on and Royal Decrees aimed at revitalizing the stagnant micronation began to be churned-out left and right, it became more and more apparent that the few passengers remaining on board the Titanic were beginning to jump ship. The captain remained at the helm, however. On one occasion, Bekkenhuis introduced, voted on, passed, signed and proclaimed a piece of legislation entirely on his own causing friends to fear for his sanity. But then, friends have always feared for Bill's sanity. The Regent's tendency to respond to his own posts is legend in Morovia. Since Bekkenhuis's decree of February 22, not even he has been heard from in Morovia. The nation's discussion forums have the feel of a ghost town in an old-time Western. Gone are the mighty wars-of-words between Robert Gresham and David Oatney, Morovia's dueling Conservatives. Gone are the unabashed commentaries of Morovia's "Founding Five". Gone are the days of Morovia's Renaissance, which saw great projects begin which, alas, were never completed. Cardinal Murphy's galero collects dust in a crumbling cathedral inhabited only by pigeons. Despite the desolation, Bekkenhuis holds onto a small relic of hope that one day Morovia's charming young King will return to reclaim his throne, causing activity to bloom anew like the lilies in Springtime. The venerable seven year-old micronation has survived many challenges in it's history. Can it overcome total abandonment? Only time will tell. As the nation's website vanishes along with the King and all his subjects, Morovia's prospects for resucitation seem bleak. |
| Going, going...gone? Has Vincent III disappeared for good? |
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| Lucy Denver and Robert Gresham express their viewpoints in Morovia's once bustling Salon |
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| Have it your way. Archbishop Murphy trades Burger King crown for Hanoverian throne. |
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