Institut Georges Dumézil
* * * quaerere verum * * *
Conférence Dumézil no. 2
'Not in my Country you Don't'
Delivered by HM Kasimir Diana I of TorHavn
Child abuse... domestic violence... invasion of personal space...ecological abuse... terrorism... discrimination... unlawful imprisonment... criminals going free... citizens unable to defend themselves because (a) it's illegal; (b) they've never been taught how; (c) they don't even care...and the list goes on and on. Well, did you ever think.....
The micronational phenomena has been coming for a long time now, but it seems interesting that, as the world "goes to hell in a hand basket," it appears to be increasing by leaps and bounds. What gives? What is the secret to the expansion of the micro-world? A micronation can be many things; it can be a school project, a (very time consuming) hobby, a wish fulfillment interest, a secessionist movement, or a serious plan for the future. It can even be a drive for outer space or the "creation" of land (the Seacell Project). Anything is possible. But why do it? Some people start heir own model-country because it's fun; some do because it's an assignment (school), and some because they want their own land and then some of them (or us) do it because they see a lack of something they wish they had. "If I ran this country, Mom, there would be no homework. Kids would only have to take a test and ... well, I don't like tests either. Hmmm..." Or maybe: "It's not fair that the rich get all the breaks. If I were President, that would never happen..." Yes, well: that's only the beginning. Did you ever see something you didn't like, that was so stupid, or ridiculous, or awful, or mean, that you just sat there and said, mostly to yourself, 'if I ran things, that would never happen." "Not in my country, you don't..."
Micronationalism is like a dream come true; with all the different kinds of micronations in the macro-world, and with all the different ideas there, it's easy to see how I got this notion. After all, direct democracy is essentially nonexistent in the "real" world, yet the Democracy of Cherusken-Isonomia is well known for its stance on this subject. And absolute monarchies are nigh-to-extinct as well, but there are quite a few in the micro-world. It's an experiment, we are told, but the truth comes out: "If I were king of the forest..." How many micronations say on their history, "we saw something lacking in today's society, and sought to return to an older time and place." Too many to count? Isn't that the point? Another example: Self-made knighthoods and orders of chivalry now flourish on the Web, and there are people who strive to achieve this accolade. It must be because of a lack of something that we see, I think, and it's seems the only remedy we have. We must make our own place, because it's all we have. As for national projects, well, some only play at new nations, and others wait and hope, or buy property for the future.
It's not like Waco, or the "Sons of the New Revolution" (or some other such like that). We are seeing only the outward picture that points to the ailment we feel inside. "That's wrong; if I were King (President; Dictator), this would never happen inside my own place." For many, micronations are the reflections of a person's disquiet at the chaos outside his door. We hurt, and our government won't listen (but someone else will). Some other unique features in micronations include: an impressive return to chivalry (TotrHavn, Rittergeist, Falkenberg or Nova Arcadia), a return to the idealism of Communism (PRNSE or the New Soviet Empire), secessionist movements ( Flanders immediately comes to mind), drives for the worlds beyond Earth (Celestial Empire and Zarahemla), artificial land (Oceanus and New Utopia), libertarianism (Freedonia is probably the prime example), and other national movements that range from near anarchy to strict absolutism. And remember: these are all reflections of their founders or the vast majority of their citizens. We even have a benevolent dictatorship in the Republic of Molossia, whose kindly President has been the spark that sets much of micronationalism ablaze with his adoption of Esperanto, Radio Molossia, the Micro-World Expo of 2001, Emperor Norton Day, and the Intermicronational "O" Games of 2000. Yet, in the macro-world, would such a dictator exist today? (What if Hitler had been like this instead of what he was? What then?) How would he or she be treated by the world?
If variety is the spice of life, then micronationalism is a pungent brew indeed. We have no power on our own, so we make it ourselves, and the "Virtual World" that comes of it is, not the conclusion, but only the beginning... It will be intriguing to see the result, when one of the micronational world carries the Olympiad torch aloft on a frosty city street, or when a representative of say, Vulgaria, stands at the United Nations Assembly one fine day, and says "Mr. Secretary-General, I propose that...." On that glorious day, we might all remember the moment when we all looked at injustice, or were exasperated at our lot, and said, "Oh yeah? Well, not in my country, you don't."