The Morovian Telegraph

MOROVIA: VINCENT III ABDICATES THE THRONE - ADAM THE FIRST ACCLAIMED AS KING!

2005-04-09T22:21:00.000-04:00

In a stunning series of events, His Majesty King Vincent III of Morovia announced on March 21st, 2005 his "irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and my descendants".

For two weeks the city of Briesk grieved for the loss, yet waited breathless, looking to the darkened Winter Palace for any sign from Vincent as to whom his chosen successor might be - subject to the constitutionally mandated 2/3 affirmative vote in His Majesty's Royal Assembly.

And then, on April 7th, the silence was broken...

After several informative and interesting conversations with different members of our community, I can think of one individual among us who stands as the natural choice to take the helm of our ship of state - Sir Adam Graham. Sir Adam has been one of Morovia's most faithful and loyal servants in the six years I have known him. A selfless man of honesty and integrity, Sir Adam will make a fine King.

Less than an hour and a half later, the Hon. Rob McMonigal electrified the normally formal proceedings of HM Royal Assmbly by rising and - without asking the recognition of the one he no longer saw as speaker - said...

I recognize Sir Adam Graham, Vincent III's chosen successor, as Morovia's Second King.

Long Live King Adam I!!!

This acclamation was rapidly followed by similar acclamations from the Rt. Hon. People's Representative as well as the Hon. Bill Bekkenhus, AM. Both privately and publicly, Lords, and civil servants as well as the common citizen voiced their recognition of Sir Adam as Morovia's second King.

However, seeing that nothing short of violence would relieve Sir Adam of his Speaker's gavel until the last jot and tittle of the Assembly's Standing Orders were observed, the Assembly patiently waited out the necessary time for the Speaker's Unanimous Request motion to accept Vincent III's choice of successor had expired.

And, shortly after midnight on April 9th, 2005, Adam the First, King of Morovia, began his reign.

Now, tonight, the city of Briesk is bathed in the lights of fireworks as the Kingdom of Morovia welcomes her new King.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph

HRH Prince Justin Resigns From Line of Succession

2004-09-15T06:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Lord Chancellor Baron Oldenburg (CM McQueeny) announced the resignation of HRH Prince Justin from the line of succession to the throne of Hanover.

On this the Thirteenth day in the Month of September, in the year of Our Lord 2004, His Royal Highness Justin, Prince of Emden and Duke of Guelph hereby steps down as heir to the Throne of Hanover, Calormen, and Athenoi, and disclaims his right to succede H.M. King Alexander I. He intends to retain his citizenship, titles, ministries, and royal offices, and to remain as an active member of this Kingdom.

* * *

As with all major decisions, come major changes. We hope, and intend to help, the Prince prosper in his new role as Duke of Guelph.

But some things remain the same. The Duke has our friendship and enjoys our trust and support.

His Majesty Alexander I responded to the resignation, in the same thread, stating

We know the Prince has done this as he feels it is in the best interest of the Kingdom as a whole. By some method not completely wholesome a few have managed to cause undue division over various issues which the Prince has been associated, and done so intentionally with the aim of causing him personal injury. However, the Prince has always had the best interests of the Kingdom in his heart and he has demonstrated it in the most emphatic way possible.

This occurred at about the same time HM Alexander I announced the results of the royal investigation into the attack on Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre, reproduced in part below.

The Lord Lancaster has been the victim of a harassment episode as reported. We have validated every aspect of the story as much as possible, and while at least one crucial and key fact remains to be validated we are reasonably sure that the story is substantially authentic.

We had are reasonably sure the transcripts Lord Lancaster has provided Us are authentic. We have had third party confirmation of this conclusion.

We have concluded that the AIM ID gentlemenranker was not only involved, but likely under the control of Robert Gresham. However, Gresham disputes this and maintains his innocence and non-involvement in these events, while others who have no motive to lie have corroborated Our conclusion. Because absolute proof is not possible We must rely on the weight of the evidence We have collected and draw the most likely conclusion possible and this point remains one of the most uncertain in Our inquiry. But, based upon Our other findings it is, in the end, a minor point.

We have concluded that Our then Prince Emden, now Duke of Guelph by his own act and without prejudice or admitting any wrong doing or guilt and not by any action of Our own, had knowledge of the harassment but was neither the instigator nor a co-culprit in the action. Knowledge of an action does not make one an accomplice. Nor does knowledge of an event compel one to divulge such and his refusal to do so, except to Us when We asked, does not incriminate him in any way.

We have concluded that, likely, the events do not rise to the level of a crime under the laws of the Kingdom of Hanover. This is, of course, just Our opinion and not the finding of a court of law.

We have concluded that, likely, even if they had, they do not apply as the person We have identified as the most likely culprit is not a citizen, and therefore beyond Hanover jurisdiction.

Additionally, even if Our identification of the likely harasser is incorrect it matters not as We have concluded the assault came from a non-Hanoverian even if the exact identification is unknown. As such, no legal avenue for remedy exists in the Kingdom of Hanover. Calls for involvement of the Attorney General are premature and unwarranted.

In Our final analysis We find that the actions of many left much to be desired. We honestly have no hope of the members of these events amending their ways so that episodes such as this don't happen again.

We consider the matter closed.

Certainly the people of Hanover hope along with His Majesty that this brings the unfortunate matter to a close.

One subsequent coda can't help but bring a smile to cynical lips...

Mr. Robert P. Gresham has posted most helpfully on an arcane matter of Hanover procedure and constitutional intent, saying (in part):

I think Kieran has best rendered the intention that both HM King James and I had when we created the Lord Chancellor post and the Royal Council of State in the process of writing the Organic Law so long ago.

The King is to be seen as above the partisan fray, and his replacement--in the event of a regency--should be as well.

Kieran's argument was such an excellent analysis of our rationale that I can add no more.

Sincerely,
Robert P. Gresham

Can one remember such a positive, helpful and polite post from Mr. Gresham?

Well, one can hardly blame Robert P. Gresham from rolling in a bar of soap to get the odor of recent events off of him...

But it leaves us with a deeper mystery: the question is no longer whether Gresham is GentlemanRanker, but whether Gresham is still Gresham :-)

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph

Morovia: HM Royal Assembly Rocks and Rolls

2004-09-14T04:31:00.000-04:00

Since our last article on the Kingdom of Morovia proper (August 18th), most Morovian activity has occurred in His Majesty's Royal Assembly, which has gone a considerable distance in making up for the relative summer quiet in the Salon.

The legislation has come so fast and furious that it is difficult to note it all let alone properly evaluate its significance.

That notwithstanding (and amidst a certain nationalistic jealousy that Hanover is getting all the choice news coverage :-), this reporter has no alternative but to present at least a quick overview of recent legislative activity:

On August 14th, an amendment to the Rules was passed allowing for Royal Assembly sessions to be held via Instant Messenger. [Royal Assent not needed.]
On August 18th, a bill was passed making it a criminal act to maliciously use a paple or paper doll in Morovia. [Royal Decree 180]
On August 19th, the Standing Orders of HM Royal Assembly were updated, streamlining and clarifying proper legislative procedure. [Royal Assent not needed.]
On August 20th, a bill was passed calling for a referendum of the people on the proposed expulsion of Yarl Berg. [Referendum held.]
On August 25th, the Royal Assembly approved the citizenship application of Mr. Tayo olaoye Adetokunbo. [Royal Decree 181]
On August 29th, HM Royal Assembly approved the citizenship application of Mr. Eric Butte. [Royal Decree 183]
On August 30th, a resolution amending the constitution to allow for the removal of a citizen's voting privileges as punishment for criminal activity was passed and awaits a referendum of the people of Morovia. [Referendum pending.]
On August 31st the results of the referendum of the people was certified. The resolution to expel Yarl Berg failed, the resolution to amend the constitution's article on dismissals was passed. [Royal Decree 182]
On September 2nd, HM Royal Assembly passed a bill authorizing HM Minister of Culture to conduct a cultural fair open to all micronations in December of this year. [Royal Decree 184]
On September 5th, HM Royal Assembly FAILED to pass a bill that would have created a Deputy People's Representative authorized to fill in for HM People's Representative should he or she become unavailable to the realm, allowing for the continuity of government.
On September 14th, HM Royal Assembly approved the citizenship for Mr. Keith H. Duff - the bill now awaits Royal Assent.

Legislation currently being crafted or being discussed includes:

An omnibus bill amending HM People's Constitution to clear up technical ambiguities and inconstancies,
A resolution seeking to promote activity on ezboard on the part of new citizens,
A resolution allowing for the presumption of Royal Assent to passed legislation should no Royal Veto be forthcoming,
A resolution clarifying the procedure to be followed should a member of government 'resign', in effect, by vacating their post or becoming unavailable to Morovia,
The citizenship application for Dion
A resolution allowing for a 'Shadow Assembly' ensuring continuity of government for the three week or so time period between when the regular session dissolves and the next session's legislators are elected and sworn in.

With two new posters in the Salon (Mr. Carlos Hernandez (citizen) and Dr. Keith H. Duff (citizenship application approved, awaiting Royal Assent), things are looking up.

All in all, Speaker Sir Adam Graham (Conservative) and HM People's Representative (the Rt. Hon. Steven Foong) have each put their stamp on the legislative process of introducing, discussing, voting and expediting Royal Assent this legislative term.

And we still have a few weeks to go before new elections - with the new citizens, it may even be contested for the first time in about two years!

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph

Opinion: Decision Time For HRH Prince Justin

2004-09-13T04:37:00.000-04:00

Looking back over the Calormen / Hanover question (or the Hanover / Calormen question) and, especially, the antics of the past few days, the Editors have come to a few conclusions.

The first conclusion should come as no surprise.

Mr. Robert P. Gresham is micronational poison.

I've only had one "real life" encounter with him - a brief phone call.

In real life he may be a skunk or he may be delightful, I didn't interact with him enough to make a judgment on that.

But in micronationalism his track record is clear.

Despite his undisputed gifts for wit, satire and social comment, he nonetheless poisons any project with which he is associated and he contaminates the people whom he befriends such as to make THEM (with varying degrees of awareness and complicity) co-menaces to the micronational community.

If one chooses to deal with him at all, one must possess a strong, adult self-identity - the online version of Robert P. Gresham is not someone with whom one would feel comfortable entrusting younger, more malleable micronationalists.

The second conclusion involves the role of the Crown in micronational constitutional monarchies.

The purpose of the Crown is to represent the unity and sovereignty of the people and to 'keep the game fair', ensuring the just treatment of the nation's citizens and preventing some non-representative faction from hijacking the nation.

Therefore the Crown must do everything it can do to remain above the partisan fray and the clash of micronational personalities.

Of course, no human being can do that perfectly, but the Crown must do the very best it can do in that respect.

Conversely, the people must respect the Crown's best efforts in that regard and presume impartiality (or as close as that can be approximated this side of the divine) on the part of the Crown.

All justice is ultimately the King's justice, whether the process of justice is handled directly or through investigative commissions or the legal apparatus.

It is, ultimately, the King who guarantees the integrity of the justice process.

To withhold the presumption of impartiality from the King (as has apparently happened here, is to withhold recognition of Kingship from the incumbent.

We believe all should step away from the brink a bit, and allow Alexander I to be King.

The third conclusion involves HRH Prince Justin.

If the transcripts posted in the Telegraph are true, particularly the transcript of the alleged second conversation between His Royal Highness and Sir Wyatt-James, then Prince Justin KNOWS the identity of GentlemanRanker and MacleanHF.

HM Alexander I has asked ANYONE with knowledge as to the identity of the abusive poster to forward that knowledge to the Crown.

Prince Justin must repudiate the transcripts... or he must identify to whom he has revealed Sir Wyatt-James' screen name, to whom he shared the results of his INITIAL conversation with Sir Wyatt-James (the one in which Sir Wyatt used the phrase "Calormeni independence", and from where he got the IM quotation he used in his subsequent conversation with Sir Wyatt-James.

To paraphrase President Bush, if Prince Justin has been unwise, he must now decide if he is with Hanover... or if he is with the micronational 'terrorists' who would assault the nation and its citizens.

If HRH Prince Justin has been indiscreet or done something unwise, we would hope that he receives a measure of forgiveness and restoration proportionate to his ability to learn from this sad affair. Most micronationalists we respect (which includes ourselves :-) have done stupid things and learned from them.

But if he is resistant to that lesson, then Hanover must decide whether the Crown, someday, should pass to someone who willingly shares conversations presumed confidential to those who wish to harm Hanover.

One way or another, HRH Prince Justin owes Alexander I an email with either a repudiation of the posted transcripts or the information necessary to close this destructive issue.

[EDIT: Of course, GentlemanRanker / MacleanHF might also contact HM Alexander I himself and relieve young Prince Justin of the extraordinarily difficult task of choosing between betraying his friend or betraying his country.]

Oddly enough, we cannot render a conclusion on the real issue at stake here: the relationship between Hanover, Athenoi, Calormen and the Commonwealth.

That is for the Crown and the citizens of those respective entities to resolve and random acts of 'terrorism' or 'assassination' simply take the focus away from where it properly, even necessarily, belongs.

No one who indulges themselves in this way - or who is complicit with or enabling of those who do - is a friend of Hanover, no matter their former contributions or current title.

The Editors
The Morovian Telegraph

Hanover / Calormen Relations Boil Over (Part Two)

2004-09-12T17:27:00.000-04:00

To repeat a bit...

It apparently started with Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre's resignation of his seat, for reasons unknown, in the Congress of Bergen.]

And then, not to put too fine a point on it, all Hell broke loose.

And, in the immortal words of Jackie Gleason, away we go

In the not-quite-so immortal words of Sir Wyatt-James:

Tonight shortly after resigning my seat on the Congress of Bergen and a lengthy and heated debate with Prince Justin I was subject to a harrassing IM to which foul langauge was used and there was a degree of degredation not just against myself but others either. During this short conversation with a man of the AIM Screen name GentlemanRanker referred to Morovian Telegraph Editor Bill Bekkenhuis was referred to as a "freaky faggot" and accused myself and Prince Daniel of being Nazi's. When I proceeded to block him he then proceeded to IM me under the screen name of MacleanHF. This harrassment was from the direct result of a conversation between whomever this was and Prince Justin because he made direct references to conversations that I had in private with the Prince.

HRH Prince Justin immediately defended himself from Sir Wyatt-James' accusations, stating, " I wholeheartedly deny the aspersions cast upon me my Lord Lancaster. It is ridiculous to cast the accusation that I would elevate a personal disagreement over issues of Hanoverian politics to such deplorable conduct or employ nefarious third parties to do the same."

[Mr. Bekkenhuis, on finding out that he had been drawn into the conflict, wondered out loud as to the identity of his assailant: "Must be one of my real life friends... No one online knows me well enough to post that with authority. Maybe it was a lucky guess. :-) " ]

The transcripts of the IM attack on Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre were obtained by the Telegraph which has decided to post an excerpt (despite the fact that the text used a subscript "th" not available at the time):

The text (presumably from late night on September 10th or early morning on September 11th) has been cleaned a bit reflecting the wholesome family nature of this newspaper. We note for the reader that it is possible to fake IM transcripts:

MacleanHF: then at least learn how to spell, [DELETED]
LordDuquette: Look at your spelling
MacleanHF: ah, note the sarcasm, [DELETED]
MacleanHF: nice "I'm being harassed" post
MacleanHF: ask for sympathy
LordDuquette: You know whatever, you are a coward who hides behind profanities
MacleanHF: i wonder what you posted in the closed Calormen forum
MacleanHF: yeah, [DELETED] self-righteous [DELETED]
MacleanHF: you got me right, i'm just a vulgar little kid, but at least i am not a [DELETED] like the almighty Lawd Lancaster
MacleanHF: you [DELETED]
MacleanHF: i bet you could [DELETED]
LordDuquette: Can I ask you sometihng?
MacleanHF: let me guess
MacleanHF: [DELETED]
LordDuquette: No
MacleanHF: [DELETED]
LordDuquette: It is a simple question, [DELETED]
MacleanHF: wouldn't know, the only way you'll find out is by looking in the mirror.
LordDuquette: Witty retort from a [OFFENSIVE]
MacleanHF: hey, any developmentally disabled person has one plus when compared to you, [DELETED]. At least the [OFFENSIVE] is partially developed.
MacleanHF: better a half-wit than a no-wit like you
MacleanHF: coward
LordDuquette: Ooohhhh ouch, boy that would hur if your opinion matter
MacleanHF: yeah, the only time you matter is when [DELETED]. [DELETED].
LordDuquette: Oooooooohhhhhhh... is that the best you can come up with? Boy it must be hard for you to not have a real conversation or is your brain already frozen from not being used
MacleanHF: that's pathetic, Lord Lancaster. Can't beat back a man's wit, so you say he's stupid. No wonder. You must be picking up your debating points from [DELETED] like John Kerry.
LordDuquette: Ohhhhhhh, the king of wit who only makes comments about being [happy] talks about debate, that is rich
MacleanHF: You are a [DELETED] traitor to hanover
MacleanHF: you [DELETED] incessantly
MacleanHF: and you like having your [DELETED]
LordDuquette: You are an arrogant, pompous little twit that has nothing of signifigance to say and the only reason I ntertain this conversation is so that you can say whatever you want to say
MacleanHF: so, tomorrow morning you'll wake up and still be a [DELETED]
MacleanHF: a disgrace that'll haunt you the rest of your days
LordDuquette: If you want me to say sure then sure why the hell not
MacleanHF: yeah...Lancaster admits he's a [DELETED]
MacleanHF: you're a [DELETED] too
LordDuquette: sure
MacleanHF: do you [DELETED]?

Not quite as entertaining, but possibly more significant is the following two exchanges, the first purporting to be with HRH Prince Justin. The comments at the beginning and end of the selection are a good indication of the overall lighthearted (if not downright silly) nature of the exchange, punctuated with a little micronational business from time to time...

LordDuquette: You want Carrots?
Justin01302002: she eats carrots and eats meat
Justin01302002: shes not fat and dont count carbs,
Justin01302002: cause she dont eat like a slob,
LordDuquette wants to send file C:\My Downloads\Arrogant Worms - Vegetable Song - Unknown - 01.mp3.
Justin01302002 declined request; the file will not be sent.
Justin01302002: she also has hair, yay
Justin01302002: copy and paste
Justin01302002: i hate transfer
LordDuquette: I was sending you a song
Justin01302002: I hate transfer,
Justin01302002: it never work
Justin01302002: it a piece of junk
Justin01302002: it say it work
Justin01302002: but it no
LordDuquette: So is Athenoi
LordDuquette: :P
Justin01302002: I know a Congress thats about to be closed,
Justin01302002: the Germanofreaks love it but its toast
Justin01302002: :-)
Justin01302002: YEAH TOAST
LordDuquette: Then deal with Calormeni independance
Justin01302002: I get up every morning about 6am
Justin01302002: have a little jelly, have a little jam
Justin01302002: yeah toast!
Justin01302002: now theres no secret to toasting perfection,
LordDuquette: It is either unification or independance
Justin01302002: theres a dial on the side, you make your selection
Justin01302002: turn from the dark to the light and then
Justin01302002: if it pops out too soon, press down again, make toast.
Justin01302002: I like butter
Justin01302002: yeah

Later on comes the attack from one Gentlemanranker, followed (after being blocked) by the attack from MacleanHF. Note Maclean's comment regarding Calormeni independence:

MacleanHF: why are you always threatening to run away. You can't take the heat, so you block me, you fascist censor, and then when you don't get your prissy little way you [DELETED], you threaten to leave Hanover with ideas of Calormeni independence?
MacleanHF: your kind sickens me
LordDuquette: The reference to Calormeni Independence was a joke between Justin and me but thank you for letting me know he was bhind your attacks
MacleanHF: he told me about it, and it upsets me.
MacleanHF: especially since HM Alexander wants to set up a website for Calormen.
MacleanHF: [DELETED] ingrate

Later on, Sir Wyatt-James confronts HRH Prince Justin, again through IM:

LordDuquette: Who is calling me a [DELETED]
Justin01302002: i was just discussing it with him
Justin01302002: im not
Justin01302002: i told him not to, he wouldnt listen
LordDuquette: These arew OUR PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS
Justin01302002: i was just discussing the situation
LordDuquette: We already had these discussion
Justin01302002: so was the reason u left the congress
LordDuquette: I did not tell what our discussion held
Justin01302002: you told everyone that after conversations with the Crown Prince
Justin01302002: he isnt government
LordDuquette: I am holding you personally accountable
Justin01302002: LordDuquette: Did he tell you the only reason he is the crown prince is because I talked the king into it
LordDuquette: He is calling me a [DELETED], Bill a [OFFENSIVE]
Justin01302002: thats quite personal
Justin01302002: you didnt talk the king into making me heir
LordDuquette: You know what
Justin01302002: wat
Justin01302002: and he doesnt mean that stuff
Justin01302002: hes just saying it
Justin01302002: i didnt tell him to say it

The Morovian Telegraph again stresses the fact that the transcripts are being published (with, as Nixon once famously said, the blasphemies removed) as they were received.

It IS possible to generate fake IM messages in a text editor (especially one that has the capacity to print subscript th's) and we cannot positively verify the authenticity of the transcripts.

But if they are, in fact, accurate and received in the manner in which we were told they were received, they seem to indicate that:

1) the attacks on Sir Wyatt-James happened soon following IM discussions between him and HRH Prince Justin,

2) the attack made on Sir Wyatt-James by MacleanHF involved the charge that Sir Wyatt-James was seeking "Calormeni independence" (which Sir Wyatt-James claims was a joke),

3) the later discussion between HRH Prince Justin and Sir Wyatt-James included the transcript of the discussion between Sir Wyatt-James and MacleanHF - which, presumably, he could only have gotten from Sir Wyatt-James or from MacleanHF.

Following all this, Sir Wyatt-James appealed to HM Alexander I for justice. He chided the King's alleged tardiness of response and the King's characterization of his email to the Crown as a "tantrum" and repeated his demands, accompanied by the support of several other citizens.

His Majesty defended both his speed of response and his characterization of the message as a tantrum saying, in part...

We hold to Our characterization of your demands placed before Our Throne as a tantrum, not because of the veracity or seriousness, but because of the method.

* * *

We did not deny the abuse.
We did not deny that you SUSPECT Prince Justin of being involved.

But then you descended into tantrum when you did three things:

1) Demanded the immediate removal of Prince Justin from all positions of authority.
2) Attempted to threaten Us with divulgence of information to "the papers".
3) Attempted to blackmail Us with threats of resignation.

Even as His Majesty began gearing up for the investigation, various attempts were made to ascertain the identity of Gentlemanranker and MacleanHF.

To no one's surprise, Robert P. Gresham had top-of-mind awareness in the list of subjects.

On closer examination of the transcripts however, this writer had doubts and said as much in Ellicott Square:

I have now read the transcripts.

I cannot imagine Mr. Gresham writing this.

He is no stranger to vulgarity, but all resemblance ends there.

Mr. Gresham has a certain, well, class, even in his decadance, that is clearly not present here.

It would be easy to quote from the transcript to show that it is not Mr. Gresham but that would be inappropriate in a PG-13 forum.

It is really crude, juvenile stuff.

Someone needs to read the Boy Scout Oath and Law before going to bed at a reasonable hour.

Laying off the crack would probably also help :-)

We end this story - at least this chapter of the story - with questions rather than answers.

Who made the attack? He is someone who knows the various personalities involved as well as the issues. He knows Bill Bekkenhuis (not a Hanoverian citizen) well enough to target him for an attack. But he apparently does not have entrée to the Calormeni National Council.

He MAY, based on timing alone, have some connection with HRH Prince Justin - almost certainly so if the IM transcripts are not fabricated.

This does not necessarily lay the direct responsibility at His Royal Highness' feet but, perhaps, indicates that he needs to choose his friends a bit more wisely or, at least, think twice before sharing confidential information and IM screen names with them..

To what extent are the attacks on Sir Wyatt-James political in nature?

That is, is the attacker desirous of some political end, such as Sir Wyatt-James departure from Hanover - or even civil war between Hanover and Calormen?

Or is it some type of mindless hate game perpetrated by some insomniac who senselessly attacks people for no reason other than to satisfy his own psychological need?

Maybe the only problem with our top-of-mind awareness is that it stubbornly persists even in the face of evidence that almost but doesn't QUITE fit.

Unless, of course, we're willing to revise our hypothesis regarding a person's class.

But the big question, of course, is the same one that was there from the beginning before Mr. Potty-Mouth came on the scene: can Hanover, Athenoi and Calormen find a unity within the diversity of their separate cultures?

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph

Hanover / Calormen Relations Boil Over (Part One)

2004-09-12T08:14:00.000-04:00

In general, things seemed to have been progressing nicely in the Hanover / Calormen discussion regarding Calormen's relationship to Hanover and the Commonwealth.

On August 22nd, Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre gave an interview to the Telegraph on the Congress of Bergen, an interview that placed Calormeni nationalism firmly in the context of a valued relationship (specifics to be determined) within Hanover's Commonwealth.

Still, things are not quite paradisiacal... far from it.

On August 27th, Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre resigned his membership in the Order of St. Michael citing an "attack" on Martin Luther made by Grandmaster John Harvey.

On August 30th, yet another element (beyond personal antagonisms, nationalism vs. unity, and religion) was added to the stew.

On that date, Editor Graf Schwerin of the The German Times wrote the following regarding the purpose of this new (and, we might enviously add, professional-looking and well-written) newspaper:

The German Times [is] different from other micronational publications. It aims to provide news and coverage not just of one micronation but of several.

Initially, The German Times will report from the micronations of Hanover and Götzborg. These two English speaking German states will be the basis of this journal's reporting.

* * *

The German Times strongly believes in some form of loose federation between the German micronations. Each state would retain its own seperate identity and sovereignty. However by acting in concert, the degree of influence each micronational state could exercise would greatly exceed that of the individual state on its own. Apart from a common German culture, this journal believes that the individual German states represent values which are much in demand in the micronational world.

* * *

In short German values may be summed up as a) the constitutional rule of law b) political and social pluralism/inclusiveness and c) diffusion of state power. The application of such values in a society ensure the sound health of the body politic.

This provoked the following from Lord Brunswick, the Rt. Hon. Thomas Cutterham:

No disrespect to the publisher or Baron Munster [who introduced the paper to Hanover], this is absurd. Hanover is not a "German micronation". It's people speak English, it was founded by an American, and its institutions are based on those of England. We have only two connections with Germany, neither of which entitle anybody to group us with so-called "German micronations": a) our name is borrowed from a German city, and B) we were one of the first English micronations to begin active diplomatic contact with real German micronations - i.e. ones where German is the first language.

While THIS issue moved to the foreground, the religious arguments between Sir Wyatt-James and Grandmaster John Harvey appeared to cool a bit. Recent Court Transcripts from September 1st indicates that Grandmaster Harvey has apologized to Sir Wyatt-James for his comment and it would appear that the two Hanoverians, from Athenoi and Calormen respectively, reconciled on that particular issue.

Despite issues of personal conflict, Calvinism / Lutheranism, Church / State relations, nationalism / autonomy and the appropriateness of a Germanic cultural influence in Calormen swirling around, Court Transcripts of September 5th would seem to indicate that His Majesty Alexander I was pleased with the Congress of Bergen's progress and it even appeared that a number of new citizens had become active on the Hanoverian / Calormeni scene..

On September 8th, The German Times expanded on its coverage of the Calormen question within Hanover (or, as The German Times puts it, The Hanover Question within Calormen - one's perspective seems to be everything in this issue :-)

In it, Editor Graf Schwerin states:

When we raised the issue of German micronations in our original publication as the German Times, we inadvertantly touched a raw nerve in Hanover. Or so it seems. We mistakenly took Hanover to be an English speaking German micronation along the lines of the Kingdom of Götzborg. Not so. It is clear from the response that the majority of Hanoverians regard themselves as having their own identity which has no connection with German culture. The strength of the reaction seems to indicate that rather than being neutral about the issue, the Hanoverian authorities are opposed to any notion of Germanness.

Hanover is a unique micronation in that whatever the cultural identity of the Hanoverian majority, there is a Calormen minority which very definitely regards its own distinctive culture as being German inspired. It must be remembered that at present the Commonwealth of Hanover is composed of three dominions; Hanover proper, Calormen and Athenoi. The issue of German culture and the force of the response to it also reveals another fault line running through the Hanoverian state; the relationship between the three dominions.

Editor Schwerin goes on to say that while Hanover's Constitution has historically allowed a great deal of autonomy to the Dominions of Athenoi and Calormen, new constitutional discussions occurring within the Congress of Bergen may be leaning in the direction of tighter central control, though he goes on to say that HM Alexander I has indicated a degree of flexibility in the matter.

Which brings us, belatedly, back to the issue of the Kingdom of Gotzborg...

Back on August 8th, The Morovian Telegraph posted its first story on Calormeni nationalism in Hanover: Nationalist Sentiment Rising in Calormen

In that post, the Editors attempted to discern the starting point of recent nationalist sentiment in Calormen and came to two possibilities: the discussion regarding establishment of a Lutheran state religion in Calormen and, the point of our present focus, the selection of Kevin Hood as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Gotzborg, a Germanic-themed micronation.

The arc of this particular storyline seems to be near completion with the passage, by Hanover's Parliament, of The Reichlau Treaty between the kingdoms of Hanover and Gotzborg. This apparently happened on September 10th or 11th.

If Royal Assent is granted, it would appear that Hanover will be linked by treaty with a Germanic-themed micronation, one with particularly close ties to the Germanic-themed minority opinion within Hanover / Calormen.

But it is just here, at what would seem to be a strong, positive milestone in relations between Hanover and the people of Calormen and their particular concerns, that disaster struck.

It apparently started with Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre's resignation of his seat, for reasons unknown, in the Congress of Bergen.]

And then, not to put too fine a point on it, all Hell broke loose.

[to be continued]

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph

Telegraph Projects: RE-ELECTION FOR GW BUSH!

2004-09-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

We don't like it, but that's how we call it.

Bill's Vote is a statistical sampling system that is very reliable. It refers to the various votes cast by our Editor-in-Chief, Bill Bekkenhuis, in American presidential elections. This vote has, over the last 32 years, only failed to predict the winner once - and that didn't work out too well either.

RAW DATA

YEAR: 1972
CONTEST: Nixon/McGovern
BILL'S VOTE: Nixon
WINNER: Nixon
COMMENT:
Statistical anomaly.
May have been last time I voted sober.
Nixon resigned in disgrace.

YEAR: 1976
CONTEST: Ford/Carter
BILL'S VOTE: Ford
WINNER: Carter
COMMENT:
Felt sorry for Ford

YEAR: 1980
CONTEST: Carter/Reagan
BILL'S VOTE: Carter
WINNER: Reagan
COMMENT:
Didn't like Reagan

YEAR: 1984
CONTEST: Reagan/Mondale
BILL'S VOTE: Mondale
WINNER: Reagan
COMMENT:
Couldn't STAND Reagan

YEAR: 1988
CONTEST: HW Bush/Dukakis
BILL'S VOTE: Dukakis
WINNER: HW Bush
COMMENT:
Liked Dukakis

YEAR: 1992
CONTEST: HW Bush/Clinton
BILL'S VOTE: HW Bush
WINNER: Clinton
COMMENT:
Didn't like Clinton

YEAR: 1996
CONTEST: Clinton/Dole
BILL'S VOTE: Dole
WINNER: Clinton
COMMENT:
REALLY, REALLY didn't
like Clinton (though not as
much as I didn't like Reagan)

YEAR: 2000
CONTEST: Gore/GW Bush
BILL'S VOTE: Gore
WINNER: GW Bush
COMMENT:
Didn't trust GW Bush.
Decided on a technicality... to put it mildly.

YEAR: 2004(projected)
CONTEST: GW Bush/Kerry
BILL'S VOTE: Kerry
WINNER: GW Bush
COMMENT:
How much will you
Democrats pay me to
sit this one out? :-)

Varennes: First Anniversary of Founding

2004-08-25T05:19:00.000-04:00

{ A press release from The Kingdom of Varennes, published in full below - The Editors}

LA PALAIS DE VALENCIENNES
Capet, Varennes

08.24.04

The Kingdom of Varennes celebrates the first anniversary of her founding on Wednesday, August 25, the Feast of St. Louis. On that day, the Government of Varennes will open a discussion board for it's own use and for the use of subjects and visitors. The Ezboard forums will be completely open to the public for one month, following which the government will require users to register.

A link to the forums will be found at the home page of the Government of Varennes website at www.kingdomofvarennes.com .
The discussion board will include the new officially sanctioned forums for the Dominion of Chambord.

The Kingdom of Varennes was founded on August 25, 2003 by the House of Marchmain and several friends of the family. King Louis I was formerly the king and founder of the Kingdom of Hanover and was known at that time as King James. With the exception of Princes Justin and Christopher, the Marchmains have resumed in Varennes the roles which they enjoyed in Hanover. Princess Shannon Alexandra, the Duchess of Champagne (once the Duchess of Claremont in Hanover), takes on an additional role as governor-general of the Dominion of Chambord.

Since her foundation, the Kingdom of Varennes has attracted a number of Canadian subjects, most notably Wyatt-James McIntyre, the Duc du Colborne who serves as the kingdom's first prime minister. Other Canadian-Varennois include Kim Yetman, His Majesty's Lord Great Chamberlain and George, Duke of Colborne who, as Royal Governor of the Province of Champlain, is responsible for providing "local" leadership to King Louis' English-speaking Canadian subjects.

The Kingdom of Varennes was founded for the purposes of creating a national community in which the traditions and principles of the ancient monarchy and nobility of the former Kingdom of France are restored and celebrated.

Hanover/Calormen: Interview with Sir Wyatt-James

2004-08-22T06:04:00.000-04:00

Sir Wyatt-James:

Thank you for agreeing to speak to The Morovian Telegraph regarding the Congress of Bergen.

It is my pleasure Mr. Bekkenhuis, the Morovian Telegraph is the one of my favorite papers and the I enjoy the work that you do to bringnews to our community both of a Hanoverian perspective and a foreign perspective.

1) First, bring us up to date, if you would, on the history of Calormen and its relation to Hanover.

Calormen was an independent nation at one point under the Emperor Christopher Anderson, to the best of my understanding the nation - in the height of it's glory had an active citizenship of 4 or five citizens. Under King James of Hanover Emperor Christopher brought Calormen into the Commonwealth of Hanover thus finding itself the second nation of a Hanoverian Commonwealth. Over time the now former Emperor of Calormen, now Prince, found himself inactive and under the reign of King Alexander of Hanover it became necessary to attempt to discover whom had what title and position in the old Calormeni regime. Prince Christopher was contacted but never responded and found his claims to his titles thus forfeited due to a lack of a written history of Calormeni. Daniel Dreesbach, then a Marquis, found himself ascend to the title of Prince of Silesia and the head of the government in the nation.

We have seen our shares of trials over the past few month especially but we have also seen a great Calormeni revival - the founding of the Calormeni Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the application of new citizens including Ambassador Kevin Hood, Richard Williams and a man who I hope will take over the Royal Hanoverian Bar Association Brian Cowell. This great revival had forced us to re-examine our relationship with Hanover and to be free to do this as Calormen. In the Calormeni National Council we discovered that we do not believe the commonwealth is a working formula for our people. We petitioned the King that we be allowed to begin work to renegiotiate our place in the Kingdom. As such His Majesty called the Congress of Bergen to discuss Calormen's place in a reformulated Hanoverian Constitution.

2) I understand Christopher Anderson (I'd appreciate his correct title if you have it) to be the founder of Calormen as Prince Justin, I believe, is the founder of Athenoi. Has there been any recent contact between Christopher Anderson and Hanover or any of its citizens, as far as you know?

Prince Christopher has been in contact with King Alexander, the exact details I am not at liberty to say, but it was in regards to his titles. King Alexander - not knowing what his titles were who's - contacted all citizens of Calormen to please write him and claim their title due to the lack of paperwork before Calormen went into the Commonwealth. Prince Christopher never responded within a clearly laid timeline laid out by the King but did respond. King Alexander, an understanding and reaspnable man tried to work out an agreement with the Prince but to this date it is my understanding that Prince Christopher has not been in contact with the Royal Court.

3) My personal remembrance of Christopher Anderson was that his online access was very tenuous and intermittent. Do you believe it is possible that Christopher Anderson could be contacted and that he might still have a copy of the original Treaty of Annexation (if that is what it was called) between Calormen and Hanover? Would it make any significant difference at this late date?

Prince Christopher has been contacted and his contact has been sporadic at best. I do not think his contact would make a difference, though his Calormen still holds the same Germanic heritage as a proud part of it's identity for the Calormeni people it is also a different place that has proven loyalty to a Calormeni identity rather to any person. I do not know he would recognise what Calormen is now with it's new citizenry and the advancements made. We do have a copy of the Hanoverian-Calormeni Treaty signed the 2nd of February of 2003 that brought Calormen into the Hanoverian Commonwealth and it is rather skimpy so to spek on the details and so that would make little difference is my belief. We are no longer just Calormeni, we are Calormeni-Hanoverian and this broadens our idea of wha it means to be a part of the great heritage that belongs to us. We are loyal to the crown of Calormen which is now seated ont he head of King Alexander as Emperor of Calormen and we stand by that affirmation, not to just one king but to all subsequent kings as well.

4) From your point of view, where is the origin point of the sequence of events leading up to the Congress of Bergen? From whence the recent and outspoken emergence of Calormeni nationalism?

This is really a two part question and as such needs a bit longer of an explanation but I am happy to attempt to divulge it.

The Origin of the Congress of Bergen was not so much an origin as much of a catalyst that lead to the emergence of a need fo a new constitutional forum. It was apparent that the Commonwealth was not working, we lacked a charter, we lacked a unity that was necessary and we needed clearly defined powers and roles. This was not met at the time and it was causing many conflicts to the Calormeni people. The defining point was not the Calormeni Lutheran Church as some might pre-suppose but rather was the role of Calormeni Foreign Affairs that came to head when Ambassador Hood was appointed to be the Calormeni Ambassador to Gotzborg. As brethren of a German tradition we felt a special tie to the people of King Augustus Charles and we felt as such that it would be good to formalise the ties of the Germanic Monarchists. This lead to talk of a treaty but we could not have one it seemed between Calormen and Gotzborg.

Our relationship, though not clearly defined by any document, just that we were part of a Hanoverian Commonwealth, had left us with the assumption that we were a similar Pre-Statute of Westminster Commonwealth of the British, we hadd autonomy but no control over foreign affairs. Calormeni is growing and growing in leaps and bounds, it became thus necessary to define what it meant to be to be a Calormeni-Hanoverian. His Majesty thus sought Calormeni discussion on the future of Calormen and we felt, as a people, that it was needed to discuss Calormen in a different role not out of Hanover but as a part of Hanover. The Prime Minister and King of Hanover both agreed and we saw the ascension of the Congress of Bergen to negiotiae a stronger and free Hanoverian Union.

The idea of Calormeni nationalism is not a new idea, as Germanic Monarchists we are a proud people who believe firmly in a Calormeni national idea and a alormeni national idea, even if the Calormen Nation ceased to exit there would still be a Calormeni nationalism. This is not an emergance but rather a revival of Calormeni and a re-emergence of the Calormeni people, we are, as I have said, growing. We are a strong partner in the Kingdom of Hanover, and we wish to see what our role is as clearly defined. We are nationalistic but we are also respectful and mindful of our roles and the part we are to play in Hanover. We may be outspoken but this is because we have remained in the wilderness too long and we are attempted to restore our glory for a legacy that we all, as Calormeni, can be proud of.

So to answer your question in he most round about way possible - there is no real emergence, just a people trying to revive a national image and national identity that we are proud of.

5) Would you consider the relationships between Hanover and Athenoi, on the one hand, and Hanover and Calormen, on the other, to be symmetric? Why? (or why not?)

We are seperate peope then the people of Athenoi and we firmly believe that, but as all Hanoverian people, whether of Calormeni or Athenoi descent, we have a futuer that does tie together, that does intersect. I firmly believe that though the commonwealth is unworkable that there is a new formula for Calormen and Athenoi to tie itself to Hanover that is both workable and desirable for our people. The Calormen and Athenoi identity has, for better or worse, been tied to Hanovr in a marriage that has been deserable and good to Athenoi and Calormen. I believe there must be a point when this union becomes one and corresponds together as one united Hanoverian line.

6) Art Linkletter used to have a TV show called "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" in which his young guests would say funny things about life at home. Some things were so embarrassing that parents would brief the kids with, 'now don't say anything about Uncle Charley who drinks too much, or...", etc. Linkletter would get the kids on the show and say, "so what did your parents tell you not to talk about?" and the kid would dutifully count down the list.

So, Sir Wyatt-James, any instructions from the Crown on what not to talk about? :-)

Well now if I said what I was not to talk about I suppose that I would be talking about it would I not Mr. Bekkenhuis. Very tricky there.

Seriously though there are sensitive issues that are not discussed but they are more of conflicts that have since been resolved and the Congress is moving on and moving forward united for a solution that is desirable for all parties. One I suppose is one of the more difficult discussions is the role and place of a Hanoverian Parliament - we are workign at it and many discussions have been had on what form it will take. If there is one stumbling block it will be the parliament but there has been such wonderful co-operation at this time that I am sure that we can work something out that is a hybrid solution of what everyone wants or is one that is desirable to all people.

7) What do you believe will be the final outcome of the Congress of Bergen?

It is my sincere hope that this will lead to unification, an end to the Hanoverian Commonwealth that has been a bit of a flop and a new United Kingdom of Hanover that unifies all the people of the Hanoverian Commonwealth into one nation under one crown. I believe, or have to believe, that it will lead to a new Hanover that revives all peoples sense of Hanoverian pride and drives us further to our dreams, our goals of sovereignty as a united people standing strong and free under allegiance to the crown.

8) Do you believe that the Calormeni People want independence?

No, I believe that we want a national agenda tht draws us closer to the crown and defines our roles as Hanoverians. We know what it means to be Calormeni already but we need to know how that ties to being Hanoverian and what we can do to define that role that leads us in service to the crown. We are an independent people but our nation must be tied to Hanover to survive, we all firmly believe this. Furthermore our time in Hanover has been fruitful and lead to a second golden age of Calormen that may not have had happened alone and I believe would not have. Hanover has been very good to us and it is a mutually beneficial relationship, to not recognise it and build our ties closer for it and for the future would be a flaw that could see our own demise. We see that and we realize that and we are building on that not breaking from it.

Thank you for your time.

You are most certainly welcome Mr. Bekkenhuis, thank you for giving me this opportunity and for your interest in this process. Do keep up the wonderful work you do with the Telegraph.

The Right Honourable Viscount Sir Wyatt-James T. McIntyre of Lancaster, A.A. B.A., DOR, KOA
Chief Justice of the High Court of the Kingdom of Hanover
Member of the Royal Council of State
The Arch Bishop of Baden - Wittenburg Cathedral, Calormen (CCELS)
Honourary President of the Royal Hanoverian Bar Association

The King's Fool: Galilean Disciples for Truth

2004-08-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

Late last night, evening Bible study complete and the TV on, I fell asleep in my armchair.

[Matthew] Ladies and Gentlemen, before we begin taking questions we'd like to issue a brief statement.

Galilean Disciples for Truth is a group of former disciples and Galilean fishing boat captains who believe Jesus of Nazareth is not being honest about his so-called ministry to the poor, the sick and the possessed in Galilee. He is lying about his record.

[Thomas] I served with Jesus of Nazareth and I didn't witness any miracles. And when I heard he had been raised from the dead, well, let's just say I had my doubts.

[Simon Peter] Witness any miracles in Galilee? Heck, I've lived in Galilee all my life and I never even heard of him. I said as much to that guard who was questioning...

[Matthew] Er, thank you, Peter. Speaking of questions, do we have any questions from the reporters?

[Reporter 1] Dan Rather, CBS News. How is it, Matthew, that it has taken almost 2,000 years for you folks to set the record straight? Especially as your revised account seems to contradict official church records and your own previous testimony given in support of Jesus?

[voice from the back...] Actually, I tried to keep this Christ thing from getting out of hand from the beginning, when I...

[Matthew] SHUT UP, Judas...

[Reporter 2] Tom Brokaw, NBC News. Matthew, your own gospel testifies that Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick, cast out demons and rose from the dead. How do you square that with what you're saying now?

[Matthew] What you have to understand, Tom, is that first century Palestine was a chaotic, violent place. Our lives were constantly in danger. It was typical, in that situation, to have one of our scribes write the reports.

[Reporter 2] But your name is on it. You signed it.

[Matthew] Like I said, we were very busy, what with fleeing for our lives and all. So I pretty much signed off on whatever was put in front of me. Personally, I think Jesus was responsible for the language describing his so-called ministry. I think he wrote it himself.

[Reporter 2] After he was dead?!

[Matthew] Next question, please?

[Luke] If I may, Matthew, let's nip this in the bud. I treated Jesus after his alleged crucifixion. It was nothing... four nail holes. Big deal. They weren't even really big nails. Oh, and some splinters in his back. Big whoop. I told him to stop being such a baby and sent him off to minister to some homeless widow or something.

[Reporter 3] Robert Siegel, NPR. Your written statement indicates that you are a completely non-partisan group?

[Matthew] That's correct, Robert, our only interest is in the truth.

[Reporter 3] That being the case, Matthew, how do you explain the fact that most of the funding for this group is coming directly from Satan, Diabolical Lord of Darkness himself?

[Matthew] I'm not sure what your point is... Look, isn't it obvious that we're having a hard enough time with the truth here, without you guys bringing up extraneous issues like funding from Hell?

And then I woke up screaming...

No more anchovy pizza for me before bed.

W.F. Beck
Contributor,
The Morovian Telegraph

{Editors: See FindLaw to compare Bush and Kerry service records and FactCheck to check out the facts behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (be sure to check out the supporting document links on the right which support FactCheck.org's analysis). }

The Arts: HORSE RACE with HORSE FACE

2004-08-20T20:10:00.000-04:00

{Disclaimer: I didn't write this. No, honest I didn't. Please believe me, I'm voting for Kerry. Really, really, really. The poet's just a friend of mine and I thought it was funny. He was blackmailing me. I left my computer logged in when he was in the room. He offered me A LOT of money. It's a virus. Won't you PULEEZE believe me?! - The Editors :-}

J F Kerry, very scary
routinely cuts down military
Votes for war, but without funding
Excuse me? and you are running?

Simple question, twisted answer
Senator, a verbal dancer
Funding troops is ‘complicated’
Guy must be over-medicated

Tells Russert that he’s anti-war
His policy, revolving door
Polling shows he must be tough
So anti-wars not good enough

Take the hint, bump numbers fall
Act like Bush and stand up tall
Polling makes him re-arrange
Decision just a numbers game

US safety jeopardized
Security politicized
War record a fantasy
Election ploy, ‘ so vote for me…’

A purple heart or maybe three
Record availability?
Medals won, but you can’t see it
(written on discharge agreement)

John’s foreign policy does lack
“I will respond to each attack”
A General Custer re-enact?
Respond John? Please for once 1st act

Spends decades going loop de loop
Says Bush is wrong to bring home troops
“I’ll bring them home in just six months”
Again this man is such a dunce!

I’m telling you this guy is loopy
He thinks his pilots name is snoopy!
Twisted as a man can get
His writer is no Laureate

Hear him speak, so anal-ly
vote for him, insane-ely
Lies so extra-ordinary
Honestly, you need to worry

He says our US jobs won’t lag
I need an extra-strength barf bag
Has family business overseas,
He may as well be Japanese

Once Theresa made the rounds
Heinz product sales & stock went down
The Ketchup people disavowed
Connection to the Kerry crowd

Sure as Kennedy can’t sing
He wasn’t ‘born in the West Wing’
Convention speech could use a Kleenex
Licked his lips like River Phoenix

Listening to what he said
Just made me wish that I was dead
When I hear him my brain throws up
A landslide is in order, yup!

Cutting Intels just his thing
Missed Intelligence Briefing?
His blind ambition’s not the key
To winning this Presidency

Non-fiction, fact, an absolute
Dignity, respect and truth
Their candidate, the opposite
Those Democrats are desperate

Questioning loose liberal rumpus
A Party lost, no moral compass
Though J F Kerry walks among us,
Nixon’s ghost contains more substance

So JFK’s the anti-Bush
And Jerseys Gov’ner likes his tush
If that’s the path hire Michael Moore
(get more ass than you bargained for…)

He’s fit to flip, unfit to lead
Lack-luster lead-ability
Get thee Satin way behind me
Even Gore was not this slimey

Though I am just a right-wing poet
This candidate’s just wrong, you know it
Vote for Bush, be well-protected
But not if Kerry is elected . . .

Poem by Phil T. Rich

Statistical fact: 10 out of 10 terrorists agree: anybody but Bush!

Varennes: Governor-General Named For Chambord/Republic of Morovia

2004-08-18T17:02:00.000-04:00

{The Editors of The Morovian Telegraph posts the following Press Release without comment except to note that the following certainly indicates that His Majesty Louis I has no designs on the Kingdom of Morovia and yes, I suppose, that is indeed a comment :-)}

VALENCIENNES PALACE

Capet, Varennes

Office of the Lord Great Chamberlain

For immediate release

17 August 2004

It is announced from the Palace that His Majesty the King will establish the office of Governor-General to permanently represent the Crown in the Dominion of Chambord and that His Majesty will appoint Her Royal Highness, Princess Shannon Alexandra as first Governor-General of Chambord.

The establishment of the vice-regal office is the first step in concretely securing the former Republic of Morovia to the Crown, bringing with it as it does a clear manifestation of the Crown's intent to permanently possess and govern her new aquisition. In days to come, the Governor-General's office will publish it's own pages on the official website of the Kingdom of Varennes/Dominion of Chambord.

Her Royal Highness, upon becoming governor-general, will replace Major General Lord Colborne who has been representing His Majesty with regard to Chambord as interim viceroy. A resident of Port Colborne, Ontario, Lord Colborne is charged with the responsibility of representing His Majesty's english-speaking Canadian subjects as royal governor of the Province of Champlain. The title "governor-general of Chambord" was finally selected over "viceroy" simply because, in the end, His Majesty preferred it. It is also speculated that the government of Chambord may be modeled after that of Canada, at least with regard to titles and traditions.

In taking-on the role of governor-general, Her Royal Highness assumes her first-ever government post. As sister of the King and a senior member of the Royal Family, Shannon Alexandra has been in the public eye in the past, particularly in the Kingdom of Hanover, once ruled by the Marchmains. Before now, however, her hands have not held the reins of government.

When asked if she would be an active governor-general, Her Royal Highness replied, "Of course not. Do you honestly think I'm going to sit in front of a computer and run one of your idiotic kingdoms? What is this now, the fourth one? In that last one I got hit-on by 3 underage boys and some jackass who thought he was God's gift to women. You can use my picture on the website but only if I can do the royal wave, and I'm not wearing that crappy tiara from Claire's again. I'll say things on your little chat board if and when I feel like it...which will probably be never. Where's my martini, bitch?"

His Majesty the King praised his sister for her "typical Marchmain approach to government: callous, uncaring, self-absorbed haughtiness with a splash of alcoholism," calling the princess "a credit to the dynasty". His Majesty further indicated that the new GG's purse clashed with her shoes and recommended that she use a mirror next time when applying her lipstick. "We can't all be as ladylike as Your Majesty the Queen, now can we?" came the vice-regal response.

Although enjoying the style "dominion", Chambord will be ruled directly by the Crown through the Governor-General's office as a colony for the time being. Discussions pertaining to the future of Chambord are underway now. Possible future scenarios for Chambord include elevating the Dominion to the status of a kingdom, allowing Chambord to become an independent nation, and allowing Chambord to fall into ruin, disrepair and dysfunction, kind of like the Palace. Thus far His Majesty has not indicated his own preference.

Morovia: What About Yarl?

2004-08-18T16:48:00.000-04:00

{Major Correction by the Editors - 8/18}

Attera, Babkha, Cyberia, Morovia, The Order of St. Michael and Varennes have all spoken out regarding Yarl Berg's action reinstating the Republic of Morovia.

But Morovia has a special burden shared by none of these other entities - Yarl Berg is a citizen in good standing of the Kingdom of Morovia.

In the thread VOTE: Resolution on Yarl Berg, Morovia's Assembly wrestles over the knotty issue of Yarl Berg's status as Morovian citizen.

The contest seems very one-sided.

While the Hon. Michael Fors (Progressive Reform) AM, CM, in his capacity as His Majesty's Prosecutor-General declared the current resolution being voted (as changed by friendly amendment by its sponsor the Hon. Sir. Adam Graham) legally coherent, in his capacity as assembly representative he is seriously concerned.

The Hon. Michael Fors addressed the Speaker as follows: Mr. Speaker, to say that a person is in rebellion against the Kingdom is a very powerful statement. The person known as Yarl Berg has not been convicted of neither treason nor rebellion or any other applicable crime. If the Hon. Gentlemen feel that Yarl Berg has been or is commiting crimes they should file a report with the Prosecutor-General's Chambers.

The resolution (as amended) states:

Whereas, Yarl Berg is now in continued rebellion against the throne and seeks to overthrow the legitimate government of Morovia. {Editors - This line inadvertantly omitted from our original article.}

Whereas, Berg has shown contempt for the throne and the people of Morovia.

Whereas, He has tried the patience of the people of Morovia long enough.

Therefore be it resolved,

That at the time of the Special Referendum scheduled for August 27th-August 29th the People of Morovia shall vote on the expulsion of Yarl Berg from the Kingdom of Morovia under Article 42 of the Constitution if he has not accepted His Majesty’s gracious offer of Amnesty.

The vote so far enjoys broad, bi-partisan support and registers the Hon. Christopher McQueeny (Independent), the Hon. Rob McMonigal (Progressive Reform) and the Hon. Sir Adam Graham (Conservative) as voting "YEA".

The Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis CM, caught in transit between HM Ministry of Home Affairs and the editorial offices of The Morovian Telegraph "reluctantly" gave the following comment.

While I am very sympathetic to the Hon. Mr. Fors position, I am realistic enough to realize that a) Yarl Berg probably deserves, under the rules of frontier justice if not civilized justice, to be cast overboard and b) it's going to happen any way and c) that Yarl Berg is a long, long inactive citizen with whom we have no good email address and who is either being impersonated or is functioning as a troll and who has long since forgotten the maelstrom he created and c) if he did do it and was sufficently contrite he would probably regain his citizenship (Morovians are a forgiving lot).

I believe the Honorable Gentleman should vote his conscience, accept the end result and work to change the laws of Morovia to link the constitutional process which currently allows people to be thrown out for no reason at all with Morovia's evolving criminal code in which the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are linked to a citizen's minimally good behavior.

The Hon. Michael Fors AM, CM has not, as of our publication deadline, cast his vote.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Hanover/Calormen: Behind Closed Doors

2004-08-16T09:24:00.000-04:00

On Sunday August 8th, The Morovian Telegraph reported the rising nationalist sentiment in Calormen.

Shortly thereafter, on August 9th, The Rt. Hon. Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre posted On Calormen, For our discussion in which he called for a discussion by the Calormeni in the Royal capital of Baden in which he lists a number of understandings - including two statements insisting that the people of Calormen have the right to determine their own future apart from "outside influences".

This reporter, being of a sensitive nature, took being referred to as an 'outside influence' quite personally and felt that insult was added to injury when he discovered that the Great Doors of the Calormen National Council had been password protected and barred to him.

Still, on a second and more philosophical thought, this reporter just knew in his heart of hearts that the Calormeni would never dream of thwarting the people's right to know and he determined that his absence of press credentials to the site had been a mere bureaucratic oversight: they must have actually meant to exclude Prince Justin :-)

Undeterred, this correspondent hung out in the shadows near one of the back doors of the Order of St. Michael (a hotbed of nationalist fever in Calormen) which gave ample evidence (in the form of cigarette and cigar butts) of being the informally designated smoking area and, sure enough, eventually overheard the following conversation between Grand Master Ioannes and the Rt. Hon. Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre, paraphrased, partially fabricated and a bit sexed up below:

(Ioannes ) Please explain to me what these new declarations coming out of Calermon mean.

(Sir Wyatt) Calormeni is struggling right now to find it;s place in a Hanoverian Union and as such there is a great deal of fighting in political issues as they wll and might stand. These are nothing more then simple disagreements on our direction.

(Ioannes) So these new pronouncements are not declarations of independence? And what of the Lutheran Church? Why is that now in the Private Organisations section?

(Sir Wyatt) We have not declared independence nor has that been truy discussed, but it has been suggested. We are committed to working within the Hanoverian Union to make Calormen work with and for Hanover. That being said we are not going to be patronized at any point or let our Calormeni ideals be undermined.

(Ioannes) And what of the Lutheran Church? Why is that now in the Private Organizations section?

(Sir Wyatt) It always has been in private organisations with Wittenberg in Calormen

(Ioannes) Who is your skulking friend over there, behind the trash can? He has an ill-favored look.

(Sir Wyatt) My skulking friend!? I thought he was your skulking friend! Egads, it's that meddling reporter again!

(Grand Master Ioannes, Sir Wyatt scurry inside. Door slams and is bolted shut)

So the lid is on and simmering beneath is an unknown stew of nationalism, monarchical loyalty, a Garbo-like desire to be left alone and who knows what else?

We must be satisfied with watching the changing topic and reply counts to gauge the vigor of the conversation.

One possible hint of the direction this is all headed can be found in the recent post-hurricane letters patent from HM Alexander I calling for a Congress of Bergen.

A Congress in which all dominions and Hanoverian interests will (hopefully) be represented and where Organic Law will be rewritten to clarify the relation between the Empire and its component parts.

One hopes (but does not really expect) Hanover to open that important discussion to the public such that the people are informed and this reporter doesn't ruin another perfectly good suit.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Sneaky Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Hanover/Morovia: Two Crowns In A Storm...

2004-08-13T15:48:00.000-04:00

From Reuters:

Fri Aug 13,12:37 PM ET

By Laura Myers

KEY WEST, Fla. (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people fled Florida's west coast on Friday as Hurricane Charley charged toward land with powerful 110 mph winds threatening to whip up a 14-foot storm surge.

Charley hammered Cuba and raked the tourist island of Key West before moving toward the U.S. mainland on a path that would take it ashore later on Friday on the low-lying Gulf coast near Tampa Bay, an area particularly vulnerable to flooding.

Florida authorities issued evacuation warnings to as many as 2 million people potentially at risk.

See (for as long as the link is good) Thousands Flee Florida Coast Ahead of Hurricane

An odd twist in the destiny of Hanover and Morovia finds its two Kings (Alexander I and Vincent III) threatened by the storm surge from Hurricane Charley.

The Telegraph extends prayers and other kind thoughts to the two Crowns as well as to the other residents and guests of Florida who stand in harms way at this time.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Analysis: ABC...Varennes & Micronational Legitimacy

2004-08-13T09:32:00.000-04:00

In the last 24 hours or so, a number of events have occurred.

First, Attera, Babkha and Cyberia issued a statement regarding the Republic of Morovia in the Kingdom of Morovia's Salon yesterday.

Meanwhile Varennes has continued to post unopposed on the Republic's (Varennes' Dominion of Chambord's) boards, its Viceroy closing the offices of the Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister and President.

In related news, His Supreme Eminence Ioannes I, Grand Master of the Most Holy Order of the Knights of Saint Michael, has posted a declaration Regarding the "Republic" of Morovia in which he says the Order recognizes "His Majesty King Vincent III as the lawful Sovereign of the national entity known as Morovia," in essence going so far to define the legitimate Morovia as the Morovia sanctioned by Morovia's Crown - a good example of the Crown's role in symbolizing and safeguarding the unity and sovereignty of the nation.

In our opinion, the Cyberian Broadcasting Cooperative, in its article ABC powers jointly condemn Berg has rightly identified the central assertion in the ABC Joint Statement:

The history of each micronation is a shared narrative owned by all its citizens. Any attempt to remake that history without the consent of those citizens is wrong in both micro- and macronational law. Any attempt to seize the name of a micronation is theft of the intellectual property of those citizens. (see Joint statement of support for Kingdom of Morovia

In this way of looking at things, the Kingdom of Morovia (a high legitimacy "shared narrative") has had its legitimacy attacked by a Republic that once (arguably and a number of years ago) had SOME legitimacy. In effect, it was an attempted theft - taking the Kingdom's store of legitimacy and attempting to shift that legitimacy to the Republic.

The counterstroke by all entities was a reciprocal attack on the Republic's legitimacy, in which the facts that Yarl Berg had himself agreed to the Republic's abandonment and that the Republic had no history, no citizens, no Vincent III and, indeed, was of questionable legal status to begin with were all brought to play in legitimizing the Kingdom and de-legitimizing the Republic.

King Louis I of Varennes, with great panache and in an action reminiscent of the good old days of James Cardinal Murphy in Olde Morovia, took a step rich in irony and 'seized' the Republic, renaming it after a French liqueur (so at least some good, in the way of foreign trade, may yet come of this :-).

While some have questioned the wisdom or even the seriousness of this, we can't help but agree with HM Louis I that what is good for the goose is good for the gander and that this action - in conjunction with all the other less quixotic defenses of the Kingdom's legitimacy - provides an excellent Coup de Grace for dessert (to mix metaphors a bit).

And who knows? The Dominion of Chambord may yet end up a serious player on the micronational scene - micronational leaders who have been around longer than this editor's 2 1/2 years have no doubt seen stranger things.

Through the Morovian eyes of this paper, this collective response vindicates the Morovian position (as well as the position of many other nations) on the nonsense of micronational war.

The only real war or competition between micronations is in the realm of ideas or, more specifically, the realm of generating viable national activity perceived by other micronations as legitimate.

And that is a non-zero sum game.

The Kingdom of Morovia was 'loaned' legitimacy by Attera, Babkha, Cyberia, the Order of St. Michaels, Varennes and others - but those entities did not lose the legitimacy they loaned, if anything they gained from what they so generously gave.

The micronational community may never become a one-world organization, an uber-Tymaria, and that is probably a good thing as variety is the spice of life and one size most definitely does not fit all.

But as our individual authoritative national narratives weave together in a master narrative of the community of micronations, rogue nations and "Egostans" have been put on notice that, believe it or not, the chaos of micronationalism is more apparent than real: the 'game' has rules.

Not many rules, mind you.

The civilized micronational community will not dictate whether you must have a Kingdom or a Republic as your form of government.

They will not dictate whether you have humans or elves as citizens.

They will not specify whether you must have a simulated vs. a real goods economy.

And they will not dictate whether things happen through parliamentary debate or through the unquestioned rule of a King or through using psionic powers on each other.

But you will not populate your nation with paper dolls.

You will not destabilize other nations through infiltration and subversion.

And you will not steal a nation's hard-earned intellectual property and legitimacy through mirror nations.

Only those nations and individuals who conform their own operations to the increasingly recognized rules of civilized micronations will possess the necessary legitimacy to play with the micronational Adults.

It is, as with so many other aspects of micronationalism, an extension of the very same rules that hold true in Real Life (tm).

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Morovia: New Book On Republic of Morovia In Works

2004-08-12T05:08:00.000-04:00

[The following is a Press Release from micropatriologist Steven Foong regarding a new book he is writing on the Republic of Morovia - The Editors]

In light of recent events and the interest shown by many on the Republic of Morovia, I will write my personal account of what happened in 2002. Anyone with something to contribute can email me at foongsteven@yahoo.com

Below is the outline of the book.

Title: Republic of Morovia - Preserving the Morovian Nation
Subtitle: The Account of an Eyewitness

Chapter 1: Background of a Crisis

Chapter 2: We the People

Chapter 3: Continuing Morovia as a Republic

Chapter 4: Befriending the Kingdom of Babkha

Chapter 5: LoSS - the Path to Recognition

Chapter 6: Pretenders of All Sorts

Chapter 7: The TYSOG Incident

Chapter 8: TYSOG Exposed, the Republic Vindicated

Chapter 9: Referendum: King Bjorn I

Chapter 10: "I think the King has responded"

Chapter 11: The Aftermath of the Crisis

Chapter 12: Concluding Words

Varennes: Lays Claim to Morovian Republic, Berg Convicted of Treason

2004-08-12T03:48:00.000-04:00

Early this morning, His Majesty Louis I of Varennes established a Varennes presence in the Republic of Morovia.

Utilizing multiple posts in the Republic's forums, the Government of Varennes, in the person of the Duke of Colborne (serving as Interim Viceroy of the Dominion of Chambord), welcomed the Republic's citizens to the Dominion of Chambord, stated that the Kingdom of Morovia was the only Morovian government of which Varennes was aware, affirmed Chambord's friendship with the Kingdom of Morovia and published the Letters Patent reported by this paper earlier. The Duke also announced that a series of "decrees and pronouncements" on the future of the Dominion would be forthcoming and that plans were being laid for a new web site reflecting the new state of affairs.

Meanwhile, in the President's Office, His Majesty Louis I himself posted Letters De Cachet announcing the convinction of Yarl Berg on charges of treason as well as his subsequent imprisonment "until our further pleasure is signified."

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Varennes: Avenging Morovia's Crown, HM King Louis I Claims, Renames Republic of Morovia

2004-08-11T17:17:00.000-04:00

His Most Sacred Majesty King Louis , King of Varennes has issued the following Letters Patent which are being reprinted in their entirety.

In response to the recent events concerning the so-called "Republic of Morovia", His Majesty the King has issued the following Letters Patent:

LOUIS, by the Grace of God King of Varennes to Our Lords the Premier President and Conseillers of Our Parlement of Capet and to all Our loving subjects whatsoever to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

WE HAVE BEEN ANNOYED in recent days by the misguided actions of certain individuals who, in a grotesque, clownish and shameful attempt to assail the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Morovia, have claimed to revivify the illegitimate national entity styled "The Republic of Morovia".

For reasons history will record, Our own relationship with the King of Morovia is one of estrangement. Our quarrel with King Vincent III and various of his subjects over events concerning the Kingdom of Hanover are a matter of public record and will be instantly recalled by many who chance to read these presents. Regardless of the unfortunate enmity which may exist between our two Crowns, We are compelled to condemn in the most vociferous tones the actions of those renegades who would attempt to usurp the authority of the King and the lawful government of Morovia.

Not content merely to condemn such actions, it is Our full intent to avenge this impertinent assault on a fellow crowned head inasmuch as falls within Our power to so do. If it is possible for one group of rebels to declare a counter-state and a mirror-nation to an already existing one, then it is also possible for an existing power to lay claim to such a state and such a nation in similar fashion and with as much legitimacy.

LET IT BE KNOWN, therefore, that We do by these presents formally claim the so-called Republic of Morovia in Our own name and do hereby abolish the name "Republic of Morovia," re-styling that entity the "Dominion of Chambord" to be held and ruled by Us, Our heirs and successors in perpetuity.

WE DO FURTHER pronounce of Our own authority a sentence of treason and lese majeste against all who call themselves citizens of the former Republic of Morovia, now by these presents the Dominion of Chambord and will retain these same as Our subjects unless and until the Government of Morovia shall see fit to request their extradition,

IN WITNESS WHEREOF We have caused these Letters to be made Patent with Our manual sign and for the greater validity and testimony thereof we have caused Our Great Seal of the Kingdom of Varennes to be impressed hereupon,

Given at Our Court at Valenciennes on this Eleventh day of August in the Year of Grace 2004, the second of Our Reign.

Louis

Dei Gratia Rex

His Majesty the King, in issuing these Letters, has assumed the title King of Chambord and does now possess full and complete royal lordship over that entity formerly known as the Republic of Morovia. Those individuals attached to that former republic may be from this moment on considered subjects of the King of Chambord and also stand convicted of treason and lese majeste under the laws of the Kingdom of Varennes. The return of these individuals to the legitimate Kingdom of Morovia is contingent upon a request of extradition by the Morovian Government. Until such time, the aforementioned subjects of His Majesty King Louis shall be deprived of any and all liberties and priviliges normally accorded loyal Varennese subjects and shall be considered imprisoned for all practical intents and purposes.

The Palace has further indicated that, should said subjects of His Majesty King Louis continue in their rebellious actions, their present status of "imprisoned" will be changed to "deceased" following a sentence of execution. In the event of such a status change, the aforementioned subjects of His Majesty will be officially and irrevocably considered non-existant by the Governments of Varennes and Chambord, regardless of whether or not any other Government or entity shall otherwise characterize the status of the individuals in question.

His Majesty will announce the appointment of a vice-regal officer for the Dominion of Chambord in the coming days.

Morovia: TYSOG Remembered

2004-08-11T08:45:00.000-04:00

Briesk- General Foong has drawn first blood on Victoria University's Encyclopedia Morovia with his narrative on the TYSOG saga in Morovian history (early 2002).

The General, a witness to the events and well-connected with several of the principals, has written his dispassionate remembrance of a time when His Majesty King Vincent III was away and Morovia, for a time, became every micronationalist's play toy.

The events of TYSOG have received renewed interest from scholars with the alleged return of Yarl Berg and the 'revival' of the Republic of Morovia (presuming three posts from one paper doll and one non-paper doll constitute a revival :-).

The Encylopedia is part of HM Ministry of Home Affair's Victoria Universiity Revitalization Project, a project already on hard times due to the absence of Lord Chancellor David Oatney, HM Minister of the Interior Bill Bekkenhuis' continuing difficulty (downloading a Java plug allowing him to edit seedwiki pages) and the general business of Morovia's citizens as they work on other projects.

Still, Minister Bekkenhuis fully expects both the University and the Encyclopedia to grow and welcomes submissions to the Encylopedia at bekkenhuis@fast.net (put "encyclopedia" in the subject heading).

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Opinion: Yarl Berg Entitled to Morovian Due Process...

2004-08-11T08:31:00.000-04:00

The Hon. Sir Adam Graham has introduced the following resolution in HM Royal Assembly:

Whereas, Yarl Berg, did commit treason against the realm.

Whereas, Yarl Berg is now in continued rebellion against the throne and seeks to overthrow the legitimate government of Morovia.

Whereas, Berg has shown contempt for the throne and the people of Morovia.

Whereas, He has tried the patience of the people of Morovia long enough.

Therefore be it resolved,

That at the time of the Special Referendum scheduled for August 27th-August 29th the People of Morovia shall vote on the expulsion of Yarl Berg from the Kingdom of Morovia under Article 42 of the Constitution if he has not accepted His Majesty’s gracious offer of Amnesty.

The Telegraph, while having no sympathy with treason, finds this troubling.

The resolution's wording, "did commit treason", leads one to believe that Yarl Berg has been given due process and found guilty of the crime of treason.

He has not.

Morovia's People's Constitution gives a number of protections to citizens accused of crimes.

According to the The Criminal Code Act (which was enacted less than two weeks ago), the following judicial procedures hold:

TITLE 2 Criminal Procedure

2.1 Anyone convicted of a crime shall have a right to appeal.
2.2 Once suspension of a citizen is revoked or expired, His Royal Majesty shall inform the convict that they have their citizenship back, and renew their citizenship accordingly.
2.3 No punishment may take place prior to indictment except in cases of clear and obvious danger.
2.4 Legal proceedings must be carried out in a way open to the general public unless the judge or jurists decide that a matter of national security is being discussed.
2.5.1 Criminal proceedings under this Code must be by information filed before a court.
2.5.2 The Court shall enquire into the information at a preliminary hearing and must, if it finds on the preponderance of evidence that a reasonable jury would be likely to convict on the evidence presented at the hearing, commit the accused for trial.
2.5.2.1 The Court at a preliminary hearing shall inquire only into the evidence presented by the prosecution.
2.6 Criminal proceedings must take place on a just and speedy basis.
2.7 Questions of fact must be decided by unanimous verdict of a jury of 3 or more disinterested citizens selected at random by the Chief Justice.
2.8 Questions of law must be decided by the presiding judge.
2.9 If no judge is available and willing to try the matter the Chief Justice must appoint a competent and disinterested citizen as an acting judge to preside at trial.
2.10 A criminal prosecution may only be instituted under this Code by the Minister of Justice or a federal prosecutor, save that offenses against the Electoral Code must be prosecuted by the Electoral Commissioner or a federal prosecutor.
2.10.11 Federal prosecutors are appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Justice with the consent of the President.

According to The People's Constitution's Chapter Three:

Article 19 - Recourse to the Courts

No person shall be denied the right of access to the courts.

Article 20 - Trial

In all criminal cases the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial tribunal. He shall be permitted full opportunity to examine all witnesses, and he shall have the right of compulsory process for obtaining witnesses on his behalf at public expenses. At all times the accused shall have the assistance of competent counsel who shall, if the accused is unable to secure the same by his own efforts, be assigned to his use by the State.

And, again in the People's Constitution, Chapter Five:

Article 40 - Public Trials

Trials shall be conducted and judgment declared publicly. Where a court unanimously determines publicity to be dangerous to public order or morals, a trial may be conducted privately, but trials of political offenses, offenses involving the press or cases wherein the rights of people are in question shall be always conducted in public.

And, yet again from the People's Constitution, Chapter Six:

Article 42 - Expulsion

The rights and citizenship of a citizen shall be revoked according to the results of a public referendum in which the general public votes yes or no as to if the citizen in question should lose his citizenship. If two-thirds of the public feel that the citizen should lose his citizenship, and the King consents, then that individual shall no longer be a citizen.

There are a number of oddities, idiosyncrasies and discrepancies in these laws...

The Editors first note that "2.3 No punishment may take place prior to indictment except in cases of clear and obvious danger." in the Criminal Code actually allows punishment to take place before indictment (let alone before trial and conviction - what's up with THAT?!)

A case could probably be made that inciting citizens to leave the Kingdom of Morovia for the Republic of Morovia is such a "clear and obvious danger", but is it really?

How many readers thought seriously about migrating to the Republic, or taking up Yarl Berg's 'generous' offer of amnesty?

Seriously now, has Yarl Berg's single post in our nation (and about 2 - 3 posts on the Republic website) rocked our nation's security?

Been more like a combination of pain-in-the-butt and temporary-relief-from-summer-doldrums if you ask the Editors.

However one reads 2.3 and the rest of the Criminal Code, it is trumped by the People's Constitution which guarantees the accused recourse to the courts, legal representation and a public trial - the public nature of the trial being especially guaranteed in cases involving "political offenses" (and if treason doesn't qualify as a political offense, this Editor is not sure what would).

Now, oddly enough, Chapter Six, Article 42 on Expulsion doesn't say anything about violations of the Criminal Code - it seems to be based on nothing more profound than "we voted you in, we can vote you out" (albeit with a supermajority in a national referendum).

If this is the road down which the Royal Assembly seeks to travel, we believe the resolution that should be passed should simply be, Resolved: That Mr. Yarl Berg be removed from the citizenship rolls without implying (as the current resolution implies) that Mr. Berg has been found guilty of violating the Criminal Code's statute regarding the crime of treason as the result of the due process of a legal proceeding.

Whether or not His Majesty's Royal Assembly would choose to use Article 42 in such a disconnected way from the Criminal Code is a matter of great import.

The Editors believe that such disconnected usage to solve a "problem" basically turns Morovia into a membership-based club in which there is no appeal against the crime of being disliked by a majority of the Assembly and a supermajority of the citizenry (however justifiable the dislike may be in this particular case).

In a micronation (as distinguished from an online club), one should lose citizenship as a result of violations of the Criminal Code following a due process in which the accused citizen's rights are upheld and the facts are open to the general public.

Yarl Berg may have had his credentials compromised. Or, conversely, he may be having a bit of casual fun blowing wind up Morovia's skirts (he has only posted 2 - 3 times on this whereas a cottage industry on the Berg issues has been spawned in Morovia).

In any event, he is not a serious threat and Morovia may, indeed, never hear from him again.

This issue is about Morovia and its identity, which is far more subverted by setting a precedent of citizen expulsion without due process than by anything Mr. Berg's paper armada may accomplish.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

The King's Fool: The Cuckoo Birds Return to Briesk

2004-08-10T20:11:00.000-04:00

{Editor's Note: Capistrano gets the swallows, Morovia gets the rest... Summer in Morovia wouldn't be complete without the annual and always short-lived March of the Paper Soldiers.

Well, since The Briesk Evening Standard has already scooped us on the serious side of this issue, we may as well go for laughs.

So we submit this recently intercepted piece of diplomatic correspondence.}

Dear Mr. Bjorn Asgeirsson:

Please convey my warmest regards to President Yarl Berg of the Republic of Morovia, which shouldn't be too hard as you are both one and the same paper doll - that is, if you even ARE Yarl Berg (paranoid, I know, but trust me, I know of which I speak, I'm no slouch in the paper doll business myself!)

His revival of the Republic of Morovia some two and a half years after it peacefully went inert is a master stroke of timing. Um, master stroke of...diplomacy. Er, of strategy?

Oh well, it was a master stroke of something!

And something certain to raise the level of micronationalism from the sublime to the ridiculous, which is where both you and I belong, I mean, where both you and I know it belongs.

The President's ploy may also exploit differences in the rump Kingdom's government. The King offers amnesty. The Prosecutor-General is preparing for legal action. And General Foong has recently been seen obsessively cleaning his ivory-handled pistols.

Berg's offer of amnesty was a most cunning ploy to split the coalition of the non-dolls as well, and I hear that the document shredders have been going full blast at His Former Majesty's Ministry of Home Affairs.

Speaking of His Former Majesty, has President Berg considered a position for Vincent?

I know, I know, having some guy with a crown around in a republic kind of clashes with the decor. Still, maybe President Berg could go on tour throughout the micronational landscape and, you know, borrow a little credibility by dragging Vincent, similar to way America's President Bush is dragging war hero Senator John McCain around to um, bolster his own, er, indifferent...

Not, of course, that President Berg needs to borrow credibility or anything...

That's something I'm a bit of an expert on as well, you know.

Regards,
Emperor Jacobus

P.S. Comrade Titov and GrandDuke Theo send their regards.

Review: America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy

2004-08-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

America Unbound is a book written by two former Clinton staffers who now work for The Brookings Institute.

It begins by rapidly tracing the major currents in American foreign policy from America's origins to the end of the Clinton presidency.

The gist is that America has always swung back and forth between isolationism and internationalism.

The internationalists - before the G. W. Bush revolution - were of two flavors, the unilateralists (who felt America must retain a free hand in looking after its own interests) and the multilateralists (who believed in exercising America's power within the framework of international law and multinational organizations).

The authors go on to examine the relationship between George W. Bush and the Vulcans, a group of foreign policy experts led by Condoleezza Rice and Paul Wolfowitz.

This group sprang out of the internationalist side of the foreign policy divide, hawkish on the military and hegemonist in outlook (that is, they believed America to be the 500 pound gorilla in the world and that America must not be reluctant to use that strength forcefully and unilaterally (when necessary) to preserve American interests).

A minority within the Vulcans were the so-called neo-cons, whom the authors prefer to call democratic imperialists, led by Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, who believed that America needed to export - for both moral and security reasons - the gospel of liberty, capitalism and free markets to the world in an attempt to stamp other nations in America's image.

Having already received an impression from Misunderestimated by Bill Sammon and Bush at War by Bob Woodward that George W. Bush is a strong leader whose caricature as a puppet in the thrall of others is wrong, this book also stresses that Bush - not the Vulcans, not the neo-cons - makes the decisions and calls the shots.

Bush's own worldview, apparently, was already formed (as the authors document through his speeches going back to 1999) and, unlike his father, he had the 'the vision thing'.

And in surrounding his campaign (and later his administration) with Vulcans and neo-cons (rounded out with the ideologically out-of-step multilateralist Colin Powell and the "just plain conservative" conservative Dick Cheny), Bush merely chose a team that reflected his own foreign policy thinking.

And the hegemonist foreign policy world view Bush hammered out with his team had (according to the authors) five principles:

1. The world is a dangerous place a la Hobbes (the philosopher, not the comic strip :D )

2. The primary actors in the world are self-interested nation-states

3. Power (and the will to use power), especially military power, is "the coin of the realm" (p.42)

4. Multilateral relations and institutions are expendable in the pursuit of American interests]

Per the authors, this was all just sound political realism that other tough-minded administrations had pursued.

But it was the fifth principle, the principle of American exceptionalism, that provided the true revolution to the Bush revolution.

5. America is an exceptional nation-state, both in power and in its benevolent intentions "and other nations see it as such." (p.45)

This principle allows America, by the Bush Administration's lights (with Powell as the loyal opposition) to pursue action that even America's allies find objectionable because America's power will settle the issue (with the enemy) and America's benevolence (when the smoke clears) will be evident to friend and foe alike.

In other words, in the end, they all come around to America's way of seeing things.

The bulk of the book basically shows how the policy was applied before and after 9/11. The authors show how 9/11 made foreign policy the top priority and showed the strengths and weaknesses in Bush's pursuit of the adversaries he fought (Afghanistan and Iraq) and the adversaries he moved against through other means (Syria, Libya, Cuba, Iran, North Korea).

The end of the book provides a largely negative assessment of Bush's conduct of foreign policy on three main grounds.

First, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything like a nail.

And the hammer in this case is military force.

Therefore, Bush's strategy does not work well for the worst of the other threats (Iran and North Korea come to mind), where the military option would cause unacceptable casualties. After all, North Korea is a de facto nuclear power and Iran is much more formidable, militarily, than Iraq with its own nuclear program well on the way. The authors paint a picture of a confused, largely ineffective strategy against both nations.

Second, Bush's team (and Bush himself) have an allergy to nation-building. They don't like it, they don't think it is the military's role and - in both Afghanistan and Iraq - they grossly underestimated how hard it would be to win the peace.

Third, the Bush team underestimated the backlash that would come from allies and most of the Islamic world in their unilateral use of force. In the end, most nations (even our friends) do not buy the argument from America's so-called exceptionalism - not even America can just do as it pleases on the world stage, not if it expects support and cooperation.

So America is left in a quandary at the end of the book: the only superpower in the world, it still remains dependent on the goodwill and cooperation of other nations to successfully pursue her goals in the world.

I have one more wonky book to read on policy, The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century[/i] by Thomas P. M. Barnett. He has worked in the G. W. Bush administration and it will be interesting to see his take on things.

Bill Bekkenhuis
(Courtesy of the Briesk Freethought Society)

Hanover: Nationalist Sentiment Rising in Calormen

2004-08-08T12:31:00.000-04:00

Our story begins on January 25th, 2003, when His Majesty James I of Hanover entered into a Treaty of Annexation with Justin I, Duke of the Dominion of Athenoi and Count of Cyrus. With this action, Athenoi and Cyrus became part of the Kingdom of Hanover and Hanover became a Commonwealth.

The historical record regarding Calormen is not so clear.

Without explanation, on April 25th, 2003 James I published his Royal Proclamation: Royal styles document and "James, by the Grace of God King of Hanover" became "James, by the Grace of God of Hanover and of His Other Realms and Territories King, Emperor of Calormen, Head of the Commonwealth"

From whence Calormen?

From the Commonwealth pages of the Kingdom of Hanover's web site the problem - while not resolved - is at least owned up to and a reason for the lapse in the historical record given:

The Kingdom of Calormen is in a bit of an unusual position in that, for such a young nation, it has specific portions of her history lost to her. Specifically the treaty binding it to the Commonwealth of Hanover has been lost, but all witnesses agree that it did, in fact, exist. In any case, the defacto position is that the Kingdom is a partner in the commonwealth of Hanover. (See the History of the Kingdom of Calormen link.

Now, all this is all old news.

Why should it suddenly be an issue now, some year and a half later?

It's not clear, but at least two issues stand out as possibilities: one internal Calormen issue, one external foreign policy issue.

In the Rt. Hon. Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre's August 3rd post entitled The Future of Calormeni, A Call for a Referendum, Sir Wyatt-James asks for a referendum "in light of recent events and the lack of a commonwealth charter".

What "recent events," one wonders?

Certainly, one recent internal event on everyone's mind is the recent uproar over church establishment (or lack thereof) in Calormen.

Another not-so-dramatic issue begins with the appointment of Mr. Kevin Hood as the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Gotzborg . Ambassador Hood is charged with initiating relations with that Kingdom - though he is explicitly restricted from "entering into treaties nor treaty negotiations without the consent of the Crown."

Subsequent discussion in Calormen's forums could lead one to question whether everyone is on the same page regarding Ambassador Hood's brief - is he representing Hanover? Or Calormen? Or both?

In any event, nationalistic fever - if not of epidemic proportions - is, nonetheless, on the rise in Calormen to the extent that His Majesty Alexander I of Hanover felt it necessary to gently remind the Calormeni in the thread A Plan for Calormen, Future Constitutional Arrangements that it is Alexander I's duty to provide, in his words, the ultimate guidance of Calormen.

Prince Justin has been a little less gentle stating, in the same thread, that with regard to the Commonwealth Constitution "Calormen is entitled to what His Majesty thinks it is in fact."

Will Sir Wyatt-James and Ambassador Hood lead Calormen down a course away from Hanover, closer to Hanover or parallel to Hanover?

So far, the discussion between the Crown and the leaders of Calormen has been civil with both sides being careful and cautious in their public statements.

Only time will tell how this issue will unfold but - for the moment - Calormen seems to be the ideal venue for those who keep track of things Hanoverian.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

OPINION: Hanover & Morovia's Shared Resource

2004-08-03T08:40:00.000-04:00

Speaking of Morovia, has anyone else noticed that our Parl. has a Morovian majority, and the Morovian Assembly as a Hanoverian majority?

The Rt. Hon. Christopher McQueeny
Prime Minister, The Kingdom of Hanover

Indeed...

The Kingdoms of Morovia and Hanover share a love-hate relationship involving intertwined histories, intertwined systems of government, intertwined cultures and - probably the root cause of it all - intertwined citizenships. With an evolving and strong core of both seasoned (e.g., Thomas Cutterham) and newbie-but-learning-quickly micronationalists (e.g., Michael Fors) providing strong leadership in both nations, Morovia and Hanover have been twins conjoined at the hip from Hanover's beginning to this very day.

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Hanover, who made the observation, also epitomizes the situation, holding elected legislative positions in both nations.

The November-December 2003 gunfight over union between the two nations (see Hanover and Morovia) which highlighted our two nations' mutual suspicions, jealousies, zero-sum ambitions, etc. may have disguised the more significant truth - while formal relations between the two siblings have not been defined by even so much as a mutual recognition or friendship treaty, the two nations are already informally joined in many ways, ranging from the trivial to the fundamental.

One might consider this a worrying trend, this editor himself (jokingly) suggesting that our common, core citizenships may constitute the coming reign of the micronational Illuminati.

And there is a point to the joke.

With issues where Morovia and Hanover cross paths, citizens - and particularly legislators - must work to remember which "role" they are playing (whether their Hanover role or their Morovia role) when they speak and vote. Otherwise, as a saying from Cricket puts it, one might end up batting and bowling at the same time.

This paper's official position however (as distinguished from Bill Bekkenhuis' private delusional rantings) is that Hanover's and Morovia's shared common resource of committed citizen-leaders is a blessing, not a curse.

Hanover and Morovia are destined / doomed (take your pick :-) to follow parallel paths using similar (not identical) means to reach similar (not identical) goals.

Both Monarchs, both Assemblies and both Cabinets should work towards formalizing what already exists informally, setting a path towards ever closer relations that nonetheless recognizes our separate sovereignties and distinguishable national identities.

What that might look like, this paper hasn't a clue.

It won't be union. It may not be something as tight knit as a Commonwealth (although it might), yet it seems it must be something tighter than mutual recognition and an exchange of ambassadors. (And Lord knows we certainly don't need Yet Another Micronational Uber-Organization :-)

It may be that it takes a series of more formal treaties before it becomes evident to both citizenries what we are groping towards and where our shared interests lie (though citizenship recruitment and retention comes to mind).

But the time to begin the discussion is upon us.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net
8/3/2004.

Morovia's Citizenship 'Explosion'

2004-08-03T07:48:00.000-04:00

Briesk- A year ago, during the almost one year hiatus from activity that Vincent III was obliged to take in light of other obligations, the Kingdom of Morovia was almost as dead as Marley.

There was a weak pulse in the person of the Lord Regent and a brief, dying splendor in last summer's RealPeace Roundtable Discussion but, all in all, Morovia was in suspended animation.

Then came the return of the King (with apologies to Tolkien) in November of 2003... Now, things began to happen - notably, the return of active citizens, constitutional government and even our very own micronational controversy which, in this iteration of the Big Wheel of History, took the form of informal unification talks with Hanover which managed to prompt a Royal Conniption (and every PR person's dream of free publicity :-) from a former Hanoverian monarch (James I, now Varennes' King Louis I of the French persuasion :-).

Following all this, in winter, spring and summer of 2004, Morovia received no less than 12 citizenship applications (4 in February, 1 in March, 1 in April, 3 in June and 3 in July). Of those who applied for citizenship (which, so far at least, has been granted for just about everyone who applies) 8 have posted at least once to the ezBoard forums, 4 have contributed to Salon discussions on a more-or-less consistent basis and 3 have been elected to, and are currently serving in, HM Royal Assembly and HM Cabinet.

Beyond that, Lord David Oatney returned (at least briefly) to active participation, Sir Adam Graham has returned and is currently reprising his role as Speaker of HM Royal Assembly as well as serving in HM Cabinet and Mr. Robert Kee and even Mr. Iain Lindley have popped in from time-to-time to say, 'hi'. Only Lord Marc Lanson remains terminally AWOL.

All Morovia needs is former citizen Mr. Robert Gresham to return and things would be perfect (at least, according to one of our editors whose last news desk was in Hell :-)

Asked about the significance of the above mentioned statistics, HM Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis, said he'd have to think it through a bit. "I've always thought that the difficult part of building a micronation's citizenship based was getting the word out that the micronation exists and getting tourists to visit it. Now I'm beginning to think the tougher nut to crack is the conversion of citizen-applicants to active participants. Why do most drift away while a small minority become very active? Is it simply a self-selection process or are there things a micronation can do to help new citizens get connected?"

Apparently thoughts along these lines are also on His Majesty's People's Representative, the Rt. Hon. Steven Foong's mind.

In his clarification to the Hon. Bekkenhuis regarding the Rt. Hon. Foong's directive to develop a Post-Naturalisation Affirmative Actions.

" A document that states the guidelines and procedures on what actions need to be done after citizenship has been approved. Although mainly dealing with post-naturalisation, the document will also do well to specify pre-naturalisation. Therefore, a procedure on what we need to do from the moment we receive a new citizenship application to the moment he takes up active citizenship."

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net
8/3/2004

Review: Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, John Kerry, and the Bush Haters

2004-07-31T08:43:00.000-04:00

Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, John Kerry, and the Bush Haters

[Originally presented at a Briesk Freethought Society beer punt in Morovia.]

PART ONE

Well, I guess seeing "Fahrenheit 911" had some positive effect on me.

That, and a discussion on this forum, provoked me to go out and get some books on the Bush administration (I mean, REAL books, not rants and raves by the likes of Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly or, for that matter, Moore or Franken...)

I tried to pick some that received generally favorable reviews and that contained positive comments (in Amazon) from both sides of the partisan divide. (Man, oh man, was it TOUGH to find four semi-positive books about Bush... :-)

Actually, not all the books I looked at are easy to classify - most giving some type of nuanced evaluation for Bush.

At any rate, I'm starting with "Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, John Kerry, and the Bush Haters" by Bill Sammon, Senior White House Correspondent for the right-leaning Washington Times and political analyst for the more-right-leaning Fox News Network.

I started with it for the same reason you learn to eat your spinach before your desert - it goes down a little better that way :-)

I'm about a third of the way through the book and, to my surprise, am finding it an enjoyable, well-written and informative read despite the author's obvious enthusiasm for George W.

One of the incidents he recounts (so to speak) in the early part of the book is a fund-rasiing talk in Portland, OR where Bush's motorcade was surrounded by maniacle Bush-haters and where he spent the evening (along with the high-rolling speach attenders) under a state of siege.

Ridiculously enough, Bush and his Republican conventioneers were sharing the hotel with "hundreds of homosexual men who were in Portland for the Gay Softball World Series".

The protestors, who - according to Sammon - were beyond any sort of reason also attacked and intimidated the gays trying to get to the hotel leading to a surreal discussion between Ari Fleischer and some of the gay leadership commiserating on what a shame it was that everyone just couldn't get along :-)

More reports as I continue through the book, but so far I give it a big thumbs up. (I don't necessarily AGREE with the spin he puts on events, but at least the events are laid out in a clear and even entertaining fashion.

PART TWO

Finished Bill Sammon's Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, John Kerry, and the Bush Haters.

Not too surprisingly, it's a love manifesto to Bush.

He scarcely interviews anyone not intimately involved in the administration and I'm not sure there is so much as a single comment questioning anything Bush has done in the last four years. (As compared to his liberal (so to speak) editorial comments questioning the motives of Democrats and the media :D )

In fact, considering how virulent his attack is on the liberal media's bias (not, mind you, without some impressive examples), it's astonishing how unashamedly biased his own writing is.

Examples abound.

He gives a stirring account of the toppling of Hussein's statue without mentioning that it was almost certainly an event staged by military psy-ops (see this article and this article )

He makes a point of quoting Kerry's use of the "F" word in an interview, but makes no mention of Bush calling a reporter an "a**hole" while HE was campaigning.

He's positively livid about Congressman McDermott giving "aid and comfort to the enemy" by questioning American actions in Iraq (before the war) while giving Rumsfeld's famous handshake with Hussein back in 1988 a pass.

He DOES mention how Washington under the Reagan administration "unofficially" supported Iraq, mentions in passing that Rumsfeld "delivered a letter" from Reagan to Hussein and notes - without comment - that Iraq was removed from the list of nations sponsoring terrorism "as a show of support" and that Reagan sent Hussein military intelligence that "allowed Saddam to retaliate swiftly against the Kurds who helped Iranian forces seize the Iraqi border town of Haj Omran" and also sent him civilian helicopters that Saddam swiftly retrofitted to military use...

Not a whisper that there's anything wrong with any of this (let alone that it was giving "aid and comfort to the enemy") as compared to his railing against those who questioned the invasion of Iraq - Sammon using Iraq's harboring of the same terrorists (in the '90s and '00s) that Reagan (and Rumsfeld) had overlooked in the '80s as a justification for the attack.

Apparently, for Sammon, what's good for the Republican goose is not necessarily good for the Democratic gander and it really DOES depend on whose ox is being gored (to mix metaphors a bit).

The books is mythic in scope - the myth is Bush's triumph over his opponents (the French, the media, the Democrats) who, in their liberal elitism and feigned sophistication, foolishly and arrogantly "misunderestimate" him - only to have him come up a winner.

And to me, a liberal, there's enough truth in that (regarding the media and the Democrats, anyway) to make it hurt a bit :D

But the book also ends with Bush triumphant over Hussein, Zarqawi on the ropes and Kerry obviously non-survivable in the November 2004 election.

Of course, things have changed a bit since Sammon's book went to press in late winter, early spring 2004.

Zarqawi has adjusted to increased American pressure and is causing almost daily mayhem in Iraq, we've had the disastrous prison scandal and Kerry is remaining very competative with Bush in both the national polls and the state by state polls.

Sammon also treats Afghanistan as successfully concluded and that doesn't seem to be the case either.

In fact, reading the end of the book (a bald-faced sales pitch in which Sammon gives Bush a full page to answer Sammon's "hardball" question regarding why Americans should re-elect him :D ), one gets the impression that we've been victorious in both Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes it difficult to understand why the Afghans are questioning their ability to hold elections and why Iraq seems to lose its government officials to assassination and its citizens to car bombs on an almost daily basis.

I don't want to give the impression the book isn't worth the read.

As I said earlier, it is well written with plenty of humor (albeit at Democratic and liberal media expense). He had unprecedented access to the President and his team, not-surprisingly considering his velvet glove approach, and his recounting of in-depth interviews with Bush give a deeper (if one-sided) insight into Bush's thinking, leadership style and decision-making.

Cynical as I am about this administration, I found the chapter on Bush's surprise trip to Baghdad in November, 2003 surprisingly moving - it was, in my opinion, a gutsy and appropriate thing to do. (As compared to the account of his infamous "Mission Accomplished" photo-op which, no matter how much English Sammon attempts to put on his spin, I found gutsy - but politically motivated and inappropriate :D )

And there was one Bush quote that floored me:

Consequently, after years of reluctance to draw attention to the backward and repressive nature of Middle East regimes like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the president was undertaking a candid reassessment. It began with admitting a certain degree of Western culpability.

"We must shake off decades of failed policy in the Middle East," Bush told a British think tank devoted to foreign policy. "Your nation and mine, in the past, have willing to make a bargain to tolerate oppression for the sake of stability. Long-standing ties often led us to overlook the faults of local elites. Yet this bargain did not bring stability or make us safe. It merely bought time, while problems festered and ideologies of violence took hold."

The reference to 'elites' such as Saudi's royal family represented an important shift in U.S. foreign policy, which previously had been squeamish about chiding the world's largets oil suplier. But now Bush was putting Riyadh on notice that the threshold for acceptable behavior was being raised.

"As recent history has shown, we cannot turn a blind eye to oppression just because the oppression is not in our own backyard," he warned. "No longer should we think tyranny is benign because it is temporarily convenient. Tyranny is never benign to tis victims, and our great democracies should oppose tyranny wherever it is found.

"Now we're pursuing a different course, a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East," he added. "We will consistently challenge the enemies of reform and confront the allies of terror. We will expect a higher standard from our friends in the region." (p.288)

This positive use of American influence to make the world a better (and, consequently, safer) place is spot on, in my opinion, so long as "influence" isn't restricted to "military might" and so long as it isn't just nice-sounding words to disguise American's business-as-usual approach of supporting ANY regime, no matter how wicked, that furthers America's geopolitical and economic interests.

Given the implication (made in F-911's popularization of House of Bush, House of Saud) of how thoroughly compromised Bush is regarding the financial relation between his family and the Saudi royal family, as well as America's economic dependence on Saudi oil, I question how much of a "challenge" Bush can mount to Saudi Arabia's repressive government.

So, the book is basically home on the range with George W. Bush, where seldom (actually never) is heard a discouraging word, at least not from Bill Sammon.

It brings out positive aspects of the man's personal characteristics - his simple, direct approach to issues, his courage, his love of true American virtues such as freedom - that I believe are truly there.

Just don't be surprised if the Bush family's dealings with the Saudi royal family and the bin Ladens - or their relation to the Carlyle Group or Dick Cheny's mutual appreciation pact with Haliburton or the blank look on Bush's face during the first 7 minutes of being told America is under attack - to get much treatment.

For that, we'll have to read other books :D

Next stop...

Bob Woodward's Bush at War.

Reprinted from The Briesk Freethought Society

The King's Fool: Morovian Espionage Thwarted... :-)

2004-07-31T07:51:00.000-04:00

Details are sparse, but it appears a renegade Morovian intelligence operation may have aborted.

While His Majesty King Vincent III has been away from the Kingdom helping the Democrats in Boston with their own coup attempt to dethrone the rightfully installed Bush II, his (formerly) trusted Minister Bill Bekkenhuis has apparently been up to some skulldugary of his own.

Nor, this paper has learned, does Mr. Bekkenhuis' questionable actions stop at Morovia's borders...

Apparently this seasoned operative had some plot that unraveled in the middle watches of the night just as Vincent III returned and wrested the throne back from Mr. Bekkenhuis.

The plan began to deconstruct when Prince Justin of Hanover denounced Mr. Rob McMonigal, sitting in on Hanover's court, as a Morovian spy.

This in itself was not Bekkenhuis' problem, in fact, he thought it rather clever that Prince Justin - himself a subject of His Majesty King Vincent III - managed to turn away suspicion from himself and point it at McMonigal.

For his part, Mr. McMonigal says he has no knowledge of any intelligence affairs in Morovia, saying "If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times, I"ve seen no evidence of intelligence in Morovia at all" as, rushing through the streets of Bergen, he hid his face behind his raincoat.

The actual problem, according to deservedly unnamed sources, was that McMonigal managed to sit on the bug Bekkenhuis had planted in the Court, causing it to transmit NPR instead of the proceedings of the Court.

No other information is available at this time beyond the fact that Mr. Bekkenhuis' request to His Majesty King Vincent III to be appointed HM Minister of Foreign Affairs has been denied.

G. Gordon Liddey
Special Correspondent,
The Morovian Telegraph

Foong & Graham Blow Away The Cobwebs

2004-07-28T05:47:00.000-04:00

Briesk, Morovia - Speaker Sir Adam Graham (Conservative) and Rt. Hon. People's Representative Steven Foong (Progressive Reform) have apparently formed a collegial coalition of the willing to modernize and expedite Morovia's legislative and executive processes.

Sir Adam had barely warmed the Speaker's chair when he introduced a dazzling array of procedural changes in the way HM Royal Assembly conducts its business, introducing four amendments to the Standing Orders, three new pieces of legislation and one proposed constitutional amendment.

Sir Adam's proposed rule changes focus on expediting elections for Speaker and People's Representative as well as expediting the legislative process itself through clarifying how various motions to a resolution shall be handled as well as through the truly revolutionary suggestion of allowing HM Royal Assembly to discuss and even vote online through instant messaging.

Several of Sir Adam's proposed laws would reduce the formal legal burden, on the government, of staffing various commissions that Morovia simply lacks the active citizenry to staff - and that no one seems to miss :-) as well as a law that would formalize and distinguish between citizens and registered voters.

The proposed amendment to the constitution would allow depriving a citizen of voting rights as punishment for a crime (noting that most crimes brought in micronational courts are serious crimes on the level of treason).

Meanwhile, on the executive side of government, the Rt. Hon. People's Representative has not been idle.

First he announced his cabinet as follows:

Ministry of Home Affairs - Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis, CM

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Hon. Christopher McQueeny, AM, CM

Ministry of Economics - Rt. Hon. Steven Foong, AM, CM (the Rt. Hon. Steven Foong will also lead the executive branch as People's Representative and will continue to oversee Morovia's Defense establishment)

Ministry of Information - Hon. Rob McMonigal, AM, CM

Prosecutor General - Hon. Michael Fors, AM, CM

Ministry of Culture - Hon. Sir Adam Graham, AM, CM

Announcing a policy of leading a strong central government that is nonetheless responsive to the citizenry, the Rt. Hon. Steven Foong pledges to cut red tape and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy through a program of management by objectives and results.

It would appear that Team Morovia is in place and, during a period of summertime activity all but unprecedented in recent Morovian history (anyone remember last year? Anyone? Anyone? :-), it appears that the Kingdom of Morovia may well be on the cusp of a new renaissance.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

Opinion: Alexander I of Hanover Does The Right Thing

2004-07-27T06:38:00.000-04:00

His Majesty Alexander I of Hanover has intervened in the religious meltdown in Hanover, specifically speaking to the status of Lord Lancaster ( Sir Wyatt-James T. McIntyre):

Hence forth and until further notice the Lord Lancaster's various resignations, renunciations and revocations are null and void. The Lord Lancaster retains his Hanoverian and Calormani citizenships, his title as Viscount of Lancaster is in full force and not in jeopardy in any way. His position as Chief Justice is intact and held in trust until such time as he may resume duty.

Let the Crown be clear on this issue. The Lord Lancaster has been, and remains, a loyal subject and despite what may have appeared to be conflict between the Crown and his Lordship the Crown sees no discord, no breach of trust or other disharmony.

His Majesty has followed this message up with a personal apology for actions taken:

On the subject of respect, it is with deep disappointment in Our own conduct that we have to confess Our shortcomings. The Lord Lancaster was the subject of undue personal comments spoken in the moments of tension which did emotional damage to Our personal friend. These words were spoken in public, and thus the apology should also be given in public.

(See > Resigning, My Hanoverian Experience )

The Editors of The Morovian Telegraph (all one of us :-) applaud these actions taken by His Majesty.

By responding to the recent religious turmoil without become ensnared in the specifics and by choosing to intervene pastorally rather than bureaucratically or politically, His Majesty demonstrates by personal action that there is more to being a King than having a crown placed on one's head.

And this paper suggests that as goes the King, so should go the clerics of the various churches and orders involved in this series of doctrinal and organizational disputes.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
bekkenhuis@fast.net

The United States of Judicia

2004-07-27T06:32:00.000-04:00

Judicia - Within the past week, a new nation has appeared on the micronational scene.

The United States of Judicia was begun about a week ago and has recently garnered some activity on their discussion boards and some applicants for their citizenry.

The government envisioned by founder Jonathan Cid appears to be a government similar to the USA with greater centralization of power in the federal government, the states existing primarily as a vehicle for determining representatives to the national body as well as for the financial support of "religious tradition".

Judicia's stance on religion is made explicit in her constitution:

The official religion of the United States of Judicia shall be plain Christianity, or in other terms, those who are of protestant heritage that believe in Christ, and no denomination. The Christian religion may receive assistance from the government of the states, not the federal. For every amount of money donated to a Christian church, a half of that must be donated to one church,temple, mosk, etc, of every other religion in the state. This is Christian, as the religion, and not the category of religion.

The appearance is that while Judicia establishes a non-denominational Christianity as the state-supported (literally state-supported, as support comes from the state not the federal govenrment) religion, the reference to temples and mosques seem to imply that other religions may be tolerated and even partially state-subsidized.

In any event, Judicia enters the community of micronations and several discussions (mostly involving American politics) are happening in their discussion forums.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph

A Tale of Two Churches, An Order of Knights and a State or Two

2004-07-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

It's hard to know where to begin.

This paper had hoped to do an in-depth appraisal of the various religio-political events in the Kingdom of Hanover, has read many posts by the principals involved, but despairs of getting to the bottom of it all.

And, believe me, "the bottom" is the direction in which the entire sad affair is headed.

In a nutshell...

Sometime around the middle of July of this year, the The Church of Christ in Hanover and all Micronations , under the signature of Archbishop Demitrios , Ecumenical Patriarch of Bergen (posting identity CMcQueeny), posted two Decrees of the Synod : one dealing with church polity, one dealing with theology.

No one wants to gainsay the relevance or significance of the doctrinal and polity issues involved (which seemed to split along traditional Catholic / Protestant tendencies analogous to similar controversies in the Anglican Communion).

Still, like a snowflake triggering an avalanche, this action appears to have released massive amounts of pent up frustrations and hostilities that have more to do with egos and personalities than with questions regarding the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin or the balance of power between Patriarch and Synod.

Following this posting, a significant number of bishops resigned from the Church and, shortly thereafter, His Eminence Ioannes I, Grand Master of the Most Holy Order of Saint Michael, Bishop of Padren and Treesia (posting identity John Harvey) posted the Order's own decree that no member (whether ordained or lay) of the Church of Hanover and all Micronations could be a member of the Order.

As if all this wasn't enough of a headache for the ecclesial tourist, about this time (or, a week or so later) The Calormen Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Synod/Die Calormen Bekennende Evangelische Lutheraner Synode began, listing the Head of the Church as Prinz Daniel Dreesbach-Gegarian of Calormen and the Presiding Bishop as The Viscount Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre, Arch Bishop of Baden (posting identity wjtmcintyre).

Then, in just the few days between then and now, yet another extraordinary thing happens and the relationship of the Lutheran Synod and the government of Calorman becomes an issue.

In brief, if Prinz Daniel Dreesbach-Gegarian is Head of Church for the Lutheran Synod in Calormen, is the Synod a state church?

Apparently His Royal Highness, Justin, Prince of Emden suspects it certainly looks that way and His Majesty Alexander I of Hanover has posted in Calormen spelling out the precise nature of the relationship between the State and the Synod (the short version being that there is no official relationship though Prinz Dreesbach-Gegarian is free to participate as a private citizen in the Synod or in any other church in whatever capacity may be mutually agreed).

As it is hard to know where to begin, it is hard to know where it all ends.

At least in one significant respect, it ends with the resignation of Sir Wyatt-James McIntyre (effective today unless he can be persuaded to reconsider) from the Kingdom of Hanover.

And Morovia's citizenry can only hope - as they watch developments (if that's the word) in Hanover's religious scene - that it will NOT end by coming home to roost in Morovia. This seemingly unlikely possibility cannot be entirely dismissed considering the significant overlap of citizenships between the two constitutional monarchies - an overlap that is particularly noteworthy in that it includes many of the principals in this controversy, some of whom alerted this paper to the situation in Hanover through their sudden, chilly uber-politeness towards each other on Morovia's boards.

The micronational community watches and waits to see if the Body of Christ, torn asunder in the continuing religious controversies of Hanover, can mend for the good of their nations and for the witness to the Christian gospel each religious body involved claims to promote.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Reporter, The Morovian Telegraph
7/25/2004

Morovia Telegraph Purchased by Royal House Publications!

2002-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Morovia Telegraph Purchased by Royal House Publications!

Bill Bekkenhuis, President and CEO of Royal House Publications, one of the most highly regarded publishing ventures since its establishment in, um, well, earlier today, has announced that Royal House has purchased The Morovian Telegraph.

"With our Briesk Freethought Books Division publishing philosophical and religious content and our Bergen Books Division publishing fiction, acquiring a quality newspaper to cover the micronational political scene will help Royal House diversify its business while maintaining its signature focus on micronationalism."

Bill Bekkenhuis, Editor-in-Chief of the Telegraph, says he believes his job is secure for now.

From RHP's Home Page at http://www.geocities.com/royalhousepublications/

[Editor's Note: Link is dead. On (or about) December 22, 2002, His Majesty was called away Morovia appointing the editor, Bill Bekkenhuis, as Lord Regent in His Majesty's stead. During the Second Regency period, The Morovian Telegraph because inactive and the web site went away. His Majesty returned to the Kingdom in late October, early November of 2003.]]

Six Suggested Principles for Morovian Constitutional Reform

2002-12-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

Six Suggested Principles for Morovian Constitutional Reform

Principle One: Sovereignty resides in the people of Morovia.

Morovia IS the entirety of the people of Morovia over time and not merely the active incumbents of any particular moment.

Principle Two: Despite her beginning as a face-to-face nation, Morovia largely functions as an on-line micronation and this reality must be reflected in its legal system.

This implies that Morovia needs to realistically distinguish between (and even advantage) those citizens who are active in her contemporary and largely on-line life over those who are not online or are no longer active - WITHOUT relieving the non-active citizenry of their basic rights as citizens.

This also implies that besides the political checks and balances necessitated by Principle Five, a secondary set of checks and balances must deal with the specific character of largely on-line micronationalism with its multiple logons, 24 X 7 availability, erratic participation, implicit opportunity for multiculturalism, etc.

Specifically, the ideal of political separation of powers must yield to the realistic necessity for one branch of the government to assume the duties of another branch should that other branch fall inactive - either in part or in whole on the one hand and either temporarily or permanently on the other.

Principle Three: The people of Morovia vest their sovereignty in the Crown.

To paraphrase the movie, Excalibur, The Crown and the People are One.

Principle Four: The Crown delegates significant responsibility and authority to run the government to a Cabinet, a Royal Assembly and a Judiciary.

The Cabinet advises the Crown and implements the Crown's policies. The Royal Assembly represents the will of the people to the government and attempts to institutionalize that will, according to their best judgment, in law. The judiciary settles disputes between people and ensures that all laws passed by the Royal Assembly and the Crown (through Royal Assent and Royal Decree) are consistent with the People's Constitution.

The Constitution must balance the need for a strong Crown with the need for the Crown to remain above the political fray as well as the need for the government to remain functional in the temporary absence or inactivity of the Crown.

Principle Five: The scope, powers, interests and perspectives of each Morovian person (i.e., as 'person' is defined by law) must be checked and kept in balance with the other legal entities.

Crown, Cabinet, Royal Assembly, Judiciary and the Incumbent Citizenry all have their own scope of decision-making, the entire system must be designed with checks and balances such that no temporary faction can exploit or manipulate the government against the enduring interests of the Morovian people.

Principle Six: How these principles are negotiated between persons and lived out in day-to-day Morovian life is codified in the People's Constitution, to which every person in Morovia is bound.

[Editor: Again, this is unsigned, but I believe I (Bill Bekkenhuis) wrote this.]

The Royal Assembly Strikes Back (Finally!)

2002-12-15T04:00:00.000-05:00

The Royal Assembly Strikes Back (Finally!)

For a moment, it really looked like it might all just go away.

With the exodus from Morovia to Hanover, the current lethargy afflicting Morovia appeared to distend into deep coma, with first Mr. Gresham and then Mr. Anderson both resigning from the Royal Assembly for sound reasons - the one medical, the other political.

But rising again from its own ashes, like an good Morovian political institution might do, the Royal Assembly got back up off the mat and began punching back.

First, the Hon. David Oatney moved legislation, the Special Election of 2002 Act, to replace Mr. Gresham in the Assembly. The bill passed and has been sent to the Crown.

The second noteworthy event was that the Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis moved legislation to revise the Royal Communication and Emergency Succession Act, allowing the Cabinet and Assembly to take responsibility for specific issues should the Crown prove unable to respond to requests for communication on their status. This legislation has also been passed and been sent to the Crown.

Three encouraging things then happened in rapid succession.

First, General Foong stated that he had been in contact with the Crown and that His Majesty was open to at least certain types of reforms. Encouraged by this, Mr. Bekkenhuis requested unanimous consent to resolve the Royal Assembly into a Committee of the Whole. This Committee, chaired by Mr. David Oatney with Gen. Foong serving in an Ex Officio capacity, will propose revisions to the Constitution. Lastly, and completely unexpected, the Hon. Christopher Anderson presented himself to the Assembly, being sworn in and taking immediate action to second the motion for unanimous consent. Captain Anderson vowed to participate in the Assembly to the extent allowed by his medical situation.

As always, we are left haning. [Correction: "hanging" - Editor]

Will His Majesty sign the two submitted bills - or at least veto them - or will the Royal Silence merely become more profound? Is it possible for the Royal Assembly to craft, with the little more than one month remaining in its term, to pass constitutional reform that will be acceptable to both people and Crown, especially at this busy time of year?

One thing is certain. Morovia will endure so long as His Majesty holds the board and at least some are too stubborn to leave. But her government may not endure with her. If Morovia does not solve the problem of reliable and dependable participation by all government officials, we may yet see Morovia move from a constitutional to an absolute monarchy as she loses her ability to field the constitutionally mandated positions.

[Editor - Original article unsigned. I think I (Bill Bekkenhuis) wrote this.]

Dawn Over Hanover

2002-12-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

Dawn Over Hanover

The Kingdom of Hanover, an absolute monarchy transitioning into a constitutional monarchy, emerged onto the micronational scene last week.

Founded by a core group of Morovian émigrés, a number of distinguished micronationalists have joined the endeavor. As multiple citizenships are allowed by both Morovia and Hanover, significant "cross pollination" between the two realms is expected.

The basic 'Order of Battle' includes His Majesty King James I (a.k.a. James Cardinal Murphy), the Rt. Hon. Robert Gresham, Prime MInister and the Hon. Thomas Cutterham, Minister of State.

ezBoard forums for the realm have been set up at http://pub75.ezboard.com/bthekingdomofhanover62111 as well as a web site at http://www.geocities.com/kingdomofhanover/index.html .

The current focus of the endeavor is the crafting and ratification of a Constitution. That project is being shepherded by the Constitutional Committee (Rt. Hon. Robert P. Gresham, Chairman; Hon. Thomas G. Cutterham, Mr. Ciaron Broeck)) which operates under the auspices of the Royal Nationhood Commission (Hon. Thomas G. Cutterham, President; Hon. Michael Phyle; Mr. Zachary Dussault, Esq.).

Reaction in Morovia has been mixed.

The People's Representative, The Hon. David Oatney AM, CM of the Conservative Party has taken a dim view of the move.

In a recent statement to the Salon, Mr. Oatney said

"I am committed to Morovia. I believe Morovia is in a down period now and it will survive it. I am not going to contribute further to the pervading pessimism of the hour by joining in the exodus to Hanover in the name of setting up some sort of revivalist government, a new Morovia, there...rather than seek revival elsewhere, and bemoaning the lack of it here, start contributing to it here. Certain ones who fled to Hanover and complain about the lack of activity in Morovia were asked to run for elected office here and refused...Rather than beating the horse to death, try bringing the horse back to health."

The Speaker of the Royal Assembly, The Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis AM, CM of the Progressive Reform Party, has been more supportive of the endeavor, going so far as to become a citizen of Hanover and to assume a minor, non-governmental role on Hanover's ezBoard.

Per Mr. Bekkenhuis,

"the same Constitution that vests all executive power in the King and allows no constitutional reform without his blessing [b]also[/b] allows a group of like-minded citizens to migrate and start a new micronation while maintaining their citizenship and government position (if any) within Morovia.

...

"And if people are that unhappy with Morovia (as they seem to be) and if people are wandering away from the simulation (as they seem to be), maybe it is in Morovia's long-term best interest to encourage them to drift in the same direction."

However the project is evaluated from a Morovian point of view, the Morovian influence on the project is evident wherever one looks, whether it be Hanover's form of government or its apparent renunciation of micronational war.

And while the question remains as to whether Hanover will one day be able to boast the same six year tenure time as the nation of its forbears, the question also remains as to whether Morovia itself will live to see the dawn of year seven.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Special Correspondent,
The Morovian Telegraph

Telegraph Front Page

2002-12-10T03:30:00.000-05:00

James Cardinal Murphy transmogrifies into HM King James I of Hanover. The retired Robert Gresham emerges, at a speed this paper certainly failed to anticipate, as The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and the Thomas Jefferson of Hanover. Cutterham, Dussault, Bekkenhuis all appear in the new venue with new roles.

Some have left Morovia completely. Some have kept a presence in both camps.

And things suddenly become very interesting indeed.

And The Morovian Telegraph will be there to cover it all.

HM King James I has graciously accepted The Telegraph's request to open a desk in their capitol, Bergen, and so you can anticipate reports from reporters on the ground in micronationalism's newest micronation.

Cardinal Murphy Leaves Morovia, Founds Kingdom of Hanover

2002-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Cardinal Murphy Leaves Morovia, Founds Kingdom of Hanover

I depart these shores now for another life which yearns to be born. I extend my hand to each of you, hoping you will grasp it and sail away with me. Should you find yourself unable to grasp my hand, pledge at least that you will come to visit from time-to-time so that we may keep our friendships alive.

With these last words I take my leave of you and of this Morovia, hoping one day to be reunited with all of you.

James Cardinal Murphy
The Salon
Kingdom of Morovia
12/03/2002

J R
Marchmain Palace

WHEREAS we require that the laws and official institutions of our realm be established without undue delay,
We, James, by the grace of God King of Hanover, do hereby create and establish the Royal Nationhood Commission to be chaired by ourselves and to be comprised of all whom we judge fit to appoint.

JAMES I

King of Hanover

Signed this third day of December,
The Year of Our Lord 2002

HM King James I
The Throne Room
Kingdom of Hanover
12/03/2002

With these two simple posts, James Murphy severs official ties to Morovia and births a new micronation, The Kingdom of Hamover (Home Page http://www.geocities.com/kingdomofhanover/index.html , Forums http://pub75.ezboard.com/bthekingdomofhanover62111 )

He is apparently assisted in this new endeavor by

As we begin to build a new micronation, let us call to mind the reasons we have embarked upon this project in the first place. Many of us here gathered will have migrated from our beloved home, Morovia, because the institutions of her government had failed and her life and culture sadly faded on account of it.

It is our obligation and our duty, now, to create an efficient system of government, based upon the traditional (yet contemporary) norms of constitutional monarchy. This is the system to which we have grown accustomed and which we desire to preserve.

Let us examine the ways in which our nation can hold fast to the traditions which we have received while at the same time keeping an eye on the future with success and prosperity as our common goal.

http://pub75.ezboard.com/fthekingdomofhanover62111frm23.showMessage?topicID=1.topic

Morovia's Government Unravels

2002-12-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Morovia's Government Unravels

Looking at Assembly, Cabinet and King, the current operation of the Morovian government seems problematic at best.

First, the election for Royal Assembly was uncontested - itself a worrisome sign. Five people ran for five slots. The official Royal Assembly election results were posted on October 22, 2002. On November 8, 2002, His Majesty King Vincent III began swearing in the five representatives (the last, I believe, that he has posted to the board) and by November 12, 2002 four of the five new Royal Assembly representatives were sworn - Captain Christopher Anderson mysteriously having gone missing. Between November 12th and November 20th, the outgoing Speaker, the Hon. David Oatney, convened the Assembly and called for nominations for Speaker. The poll for Speaker began November 20th and concluded November 26th with the Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis elected Speaker. The election for People's Representative began on November 26th and concluded - after the resignation of the Hon. Robert Gresham from the Assembly - on December 1st.

Thus, election results were posted on October 22nd and the Assembly - at three-fifths strength - is ready to begin work some five or so weeks later on December 1st.

The attrition within the Cabinet has also been calamitous.

On October 25th Lord Marc Lanson publicly announced he was leaving saying, "A few months ago I tendered my resignation at Minister of Defense to His Majesty, and received no reply...". On November 3rd, the Hon. Thomas Cutterham resigned as Minister of Information and on November 26th James Cardinal Murphy resigned his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As far as issues dependent on His Majesty's positive engagement with Morovia, a number of things seem either to be slipping through the cracks or, if the delay is deliberate, the King has not been communicating his reasons for delay to the nation.

Specifically, the treaty with the MSE has been negotiated at the cost of many hours of Cardinal Murphy's time over the past five months or more - and its status is still unknown. At least two citizen-candidates are in limbo. According to the Cardinal, "Bishop Cicatello applied some months ago. His application was approved but he never received his decree making him a citizen. Jeff Nowak applied over a month ago and emailed the palace. He has yet to receive a response from anyone." The Privacy Bill passed at the end of the last assembly has apparently died due to a lack of Royal Assent at the end of the legally mandated two week period.

It seems that government in Morovia is becoming profoundly dysfunctional and that our leadership is being leeched away to other commitments. And unless the root cause of that malady is discovered and the bleeding stopped, Morovia stands to become (at best) a nation of no consequence or (at worst) a laughing stock in the micronational community.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Correspondent, The Morovian Telegraph

The Lord Protector of Puritania Claims an Empire

2002-12-02T04:00:00.000-05:00

The Lord Protector of Puritania Claims an Empire

IN BRIEF

Jullian Starr has laid claims to an empire on Puritania’s behalf,

Fierce opposition exists in Puritania

The Lord Protector has defied the will of Parliament

MORE DETAILED

Recently Jullian Starr, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of Puritania, claimed sovereignty over Tymaria and Lyrica.

When confronted by the participants of Puritania Mr Starr said

"1. I am the founding father of Tymaria and not those Apollonians that have made it so dormant.

2. Lyrica is a province of my nation of Interland."

The debate that followed can be viewed here http://pub46.ezboard.com/fpuritaniafrm2.showMessage?topicID=35.topic

Shortly after, a participants bill was proposed in Tynwald, Puritanias ‘free for all’ Parliament. This bill ‘The abandonment of Empire Act 2002’ called for any claims to be relinquished and it removed the powers of the Lord Protector to incorporate new territories into Puritania.

This controversial legislation was eventually passed with much gerrymandering on both sides. http://pub46.ezboard.com/fpuritaniafrm5.showMessage?topicID=8.topic

Soon it became apparent that nothing had been done to meet the terms of the legislation, and Jullian Starr had annexed, the debatably Baracodan or Menelmacaran, province of Freenesia. Jullian also passed the ‘Act of Union’ which circumvented the disburdenment of Empire act claiming that it had been enacted before the abandonment of empire act and it made all provinces an integral part of Puritania, thus no empire existed to disband.

http://pub46.ezboard.com/fpuritaniafrm5.showMessage?topicID=9.topic

Currently legislation is before Tynwald to veto this latest act by the Lord Protector and finally offload a morally burdensome and unwanted empire.

http://pub46.ezboard.com/fpuritaniafrm2.showMessage?topicID=43.topic

Also before Tynwald is the ‘Provincial Freedom act’, that circumvents the ‘Acts of Union’ and calls for the empire to be removed.

http://pub46.ezboard.com/fpuritaniafrm2.showMessage?topicID=44.topic

POINTS TO NOTE

The previous debate surrounding Freenesia in Puritania

Puritanias neutral status

The current court elections that see dissident Prince Kieran face imperialist Chris E Toke.

The fact that Puritania has abandoned citizenship. Anyone who rocks up may participate, to the full extent. That means voting, proposing legislation etc. The measure in place to prevent corruption of this system is that if any secret ballot drastically exceeds in votes the number of people who have posted more than twice, then the ballot is invalid and a new non-secret vote called.

I hope you find this information useful

Prince Kieran

Self Proclaimed Royalty

THE LAVAON FOUNDATION

Founded by Prince Kieran, Self Proclaimed Royalty, the Lavalon Foundation is a Leftist, Liberatarian, Green grouping broardly involved in micronationalism.

Every one is invited to participate, our forums are open to all. www.LavalonForums.tk or for more general info www.Lavalon.tk

MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*.

An Apolitical Morovia

2002-12-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

An Apolitical Morovia

Micronationalism, some claims, is all about politics. There are many micronations without a functioning economy; without a judicial system; without a religion; without a purpose. But has there been a micronation that is not very concerned about politics, or has any micronation where most of its citizens choose not to participate in politics? Welcome to Morovia - the apolitical micronation.

In the previous elections, Morovians shunned partisanship and run as independent candidates. This election sees politics, as a whole, not having a place in the heart of the Morovians at all. In the run-up to the recent elections, there was almost no need for campaigning from the various candidates, as there were only 5 of them with 5 seats to fight for. What happened to the rest of the active Morovians?

Outgoing People's Representative, Lord Marc Lanson, issued an apology for, in his opinion, not fulfilling the duties of his office and that he will not seek for re-election. He had since expressed interests in bartending at the Fort St. George. Outgoing speaker Zachary Dussault also did not seek for re-election and partnered Robert Gresham in opening a law firm instead.

Outgoing assemblyman Bill Bekkenhuis, who was probably the most active assemblyman in the previous term, decided to retire from active politics and concentrate on running the Morovian Telegraph before turning against his own words yet again. His Eminence James Cardinal Murphy is busy with the church, Thomas Cutterham just resigned as Minister of Information and is expected to unveil his plans soon, and General Steven Foong was never interested in politics. Robert Kee decided to become an Election Commissioner instead of running for the election himself. Peter Mills is enjoying being a private citizen and showed no sign of increasing his activity to assume more responsibilities.

Will Morovian political scene rejuvenates or will politics be considered yet another unnecessary accessory? Will it take another crisis before Morovians reconsider taking up the people's cause or will Morovia leads the way in micronationalism to renounce politics the way she led the renunciation of micronational war?

[Editor - I suspect I, Bill Bekkenhuis, wrote this.]

Telegraph Front Page

2002-12-01T03:30:00.000-05:00

Well, here we go again.

The King is inactive. Robert Gresham has resigned. The Cabinet is tattered shreds of its former self and the Royal Assembly sucks wind to maintain a quorum.

Just another day in the paradise we call... The Kingdom of Morovia.

There is hope, of course.

For one thing, we appear to be blessed with a military that prefers a leaderless and inactive civilian government to a military coup.

And David Oatney, Bob Kee, Steven Foong, Tom Cutterham and myself are merely the most visible of the Morovians who lurk the deserted streets and alleys of what once was a bustling Kingdom - too stubborn or too stupid to migrate, quit or rebel. I'm sure that those who have left may have not gone far.

But to retain those we've lost and to attract new life to the Kingdom we must act and act decisively.

And for that we look to the citizens, the newly-elected People's Representative... and the King.

Look to the Telegraph to keep you up to date on all this.

With this issue, we change our format. The Telegraph will be updated on a continual basis, with older articles rotating off the Current Issue page into the Archives.

Those who are interested in submitting content, please contact myself at bekkenhuis@fast.net or the other editors of the paper: Tom Cutterham, Micronational News; Steven Foong, Morovian News; and David Oatney, our Opinion editor.

A happy and safe holiday to all!

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph

Royal Succession Act Controversy

2002-10-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

Royal Succession Act Controversy

Briesk – When there was no news from the Winter Palace during summer, the Kingdom of Morovia returned to its lowest ebb. Many reasons were put forward to explain the decline, among them, a dissolved Royal Assembly and the loss of InfoMorovia. However, few can argue that the main reason was that the King was nowhere to be found.

When the King returned to Briesk, his subjects cried for deep-reaching reforms including electoral reforms, royal succession reforms, and some even went on to press for constitutional reforms. The citizens of Morovia were delighted that the King, too, agreed that such reforms were needed. Elections were promptly held and the electorate put a couple of new faces into the Royal Assembly, in line with the desire for sweeping reforms.

The Royal Assembly quickly drafted several radical bills to be voted upon. Among these bills was the Royal Succession Act (RSA), an act meant to provide for succession to the throne in case of the permanent absence of the Sovereign or any of the Royal Family to succeed the Sovereign, or the Abdication of a Sovereign without a designated or willing heir.

In essence, this bill was to empower the Royal Assembly to appoint a Regent should the King, or another member of the Royal family, not post to the forums or communicate with the Cabinet or the Royal Assembly within one month of the King’s previous communication (if the King did not designate a Regent). If the Regent completed his/her three-month term and the King had still not returned, the bill enabled the Royal Assembly to appoint a Successor to the King. This document received much support throughout the country and was passed by the Royal Assembly.

Then came the surprise. His Majesty King Vincent III published a Statement Regarding the Royal Succession Act, which, in effect, vetoed the Royal Succession Act. This was the first time in 6 years that the King has exercised his prerogatives to refuse assent to any legislation passed by the representatives of the people. Robert Gresham, easily the most prominent critic of the Crown, lambasted His Majesty’s statement as a poor decision, stating that he actually wish it [the RSA] went further in its provisions qualifying further to mean three strikes, you’re out reform.

The King’s veto rocked the Royal Assembly, and the whole of Morovia, with mixed responses. The Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis, who voted Yea for the RSA, promptly asked the Royal Assembly not to override the King’s veto although the Assembly had the votes and power to do so, but to give the Winter Palace some time (seven days) to devise a compromise.

The Hon. David Oatney, who proposed the RSA, said that he [did not] believe a Compromise from His Majesty’s Chambers is forthcoming, adding that ...it is a sad day when the principle of Parliamentary Supremacy, which is a basic principle of democratic Constitutional Monarchy, must be asserted in a legislative showdown with the King we are sworn to Liege. The Hon. Bekkenhuis and the Hon. Oatney are both caught in a very strange position. The Hon. Bekkenhuis has always appeared to subscribe to liberalism yet was the first to come to the King’s "rescue". The Hon. Oatney, on the other hand, is the leader of the Conservative Party.

James Murphy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while maintaining that it is the King’s prerogatives to veto legislations as such rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, entered into a difficult and intense debate with the Hon. Bekkenhuis for changing his vote to Nay, beginning with a question, "Why must the king always be amused?"

The Assembly is the people’s legislature. We the people expect our legislators to represent US, not the Winter Palace. We expect our representatives to be strong, to be courageous and to be able to act without fear, argued Murphy. …Legislation cannot be stopped just because the executive branch dislikes it. That’s just obnoxious.

The Hon. Bekkenhuis replied, Is there any reason to dismiss a solution agreeable to both King and Assembly other than as a show of force on the part of the Assembly? This debate carried on with both parties adding to the already very delicate issue, with Murphy calling Bekkenhuis’ formula as Happy King = good legislation.

Murphy ended the thread summarizing his contention that the Assembly exists for a reason. There is a three branch system of checks and balances. When one of those branches renounces its prerogatives in favor of those of another, the balance is upset and this can lead to an unhealthy situation.

Nobody is sure where this issue will lead Morovia. It is unlikely that Vincent III will ever be succeeded in accordance with the RSA. However, this episode (still unfinished) set, or may set, more than one controversial precedence: the people legislating the powers of the King; the King exercising his rights to veto legislations; the people overriding a King’s veto.

Steven Foong
Editor, Movovian News
The Morovian Telegraph

2002-10-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Royal Succession Act Controversy

Steven Foong
Editor, Movovian News
The Morovian Telegraph

Oh God, you're dying.

2002-10-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oh God, you're dying.

The Diocese of Southern Morovia

Dear Friends:

Some months ago Jay Murphy and I went with friends to see a local production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" [Correct to "Godspell" - Editor]. I remember that the Cardinal, who often becomes emotionally moved by profound ideas and scenarios, cried twice during the performance.

The first time he cried was when Christ began to celebrate the Last Supper.

The second I noticed him wiping a tear from his eyes was when the disciples sang "Oh God, you're dying," as Christ hung upon the cross.

Yesterday, tears fell from my eyes and I cried "Oh, God...you're dying" when the Cardinal broke the news to me that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and that it was unclear how much longer he'd be with us.

I'm at his home today, taking care of a few things for him. He's gone out of town to be alone with himself and to clear his mind of the chaos and torture which he must be experiencing now. He called me today and asked, among other things, if I wouldn't mind breaking the news to his friends--he used the word "friends"--in Morovia. I'm carrying out his wishes.

I cannot say whether or not you'll be hearing from him again. It may be that he'll want to remain involved. Perhaps he'll only want to offer one last goodbye. That will be his decision, of course.

I remember reading that when Pope John Paul I died suddenly after only a few weeks in office, an American Cardinal was quoted as saying that God had placed him in the shepherd's chair just to show everyone his smile for a moment. Perhaps that's why he brought Jay to you for a short while.

I would like to ask each of you to kindly remember him in your thoughts and prayers. I'm sure any messages of goodwill emailed to him would be appreciated.

Peace and God's blessings.

+Angelo Cicatello

"I am with you a little while, a little while and then I am gone."

Edited by: Bishop Angelo Cicatello at: 10/4/02 5:59:52 pm

Reprinted from the Morovian Salon by Bill Bekkenhuis

The King's Fool - The Balatro Letter

2002-10-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

The King's Fool

Provocative, no-holds-barred commentary and satire on the state of the Kingdom provided by a guest commentator.

...being in the doghouse with His Majesty on certain rare occasions happens to be good for democracy, it doesn't mean you are disloyal to the Crown.

David Oatney,
Citizen of Morovia

The Balatro Letter
(with apologies to C. S. Lewis)

From the High Imperial Office of the Exalted Proconsul
October 15th, 2002

Dear Emperor Jacobus:

Your attempts to overthrow the lawful government of Morovia and install yourself as my governor have failed. And though you are but my paper doll, a regrettable symptom from one too many glasses of an indifferent Scotch, I thought I would take this opportunity to clarify your / my thinking on some strategic matters.

Your faulty evaluation of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses has caused you to divert far too much of your limited posting time to trivialities while missing the main obstacles to our progress.

First of all, stop your whining about Robert Gresham. In the realm of micronational terrorism, Gresham is the greatest thing since the invention of the Coup d'Etat.

Gresham has single-handedly made you, Emperor Jacobus, what you are in Morovia. If it wasn't for Gresham's increasingly shrill warnings about the deadly threat you pose to the government, you'd be drowning fries at the Briesk McDonalds alongside Comrade "Chef" Titov.

Gresham certainly respects your awesome power to post naughty things to the Salon more than the rest of Morovia.

Nor is Gresham's royal invertebrate, His Majesty King Vincent III any significant threat.

Vincent comes and Vincent goes. He squelches. And he doesn't answer mail.

The only citizens he likes are those who either do nothing or, even better, show up like Haley's Comet from time to time to vote Gresham out of office.

The King is obstructionist regarding innovation and intolerant regarding dissent in all areas of Morovian life.

Cardinal Murphy attempted some innovations. Some half-baked notion about local affairs in Briesk being managed by its own citizens. Can you imagine the foolishness?!

Anyway, we all know what happened to him, don't we?

He was 'squelched' (and all over His Majesty's new deep pile rug, too. Good thing it was purple anyway. El Yucko!).

Yes, yes, I know. Later on His Majesty made a big deal about reconciling with him and they patched up everything.

Even had His Eminence up for a glass of Port the night before the Religion in Morovia Day dedication.

And, yes, the next morning King Vincent dedicated a new, bronze statue of the Cardinal which will immortalize him forever in its somewhat secluded display in that little hollow behind the Royal Barn (near the landfill).

But surely I was not the only one to puzzle at the anguished look on the statue's face - and to notice that the non-bronzed Murphy has not been seen since...

Yes, I know, I know. A recent poll shows nineteen out of twenty citizens interviewed at a location chosen at random saying that His Majesty is kind, generous, quick to forgive and open to both sides of an issue.

Turns out the "random location" was the Royal Scaffold (Unfortunately, the late Mr. Longenecker was mute, God rest his soul.)

Speaking of which, some have said that His Majesty's use of the gallows (in preference to the former Royal Firing Squad) indicates a new-found appreciation of innovation.

Utter nonsense. It's simple expediancy. Because, along with the Cabinet and the Assembly, most of His Majesty's appointees to the firing squad disappeared as soon as they were named.

And it created quite a difficulty for the judicatory when only one out of the ten members of the Squad, on average, showed up for an execution.

Especially when the Good Attendance Award went to the guy with the blank in his rifle for three years running.

The rest of the government organizations pose no difficulty to your mission either.

Because it is the non-active 60% of the government that run the show, get the fancy titles and enjoy the favor of the King. Really puts a new twist on The Silent Majority, eh?

And the active politicos?

All bluster, no substance.

William Bekkenhuis is a typical example. He has been useless since his release from the psychiatric hospital (Gresham would say he wasn't much use before). His Majesty covered it up pretty well, but Bekkenhuis was hospitalized after he was of two minds on a particular political issue and tried to book a meeting room at the Ramada Inn, Briesk to mediate a compromise.

The Royal Assembly will also cause us no delay.

Everyone was in High Dungeon because the King might disappear again AT ANY MOMENT so we must have emergency powers legislation RIGHT NOW.

But when Bekkenhuis fought to uphold the King's veto and draft an alternate, compromise bill (The Amazing Disappearing King Act of 2002 I believe it's called), it could barely be passed because the Royal Assembly launched a preemptive strike against the King and disappeared FIRST this time.

Let's face it. Citizen involvement in Morovia follows three historical patterns:

Pattern One (happens most often): The people agitate for something. Vincent is about as personable and responsive as the Great Sphinx. The people lose interest and go away.

Pattern Two (happens next most often): The people agitate for something. Vincent squelches it (LOVE that word!). The people lose interest and go away.

Pattern Three (happens least often): The people agitate for something. Vincent enthusiastically supports their efforts. The people lose interest and go away ANYWAY.

Maybe Vincent should put an ad in the Telegraph to recruit more citizens.

Citizens Wanted!: Unapproachable, Obstructionist Monarch Seeking Silent or Sycophantic Subjects

At any rate, all those reasons explain why Morovia's government functions like a cemetery in which the groundskeepers do nothing until they're received their orders from the dead.

No, Emperor Jacobus, you have quite failed to perceive and take action against your true obstacle to progress in Morovia.

And what might that be, you ask?

Three words: Oatney, Cutterham and Foong.

Why?

They post regularly to the board. They have good ideas. They respect the ideas and contributions of others. They negotiate with the King and with others to get things done. And they follow through on what they start and on the commitments they make.

Makes me sick...

You had better hope, Emperor Jacobus, that you can prevent His Majesty from finding a few more like them - or I'll have your butt in a jar of formaldehyde on my bookshelf.

Yours in Micronational Terrorism,
Gulielmus Balatro
Proconsul of Yet Another Pointless, Short-Lived, One-Person Micronation
...and this month's special correspondent to The Morovian Telegraph

{Return to November2002}

For the Good of the Realm: Royal Succession Deserves Royal Assent

2002-10-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

For the Good of the Realm: Royal Succession Deserves Royal Assent

Apparently, the Winter Palace has learned little from last summer's fiasco. His Majesty fears, I believe, that the Assembly is being insubordinate. The Assembly's duty is to uphold the CROWN, as well as uphold democracy in this Kingdom. Suffice it to say, we love His Majesty. As far as we are concerned, we hope he reigns as long as the nation exists.

It is our belief, however, that both the nation and the CROWN are bigger than merely a single man. The CROWN is the State, which means if something should happen, God forbid, to His Majesty, to disable him in any manner from reigning over this Kingdom, the CROWN must go on, because the Morovian people have chosen a Constitutional Monarchy as our means of governance.

Twice now, the Royal Assembly has sent His Majesty measures that would effectively deal with the Succession Question and avert a crisis. The first time such a measure was sent to the Palace, His Majesty refused the Royal Assent, saying that the Assembly (to whom he must answer in a Parliamentary democracy) had no right to tell a Sovereign when he must communicate with it or the nation. The Assembly has tried to deal with the King's concerns as best it can, it even refused to over-ride his veto in hopes that a compromise could be reached. The Assembly has sent His Majesty a second Bill that it hopes adequately addresses his concerns. We believe it would be wise of him to grant the Assent, yielding to the democratic will of the people, and avoiding a conflict between the Palace and the House of Law that neither side, we are sure, is at all desirous of having.

David Oatney,
Opinion Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

Tymaria: The Last Weeks

2002-10-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

Tymaria: The Last Weeks

On the 8^th of September 2002, one of the greatest and most ambitious projects in our microworld, the United Republic of Tymaria, was officially dissolved. In truth, it had already been dead of fragmentation and apathy – while its shell was populated by its most loyal citizens – for some time. The best way to sum up these last weeks is in the words of its existence is in the words of its denizens:

"Tymaria needs activity.
I need snuggles.

So, all you have to do is post snuggling me in this thread, and everybody wins!" – Sirithil

"What, fish? I don't care about fish. Marine mammals are always cooler… 5 / 33.3%

What, fish? I don't care about fish. Squids are always cooler… 3 / 20.0%

Jaws is nice... And has nice Jaws... Which, by the way, has nice Jaws... 0 / 0.0%

Myself onto a perch, my enemies to pikes - that's the way to go… 3 / 20.0%

Generic/banana/YAC annexation/Oscar Wilde Witticism/Ari-ism/Hasan is wise in all things… 4 / 26.7%" – The Fish Poll

"Mastication is an important part of our society.

I freely admit I masticate several times a day" – Mattlore Devious

"As a random comment that arose from looking at those pictures: You know, sometimes I wish Opera had a "Toilet paper" choice under the "Use image as" menu..." – Ari Rahikkala, on Winston Marlboro’s ezboard signature.

"Recently an individual on another board suggested that I should "got to Hell and rule there", or something of the sort. I told him that Hell alraeady had a competent administrator, so I was unable to fulfill his request." – "Emperor" Jacobus

"Actually, Hell is now an extended part of the Imperium of Menelmacar." WarVoid

"The Kingdom of Babkha laments the inactivity of once great Tymaria and wishes to bring new life into it. Therefore we invite Tymaria to join the Kingdom. Tymaria would benefit greatly the activity Babkha has. The way in which Tymaria would join would be negotiated thouroughly of course.

P.S. This is not our Evil Plan to Rule the World, this is just our Actually Pretty Nice Plan to Rule the World..." - Tahmaseb Farshbaf

"Join Menelmacar : 1 / 4.0%

Join Babkha : 3 / 12.0%

Join whatever nation Jacobus runs : 4 / 16.0%

Stay independent : 2 / 8.0%

Close and disband : 15 / 60.0%" – A better choices poll

"I am re-ascending the throne of my ancestors, and restoring the Imperium. Since there has been so many changes in Tymaria, I doubt if anyone will object.

"Choice four would actually be pretty cool, although I couldn't object to the whole bottom-of-the-sea thing." – Scott Siskind, on the original "Choices" poll. Option four was "Vincent III of Morovia crowned King of Tymaria".

"You forgot the option where Jacobus goes home and the grown ups decide among themselves." Ardashir Shah, on the original "Choices" poll.

I waive my warped, half baked attempt at a sovereignty here.

Peace be with you all!" – "Emperor" Jacobus

"Tymaria's time has come and gone, it's time for it to fold. It's been an interesting ride, it's been around for a year, but there is no longer enough dedication to this wasteland to make it work." – Scott Noseworthy

"As the envoy from Treesia, I urge you to...

DIE, JUST PLEASE....DIE!

This farce has gone on long enough. Please!!" – Eoin Dornan

"So, the United Republic of Tymaria, that hope and dream from last year, a result of our belief that this nation, this nation created from our deepest hopes, would be different from all the others, has finally ended. I, as the Prime Executive, hereby dissolve this nation. Alas, all nations fall. And thus so." – Tony Au

"Huzzah! *blows party whistle*" – Eoin Dornan

"Lettsee... ah!

^ Gather a clone army and invade some nation
^ Build an actual airship
^ See Tymaria actually die

*crosses off 3rd item*" – ~~Jason~~ Harvey Steffke

"Rest in peace." – Philip Locke

Compiled by Thomas Cutterham
Micronational News Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

A Brief History of the Baracão-Menelmacar Conflict

2002-10-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

A Brief History of the Baracão-Menelmacar Conflict

The tensions between the People's Republic of Baracão and the Imperium of Menelmacar that have come to be a central feature of the post-Tymarian micro-world would appear top be drawing to a close. Despite the overwhelming failure of Menelmacari defector and Freenesian leader Philip Locke's "Peace is the Leftist Way Bill" (http://pub173.ezboard.com/fbaracaofrm18.showMessage?topicID=49 .topic), which called for a formal peace summit between the two states, the cross-border exchange of scathing remarks that characterised the conflict seems to have come to an almost anticlimactic halt.

The initial cause of the so-called Cold War was apparently the immigration of the infamous* Thomas Hubert (now known as El Dorni) to Baracão, and the revelation, caused by the loss of ezboard Gold Status and therefore the discovery of "hidden forums" in Menelmacar, that Menelmacari military officials had been holding secret discussions involving opposition to Hubert. The Hubert débâcle saw the collapse of the micronation of Varja into a province of Baracão and resulted in a splinter group forming the Imperium of Menelmacar. This also brought into the arena one of the most outspoken exponents of Menelmacari-Baracãoan peace, relatively new micronationalist and both Menelmacari and Baracãoan citizen Zarathustra Erutirn.

Thus, the tensions can be traced to the very formation of the Imperium. It could perhaps be said that Menelmacar is a semi deliberate antithesis of Baracão, created simply to oppose the Hubertist "socialist revolution" in Varja. Of course, since its foundation Menelmacar has developed a much more solid raison d'etre, primarily as a refuge for culturalist elements in micronationalism, namely the founders of "Apolloism" Harvey (formerly Jason) Steffke and Bill Dusch. This will bring me to my next point, which seeks the reasons for the continued and even increasingly vehement conflict even after the issue with Hubert had cooled.

This reason lies in what is arguably one of the most important debates in micronationalism - indeed, it defines the very nature of micronationalism itself. The question is this: is micronationalism primarily a political exercise, or a cultural one? The first camp, which believes micronationalism is essentially a grand political experiment, and that macronational issues and politics do have a place within micronationalism, is championed by Baracão. The second, which believes in a reduction of politics in micronationalism in place of increasing focus on "cultural" activities and that macronational issues are unacceptable within the hobby, by Menelmacar.

This argument has probably been around since the first fictional micronational history was written, but within the context of the Baracão-Menelmacar conflict it stems from argument regarding the macronational ideologies of each of the countries, and accusations made in a macronational context.

The fact is that the Communism practised in Baracão is almost singularly ideological - with no properly functioning economy as yet, there is really no way to practise what is preached. Similarly, accusations of totalitarianism and oppression of the citizenry have been made by both countries against each other and yet, as the Menelmacari leader herself asserts, micronation oppression is impossible because the power of the state over the citizen is entirely based on that citizen's consent.

In the interests of objectivism, I will not go into my own opinion regarding the culture vs. politics debate, but I will direct you to the Apollo Skyline (http://www.geocities.com/giantsquid1_1999/Skyline/), issues 34 and 35, for editorial articles on this subject by Thomas Hubert (El Dorni), Sirithil nos Fëanor, and myself. In relation to the Baracão-Menelmacar conflict, it is enough to know that this is the primary issue around which their mutual opposition is based.

The Alliance of Free States and the International Brigade

Arguably the most effective manoeuvre of the entire Cold War period was the removal, through absolutely legitimate and peaceful legislative means, of the Micronation of Pacary from the Alliance of Free States. The Micronation of Pacary, first of all, is an important military ally for any nation that will consider the possibility of electronic forum-based "intermicronational war". The Alliance of Free States was a micronational Comintern of which Baracão, of course, was a member. Sirithil nos Fëanor, Elentari (Star Queen) of Menelmacar, being a member of Pacary, was able to strip Baracão of this important ally by simply getting a Bill passed in the Pacarian direct-democracy People's Congress.

Despite the outrage of Pacary's founder and military technologist Sander Dieleman and Scott Noseworthy, another Pacarian militarist, Elentari nos Fëanor had struck both a military and political blow which not only meant that Pacary could no longer officially operate alongside Baracão militarily but also made an example to the rest of the microworld that even one of Baracão's staunchest allies would democratically elect to forsake them.

Baracão, though, were able to strike a blow with a similar degree of political effect in creating the International Brigade. This "foreign legion" enabled them to almost double the size of their army, as well as re-involving Sander Dieleman in the Baracãoan military, as well as prove their support from individuals in the microworld. Baracão had effectively neutralised the impact of the Pacary Incident, and indeed had used the international outrage propagated by well known micronationalists such as Dieleman and Noseworthy to turn the affair to their own advantage. Thus, having achieved a balance of power, the conflict began to slow.

The Fidel Nico Declaration of War

"There will be no war. Ever. Period." - Harvey (Jason) Steffke

On the 22^nd of September 2002, the Imperium of Menelmacar didn't declare war on the People's Republic of Baracão. In fact, Fidel Nico, dissident Menelmacari socialist and Baracãoan citizen did, under the ezboard identity of "SirithiI" (this was, in fact, a prank that had already been played within the microworld on one Earl Andrew Washburn, wherein an "l" is replaced by a capital "i", which look the same in ezBoard's Verdana font).

In fact, this incident probably did more to bring the Baracãoans and Menelmacari together peacefully than any attempt at official peace talks. It forced the combatants to admit that in reality there was no chance of any kind of war, for both political and practical reasons.

Unfortunately, the Cold War was not allowed to end there. On the 24^th, an article appeared on the Micronational News Network, written by none other than Elentari nos Fëanor herself, boldly claiming that "Baracão Harbo[u]rs Terrorist!" Despite claiming that "the Menelmacari themselves seem to care relatively little about the entire affair" the Elentari seemed intent on making an issue of it. Had this not been the case, it is more likely that I would have been able to stop here.

Freenesia and the Philip Locke Defection: The End

Philip Locke is a micronationalist whose name will always be tarnished with the legacy of the 11^th April malicious deletion of Tymaria's forums. Since then, he had created the nation of Freenesia, which was seen by many to have had the sole purpose of making further on Tymaria. Following the collapse of independent Freenesia, after a Freenesian citizen made an attempt to attack the forums once more, the country was made a province by the then-up-and-coming Imperium of Menelmacar, eager to pursue their expansionist ambitions.

I will not go into Locke's history in Menelmacar, but move on in the interests of relevance: Locke later wanted to secede from Menelmacar and give the territory to Baracão. Such things have happened many times in micronationalism. They are part of the micronational process, and in order for that process to run properly it is assumed that micronationalists - especially leaders - will have a degree of courtesy and fairness in dealing with these matters. However, the Menelmacari government decided that it would refuse to grant the secession, despite the fact that Locke was the only person who was both Menelmacari and Freenesian.

Frankly, there isn't much to say about Freenesia's arduous road to becoming a Baracãoan province. Menelmacar's government continually claimed that the secession was illegitimate because Locke had emigrated from Menelmacar before a vote was cast at the direct-democracy Conclave of Equals in Menelmacar. The government of Baracão were reserved in getting involved in the affair, at one point Chairman Daffyd Young saying that "half a country is like half a bicycle." In the end, Elentari nos Fëanor gave in - perhaps mindful of intermicronational exasperation at what seemed to many to be a pointless and unfriendly display of imperialism - and declared that "Locke could have what he wants."

In summary, and in the words of Elentari nos Fëanor herself: "this entire Freenesia issue is getting pathetic, stupid, and childish." Perhaps that was the result of a new micronationalist failing to understand the micronational social-political tradition.

Thomas Cutterham,
Micronational News Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

Telegraph Front Page

2002-10-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

Working to continue Tom Cutterham's journalistic contribution, The Morovian Telegraph does indeed ride again.

This month's issue is launched during a time of grave concern on the part of the citizens of Morovia (as well as many others in the micronational community) regarding the real world health and well-being of James Cardinal Murphy (see Morovian News, Oh God, you're dying).

And so, as you peruse the various articles regarding the serious (and not so serious) goings on in Morovia and abroad, we urge you to remember that behind the characters, the facades and the avatars with whom we interact are real world human beings with real life-sized problems.

Peace.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph

The Newspaper That Just Won't Die...

2002-10-04T03:01:00.000-04:00

With a minimum of fuss and fanfare (couldn't afford the band and the refershments), The Morovian Telegraph is up and running again in its new blog format.

Check to the links on the left for articles in the older incarnation of the Telegraph hosted and founded by Thomas Cutterham. Also on the left is a link to a page that, in turn, links to four ancient news sources of Morovia (two links are bad, I'll let you discover which ones).

The first articles you'll see posted will be from MY editor-in-chief stint back in October, November and December of 2002. As the original web ite went away during the Second Regency period, the articles posted are from my hard drive which may or may not have any passing resemblance to what was originally posted. Similarly, the posted dates are rought approximations.

Anyone wishing to post their opinions on any of the pieces is welcome: new article submissions can be mailed to bekkenhuis@fast.net with "MOROVIA" (and preferably MOROVIA TELEGRAPH) in the subject line.

So, enjoy!

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
July 21, 2004