Virginia dad claims kingdom so daughter can be a princess

[Nature-Spirits]

I think that this is ridiculous.
He's teaching his daughter that she can get everything she wants, even the most unrealistic of things, when that's not the case.
Additionally, what if she decides to lord herself over her classmates, friends and family? In the end, that will only serve to alienate her from them and she'll have shitty social skills and a shitty social life as a result.
And of course, she'll eventually grow out of this phase, and then it'll haunt her for the rest of her life as she tries to get over the embarrassment and will probably accuse her dad of being an idiot and blame him for everything.
So yes, it was a sweet gesture, and yes, they all seem like a very nice family with good values; but no, it's sending all the wrong messages to his children; and ultimately, his claim will be void because no one cares enough to recognise him.

[Blakullar]

I doubt the other African states, let alone those from other parts of the world, will recognise this new "kingdom". I'd mention the United Nations, but nobody cares what the United Nations thinks, so yeah.

[Condunum]

I get the feeling this violates US law or something. But cool, wish I'd have thought of that.

[Britanno]

Well he's a committed dad, I'll give him that. He's also an absolute nutter. Or drunk. Or both.

[Dundee Derry]

So if you ever look at the night sky, make sure to send me five dollars.

Canadian or Australian? And I don't use Western Union.

I'm also assuming the tax does not apply during full Solar eclipses?

[White Spider]

What a legend. I wish him all the best. He clearly deserves it.

[Herrebrugh]

I get the feeling this violates US law or something. But cool, wish I'd have thought of that.

This dad wasn't the first one to think if it either, though.

Lots of people have micronations with Bir Tawil as basis. Though, the governments of Egypt and Sudan really don't care.

[Slovenya]

I will found Slovenya and invade them with my army of feral cats

[Carbon based lifeforms]

I will found Slovenya and invade them with my army of feral cats

Since it's a desert, you'll have to use sand cats. It will be the most adorable invasion ever.

[United Marxist Nations]

I will found Slovenya and invade them with my army of feral cats

Since it's a desert, you'll have to used sand cats. It will be the most adorable invasion ever.

Oh my god, that is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

[Wisconsin9]

This is sad. Not because he's apparently serious about this, I think it's cool. I'm sad because now there's nowhere I can tell ancaps to go if they don't want to be part of any country.

[Slovenya]

I will found Slovenya and invade them with my army of feral cats

Since it's a desert, you'll have to use sand cats. It will be the most adorable invasion ever.

oooh, is this a coalition?!

[Dundee Derry]

Since it's a desert, you'll have to use sand cats. It will be the most adorable invasion ever.

oooh, is this a coalition?!

No wait. I'm allergic to adorableness.

[Greed and Death]

Obama has recognized the new kingdom of Bir Tawil and promises to send development aid.

[Dundee Derry]

I also did a quick google. The boy's claim is invalid. The territory is claimed by the following micronations:

http://micronations.wikia.com/wiki/Prin ... _Bir_Tawil
http://micronations.wikia.com/wiki/Union_of_Bir_Tawil
http://kingdomofbirtawil.blogspot.co.uk/

[Allentyr]

It's cute, and I can't believe he trekked through the desert just to plant a flag so he can tell his daughter "Honey, look, it's your nation now!". Great guy, may he have a long and happy life ahead, despite the fact this will NEVER EVER be recognized.

[Ikania]

I'd recognize it.

[Neo Industrium]

This is honestly the most adorable thing I've ever seen someone do.

I recognize it.

[The Two Jerseys]

Since Bir Tawil was part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, and neither Egypt or Sudan want it, it should rightfully be British territory.

Of course, it that were actually the case then Argentina would be claiming it.

[District XIV]

What a nice father. He actually fulfilled the promise he made to his daughter.

Even if the 'Kingdom of North Sudan' may never be recognized, still, a nice thing to do

[Holy Trek]

(article by Allie Gibson, copyright 2014 Bristol Herald-Courier)

ABINGDON — A Southwest Virginia man claimed a kingdom so his daughter could be a princess.

Jeremiah Heaton, who has three children, recently trekked across the Egyptian desert to a small, mountainous region between Egypt and Sudan called Bir Tawil.

The area, about 800 square miles, is claimed by neither Sudan nor Egypt, the result of land disputes dating back more than 100 years. Since then, there have been several online claimants to the property, but Heaton believes his physical journey to the site, where he planted a flag designed by his children, means he rightfully can claim it.

And call his 7-year-old daughter Princess Emily, the fulfillment of a promise he made months earlier.
“Over the winter, Emily and I were playing, and she has a fixation on princesses. She asked me, in all seriousness, if she’d be a real princess someday,” Heaton said. “And I said she would.”

He said he started researching what it would take for him to become a king, so Emily could be a princess.

As it turns out, Bir Tawil is among the last pieces of unclaimed land on earth.

Heaton, who works in the mining industry and unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2012, received permission from the Egyptian government to travel through the country to the Bir Tawil region.

“It’s beautiful there,” Heaton said. “It’s an arid desert in Northeastern Africa. Bedouins roam the area; the population is actually zero.”

In June, he took the 14-hour caravan journey through the desert, in time to plant the flag of the Heaton kingdom — blue with the seal and stars representing members of the family — in Bir Tawil soil.

When Heaton got home, he and his wife, Kelly, got their daughter a princess crown and asked family members to address her as Princess Emily.

“It’s cool,” said Emily, who sleeps in a custom-made castle bed fit for royalty.

She added that as princess she wants to make sure children in the region have food.

“That’s definitely a concern in that part of the world,” Heaton said. “We discussed what we could do as a nation to help.”

Heaton named the land the Kingdom of North Sudan, after consulting with his children.

“I do intend to pursue formal recognition with African nations,” Heaton said, adding that getting Sudan and Egypt to recognize the kingdom would be the first step.

That’s basically what will have to happen for Heaton to have any legal claim to sovereignty, said Sheila Carapico, professor of political science and international studies at the University of Richmond.

She said it’s not plausible for someone to plant a flag and say they have political control over the land without legal recognition from neighboring countries, the United Nations or other groups. In addition, she said, it’s not known whether people have ownership of the land, regardless of whether the property is part of a political nation.

“I feel confident in the claim we’ve made,” Heaton said. “That’s the exact same process that has been done for thousands of years. The exception is this nation was claimed for love.”

Heaton said his children, Emily, Justin and Caleb, will be the drivers for what happens with the new nation.

“If we can turn North Sudan into an agricultural hub for the area ... a lot of technology has gone into agriculture and water,” he said. “These are the things (the kids) are concerned with.”

Heaton has ordered letterhead with the country’s seal and one of his sons created a serving tray at camp with the flag on it.
“They are really getting into the idea,” Heaton said of his children. “I think the idea of a nation with a clear purpose of helping other people ... I think that’ll be well-received and we’ll get recognition from other nations to partner with.”

But the main intent, he said, was to show his daughter that he would follow through on the promise he made.

“I think there’s a lot of love in the world,” Heaton said. “I want my children to know I will do absolutely anything for them.”

SOURCE HERE

Does this sound legal? What will be the reactions of Sudan, Egypt, and the rest of the world, not to mention the United Nations? What say ye to this, NSG?

I see it, but still don't believe it.

[Sxvoryia]

Here is a reasonable reaction to this situation

[Empire of Symphonia]

Land has no valuable resources, and is not claimed by Egypt or Sudan. I look on maps and all I see is endless desert.

Of course isn't gonna care of some random person claims the place. Unless of course, however unlikely, the family does manage to turn the place into an agricultural center, by which then Egypt and Sudan would have interest in it.

[Nuverikstan]

Obama has recognized the new kingdom of Bir Tawil and promises to send development aid.

Why am I inclined to believe this?

[Arumdaum]

Sweet, but shouldn't be accepted.