I was honored to receive an email from the future lord and lady of Sealand, the abandoned anti-aircraft platform located in the North Sea which claims to be an independent country. Apparently they take issue with my article...
Mr. Rosenberg,
We, the people of the United States, are highly disappointed in your scathing article about one of the most unique and captivating countries of our era. Sealand is INDEED a sovereign nation, a delightful locale and a bustling and thriving vacation location. Who are you to condemn that nation to nothing more than the equivalency of your own backyard? You're not God. You're a journalist... on About.com. Barely.
I don't know if you have ever seen the wonders of Sealand, but I truly believe that if you would leave your precious backyard and take the time to visit our precious Sealand -- as a good journalist should do -- you, too, would fall in love with our metallic wonder.
Shame! Shame on you. May your words be cursed.
Best Regards,
Daniel Burnett & Amanda Williams
Future Lord and Lady of Sealand
I wrote back to inform them that not only am I an American who is not disappointed in myself (I'm not sure why the "people of the United States" care about Sealand?), I am also a geographer and not a so-called "journalist." Let me know what you think in the comments below...
Comments
Strange. Either put this away in the weird letters to the blogger file or sell out by demanding a free vacation to Sealand and hereditary titles in exchange for your endorsement of an independent Sealand.
I say we should give their “country” the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps His Lordship would pay to have you fly over on an official visit? Maybe I can put in a little fishing time there as well.
E MARE LIBERTAS!
Both parties deserve kudos!
My AP Human Geography students use Sealand as a case study for Political Geography and we actually think it comes closer to meeting the eight criteria than Mr. Rosenberg suggested. However, we also concluded that the most important element–reciprocal recognition of sovereignty–is the one Sealand fails most obviously.
I love Sealand. I am wearing my wristband even as I type and my husband and I are a Baron and a Baroness, respectively. *grin*
Viva Sealand!
Hi Matt–The royal ‘document’ is indeed strange, but you would be better off responding with a touch of humor, wit, and grace rather than a curt dismissal.
Well, let me tell you why the “people of the US should care about Sealand and the whole world! As a Geographer you might study the huge and amazing story of the planet Earth. We are all humans that were born in different places, there is nothing that make us different but the mission to take care of the nature and promote harmony between human beings. You might know the theory of Evolution, and you might know also about 2012 and the planetary change. I absoultely love the people in the US and its nature, as I do Love all the magnificent places on Earth. I was born in a country that has to sale the resources to the huge powers of the word in order to survive (get food to poor children that die when they are 6) It is really sad that you ask youself why do you have to take care of others! You are a geographer and a mainly a HUMAN BEING! Get out of the box of your hearth that makes you react to an economic system that is crashing down! With all the techology that the US have, You would have been able to find new solutions for the future! Instead of creating wars all over the word! And we all want it to change! We can not handel poverty anymore! Education is the only solution! My math teacher always told us! Before being a professional you have to be a PERSON! And that is what we ask your president! Respect other countries realities and Help for the development of the whole world! We are not vegetebles! We are all humans and one day the children of your children will come to earth without any clean air to breath! ! The life of one human being is really short compared to the life of the Planet Earth! It is time to leave a peace of us and make the change!!! The best wishes for you! Thank you for your work! And Peace to the Planet!!!! With infinive Love
Sandra
The Sealand royalty letter is written tongue-in-cheek, and their claim of sovereignty is humor of the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” genre.
May your curses be cursed. Cheers!!!