Sealand... it's one of those mini if not microstates in the world. Most of us never heard of them but a small part does and Sealand is one of them.
"Sealand was founded as a sovereign Principality in 1967 in international waters, seven miles off the eastern shores of Britain."
What exactly is this country? It is an abandoned fortress, a fortress once called "Roughs Tower" which is located in international water. In 1966 it was a great place to start a pirate radio station and that was what Roy Bates did. At that time his radio station "Radio Essex" was seen as a pirate, a station that broadcasted pop music. Music that was by far not as "rude" or "obscene" as the kind of music that is broadcasted today.
Roy was a pioneer, a pioneer and fighter not only if it comes to music but also if it comes to his right. A lot happened to him and his family. They fought for their right and I truly believe we all have benefited from it.
I remember listening to the pirate radio stations. In the Netherlands, we had "Veronica" for example but there was "radio Caroline", and " radio Northsea" from the UK which we in the Netherlands were able to listen to as well. I have good memories of the two last-mentioned and to be honest, these were way better as what we hear today. Once the pirates in the Netherlands became official they turned into noise and commercials. By the way, most are officially located in Luxembourg.
Back to Sealand, the fort became a monarchy because the UK abandoned it. Of course, it made the UK mad and they destroyed the other fortresses. How the crew of the government vessel behaved against the Bates family we can imagine ourselves. I wonder how the crew felt as they lost this war, a war against their own people. Roy Bates was a Major in the British army. What exactly was it the UK wanted to prove?
Interesting is Roy made his wife a Princess at her birthday, Princess Joan. It might sound strange but the fact is all royal families started exactly in the same way. Normal people without any rank, pirates forced themselves upon other people. Some were seen as a saviour others are hated and not more than parasites living on the account of the nation, they crowned themselves and made up their own family name. What exactly was the UK, the government or royal family afraid of?
Sealand, it's just like the Netherlands built on water. Sealand stands for freedom and freedom is what most of us lack today. Perhaps not each one of us is a soldier, not each one of us is born with a silver spoon in our mouth but we can be a Lord, Knight, Baron, even a Duke. Sealand makes it possible. Stamps, your own piece of Sealand, an ID, the national flag... it all makes it as real as any other country only this one accepts you no matter what you look like or where you are born. To me, it sounds like a true statue, the real monument of liberty.
You can read more about Sealand's history here.
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