Inspired by a Mollusk

     The conch (pronounced "conk") is a marine gastropod mollusk.  Plainly put it is a sea snail.   It is eaten raw in salads or cooked into fritters, chowder and gumbos.  But did you know that it is also the symbol of a very small and controversial nation?

     The Conch Republic was conceived in 1982 when on April 23rd Key West and the other islands of the Florida Keys seceded from the United States.  That move was caused by a blockade of US Route 1 by federal authorities in an attempt to intercept illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants to prevent them from entering the mainland.  

 

     Under the leadership of then Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow the Federal Court in Florida was petitioned to seek an injunction to stop the federal blockade which threatened commercial interests in the Keys by discouraging tourism.  But when all legal channels failed to end the action Mayor Wardlow declared war on the United States after a proclamation of secession was read at Mallory Square at noon. One minute later the mayor surrendered and then applied for 1 billion dollars in foreign aid.

     And while the event was tongue-in-cheek, it did raise the very real issue of federal vs states rights.  The inspection station blockade was soon removed and life returned to normal once again.  But the Conch Republic still exists in the hearts and minds of residents of the Keys.  A national anthem was composed, appropriately called, "Conch Republic" and was recorded by the Key Lime Pie Band.  All residents hold dual citizenship to both the United States and the Conch Republic.  The independent country issues its own passports that are recognized by 13 other Caribbean nations, Germany, Sweden, Cuba, Mexico, France, Spain, Ireland and Russia.  And the republic's motto is: We seceded where others failed.