As political and diplomatic tensions continue to rise, there is one location that has been continuously revisited and argued over. A territory many people have overlooked, and even more couldn’t point to on a map. A territory that has a long history within human history itself and one that is the key to an untapped part of our planet. This is of course Greenland.
Amidst the continued arguing over this stretch of land in the arctic frost, we have received strange reports that may tip this diplomatic concern into a whole new direction. From the northern cities of Danmarkshavn and across the land in Nunat and Qeqertarsuaq there had been reports from the local citizens of barbaric invaders coming in and claiming the land for their own. These early reports came in earlier last month and since then they have multiplied down the island until now with a grand announcement and a public appearance of these invaders marking the final turn in this conflict.
Due to a mixture of lack of resources and a lack of care from the governments of the world for what was actually happening on the island, the invading army made quick progress, reaching the capital of Nuuk on the last day of March. As the world anticipated what could have become of the island, no one could have predicted the resurgence of a group of men claiming to be the ancient Vikings. It is unclear on the validity of their claims; however, they have argued that they are descendants of the expedition originally headed by Erik the Red to the island. They claim to have emerged out of an ice cap after some tourists made too much noise through their JBL speakers, alerting the forgotten group. Now they want the entire island, claiming it is their birthright, and they never gave it to any “Danes,” or so they say.
The international community has been a mixed bag with responses ranging from condoning the claims to condemning them. Cole Pynes, local rock climber and York College of Pennsylvania student with a history minor, supports the movement, saying that it is “finally some good recolonization.”
Along with this we have those like Peter Svitko, a local PennDOT delivery man, saying, “if the Jarls desire as such, then I say let them.”
The Jarls referred to here would be the nobility of the ancient Viking world, and a title that many of these invaders claim to hold. Although it may seem that many agree not only with their claims to the land but also with their idea that they are descendants of the ancient Vikings, however, not everyone buys into it.
Local Shippensburg resident and student Tristan Simpson went on to say, “just one more example of history repeating itself.” It is unclear what exactly he is referring to with saying one more example, however it clearly shows a general exhaustion due to how history has been repeating itself as of late.
The public outcry has been plentiful, with large demonstrations rocking various cities along the Atlantic and North Sea coasts. However, due to many not being taught about the Vikings, no one quite knows who to target leading to the flags of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and even Finland being seen at these rallies both in support and against. Still though, the people of Greenland have been suffering it would seem, despite the cheers of celebrations coming from the island, the world governments have assured us that these invaders are barbarians and have pillaged all of the cities of their gold.
Many questions remain such as: “Are they actually Vikings?”, “Where did they come from?”, “How will the world deal with this?”, and “When did March get an extra day?” Hopefully these will all be answered and the reported pillaging will be put to ease in the coming months, or perhaps we will all forget about Greenland once more and go on with our days.
