2023-01-26
Greenland is an autonomous part of Denmark. Canada is an autonomous part of... Canada, I guess.
These two countries (Denmark and Canada) have just settled a dispute of the ownership of a piece of land in the strait between Greenland and Canada. This dispute has been ongoing for 49 years, and the island in question has been stuck in a frozen state of war (yes, pun intended). Both countries have made advances and claimed the land, only to lose it to the other country soon after.
The casualties have been numerous. Observers have described the field of battle as "a sea of slightly tattered flags and notices" as both countries have practised the age old tradition of planting their flag and leaving a taunting note for their enemies every time they've claimed the land. Again and again and again.
These flags and notes are only the visible victims of this long standing conflict. A conflict, I should note, that has taken place without any of the countries officially declaring war and no other country intervening on behalf of the inhabitants of the island. Why is it that this war has never gained the attention it deserves and the islanders never cared for? It no doubt has to do with the fact that none of the zero inhabitants there contacted media outlets to let them know about their plight. As always the international community will ignore you if you don't exist. Such is the inherent disrespect of the elite.
The invisible and oft forgotten victims of this conflict are only anecdotally documented: attackers from both sides have left bottles of whisky, schnapps, and possibly other alcoholic beverages or maple syrup. None of these have been accounted for over the years.
Where did these all go? Were they kidnapped? Consumed? By whom?
We may never know. Some truths are lost in the fog of war never to be recovered again.
Read about the "Whisky War" on wikipedia.
-- CC0 Björn Wärmedal