imprimatur
issue no. 2 - june 18, 1998



This issue marks the return of Imprimatur magazine to publication. The long hiatus between the first and second issues has given the editorial staff time to think about the possibilities inherent in micronational media.
So many of the micronational newspapers and tabloids concentrate on the reporting of news - Imprimatur will dare to be different, and focus on the import of the events, rather than merely reporting the events themselves.
In the future, we hope that our publication frequency will be somewhat greater than before.
To mark our restoration, this issue consists of only one article - an editorial opinion piece by HCH Prince Peter I Ravn on the recent "war" between the C.O.S. and Cyberia.



a sense of proportion
Florid rhetoric versus hectic name-calling
Editorial by HCH Prince Peter I Ravn of Corvinia

in recent weeks, a major focus of discussion among the micronational community has been the matter of mannerly conduct. How far can you go down the path of rhetorical excess, before florid invective becomes uncouth insult?

admittedly, intermicronational affairs are not burdened by all the problems of the macronational world - for one thing, we're not likely (I hope) to start shooting at each other, when diplomacy breaks down. We do, on the other hand, have our own share of problems - problems that are unique to us.

the use of rhetorical grandstanding, and remarks denigrating one's political opponents, is perfectly defensible from a diplomatic standpoint. All things being equal, however, it is annoying (to say the least) for disinterested third-party nations to be inundated with silly exercises in name-calling between others, as was the case in the recent strife between the C.O.S. and Cyberia (also including Grognardia and Cyberland at its height). While Cyberia was apparently blameless in the matter, the rhetorical posings of some Cyberians did much to escalate the situation.

that disagreement spilled over, spraying the MicroWorld discussion board with repeated insults between the parties, and producing a number of annoying e-mails to various nations, Corvinia among them.

july will see the inauguration of the (first but hopefully not last) session of the MicroParliament, and it is certain that one of the subjects that will be discussed is the matter of polite conduct between nations.

the impression left by the ludicrous antics of the parties in the recent conflict - including such absurdities as imaginary "military dispatches" reporting fictive assaults upon the territories of their rivals - will probably linger as a bad smell in the air of micronationalism. In just a few short days, these imbeciles have done more damage to the micronational community at large than several years' worth of Dabrowskis or Aguiars could have done.

who can respect us if we let this pass unremarked?

as far as Corvinia is concerned, we will have nothing to do with these fools. The only thing achieved by the C.O.S. is that it will never gain recognition by respectable nations. As for Cyberland, which responded to the provocations in the same tone, the damage done to their respectability is likely to be permanent.

the only good thing to come out of the entire sordid affair is that the Grand Duchy of Grognardia, originally a participant in the strife on the side of the C.O.S., withdrew from involvement and declared neutrality, after considerable diplomatic efforts by Falkenberg and Corvinia. Of the involved parties, only Grognardia has actually gained from the events. Alone of the rivals, Grognardia achieved the respect of the micronational community by choosing the high path of neutrality.

what this all boils down to is a simple observation. Micronations have no "true" armies, no power to enforce their wishes - all that a micronation has is its reputation. A reputable micronation can achieve by diplomacy what no army could enforce.

a reputation is a fragile thing. An edifice of respect that may take years to build can be torn down in a matter of moments by an injudicious act. In the recent flurry of insults and provocations, we have seen this only too clearly.

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Last updated: August 8, 1998