Bricklynites flocked to the polls yesterday, with 85% of registered voters turning out. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson.
Bricklyn voters sent a clear message to the French Parliament yesterday by endorsing, by a 72% to 28% margin, Bricklyn’s joining the French Republic. The referendum easily cleared the 65% threshold needed for passage.
Crowds of enthusiastic supporters gathered downtown to celebrate passage of the referendum.
Leaders of the Yes/Oui to Association with France thanking supporters at Bricklyn University’s main quad after election results announced. Bill Tiler French with red shirt; Patsy Brickerson with yellow shirt. Photo rendering by Dall E-3 AI, with prompts from Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson.
The final step in the process will take place on May 14th when the French Parliament convenes to vote on ratification of the Franco-Bricklyn agreement.
Screenshot from PSA aired to encourage Bricklynites to vote, and briefly explaining the referendum. Image rendered with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Note: for those of you just now tuning in to this major development in the history of the Realm of Bricklyn, please take a look at the Bricklyn Eagle’s earlier coverage; links can be found at the top of this page.
Looking back, the only real surprise with the Bricklyn vote is that the win for “Yes to Association” was not surprising, as several polls released last week accurately forecast the result.
Feelings were especially bubbly at the “Yes / Oui to Association” coalition’s election night party in the grand ballroom of the Alliance Française Building (AFB) in downtown Bricklyn Junction, as champagne flowed freely. Bill Tiler French, who along with Patsy Brickerson and Jeannette Brickehl, were leaders of the “Yes” campaign, were jubilant. “This is terrific news,” exclaimed French, who also serves as the AFB’s treasurer, adding that “our confidence in Bricklyn votes has been fully justified.”
Jammed election night watch party for the YES / OUI forces was held in the ornate ballroom of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française. Photo rendering by Dall E-3 AI, with prompts from Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson.
For Patsy Brickerson it was an evening of nervous energy, “I was very concerned about the high threshold needed to pass the referendum,” she told us, “but I put that aside since there was much to do in organizing ‘une sélection de desserts’ for the two hundred guests expected for our election night watch party. Thanks go to Chef Christophe Plater Poulin and his ‘equipe’ at L’Étoile du Nord for preparing the array of desserts.”
It was left to Brickehl to sound a cautionary note. “Of course I’m excited,” she said, “but we still have to win the vote in the French Parliament. Then we can truly celebrate and raise Bricklyn’s new flag.” But, Brickehl added, “while It was a milestone to have the unanimous support of Parliament’s Delegation of the Overseas, a dozen of us will still be flying to Paris to make sure the French Parliament is aware of Bricklyn’s strong support for becoming the fourteenth member of France Overseas.”
Angus Brickerson (right) with his friend Molly B. Williams after the election results were announced. Photo rendered with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.
The “No to Association” camp soothed their disappointment by gathering at the Dunk Them Donuts shop across the street from the East End Ward 7 polling place.
One of their leaders, Angus Brickerson (no relation to Patsy Brickerson), put a brave face on the defeat while munching on a strawberry frosted donut:
“Look, we lost,” said Brickerson, “but we’ll work together as Bricklynites. Fortunately, through our efforts we got the Bricklyn negotiators to have the agreement limited to a four year trial period, after which it will expire unless renewed by Bricklyn voters. Kind of ironic that getting this ‘sunset’ provision into the agreement helped the ‘Yes’ vote pass.” ✥
To the Editor: is there an iceberg ahead? I heard that some of the Overseas France delegates to the French National Assembly feel that Parliament’s Overseas Delegation Committee rammed though its recommendation to the full French Parliament to approve Bricklyn’s entry into the French Republic. The feeling, apparently, is that the French government will use Bricklyn’s entry as a way of drawing attention away from serious problems facing several of the countries that are currently part of Overseas France. — Noel T., Paris, France
To the Editor: While I appreciate reader Noel T’s concerns about “an iceberg ahead,” let’s not lose sight of the fact that the real problem we’re facing in the days ahead is not from an iceberg, but from “ICE.” We’re counting on France to give us its full support by promptly approving Bricklyn’s entry into the French Republic. At the same time, this should in no way impede the French government from addressing any problems members of France d’outre-mer may be facing. — Judith Tiler Molson, Bricklyn, VT.
Word leaked yesterday that Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, would be withdrawing Denmark from a draft agreement with Bricklyn and France to integrate half of the Realm of Bricklyn into the Danish Kingdom and half into the French Republic.
According to an unnamed source within the Danish government, Frederiksen and others in leadership positions had grown increasingly concerned that the draft agreement for Bricklyn to associate with Denmark (as well as with France) might trigger action by U.S. President Donald Trump to further escalate tariffs placed on Denmark and “raise the temperature” over control of Greenland, currently a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen; leader of the Moderaterne centrist party; and former Prime Minister. News Oresund, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In response to requests from The Bricklyn Eagle and other media outlets for comment, Victor Berger, spokesperson for the Danish Foreign Ministry, this morning acknowledged that Denmark would, in fact, be withdrawing from the proposed trilateral agreement.
As Berger explained, “It was determined there was not sufficient support in the Folketing [Danish Parliament] to approve the agreement with Bricklyn. After conferring with our colleagues in France and in Bricklyn, it was concluded that we would withdraw from the proposed agreement, while France would move forward with offering to integrate all of the Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic.”
Navigating its way with the new American administration has proven tricky for Denmark, especially given U.S. President Trump’s repeated statements about acquiring Greenland and his tariff threats.
According to reporting from the BBC, “Faced with what many in Denmark are calling Trump’s ‘provocation,’ [Prime Minister] Frederiksen has broadly attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, repeatedly referring to the U.S. as ‘Denmark’s closest partner’. … Frederiksen’s comments also speak to the Danish resolve not to meddle in the internal affairs of Greenland -– an autonomous territory with its own parliament and whose population is increasingly leaning towards independence.”
Just two days ago Frederiksen, visiting Greenland, pleaded with the Trump administration to not seek to annex Greenland:
The flag of Denmark will not fly over the Realm of Bricklyn. Rendering provided with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.
Danish foreign policy analyst Rolf Jorgensen told us that “Incorporating Bricklyn– albeit a sliver of America less than 0.25 acres in size — into Denmark likely came to be viewed by Frederiksen and others as unnecessarily provocative to the United Sates, like waving a red flag at an angry bull.”
“What’s more,” explained Jorgensen, “Danish concerns about the fate of Bricklynites concerned about being deported from their homeland have been assuaged by the fact that France, a much larger and more powerful nation than Denmark, has indicated its willingness to incorporate the entire Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic. This has offered a face-saving way for Denmark to exit from the draft trilateral agreement.”
The Bricklyn Eagle has also confirmed from sources within the French Ministry of the Overseas that France remains committed to having Bricklyn join France as an overseas territory, allowing Bricklyn to retain autonomy over its domestic affairs, while providing the Vermont-based LEGO realm the security and economic benefits of being integrated into the French Republic.
The Bricklyn Eagle has reached out to Bricklyn’s Department of Outland Affairs for comment on this latest twist. We have been told that Secretary Guillaume de Bricklain will issue a statement later in the day, which we will publish as soon as it is available. ✥
Update: April 5, 2025, 8 pm EDT
Bricklyn Secretary of Outland Affairs Guillaume de Bricklain. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.
Statement by Department of Outland Affairs Secretary Guillaume de Bricklain
The Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs was informed this morning by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Denmark will not be participating in an agreement that would have associated half of the Realm of Bricklyn with the Kingdom of Denmark, and half with the Republic of France.
While we regret this decision, we are heartened that the French government has reaffirmed its commitment to Bricklyn, and has agreed to the incorporation of the entire Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic as an overseas territory. This will provide Bricklyn, during these turbulent times, with important security guarantees, as well as economic benefits. As previously negotiated, the agreement with France will run for a term of four years, with the possibility of it subsequently being made permanent.
The Realm of Bricklyn, in turn, will promote the membership of the five French Lego realms in the League of Inland Cities, the powerful LEGO-based trading block headquartered here in Bricklyn.
I also want to note that we have kept key officials in the Vermont Governor’s Office; the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office; and the Vermont Legislature informed of our negotiations. I am happy to report that Vermont’s leaders have been fully supportive of our arrangement with France, which will not in any way adversely affect Vermont.
In fact, the enhanced tourism expected from citizens of France and other EU countries coming to Bricklyn as a result of this agreement will also benefit Vermont, especially the state’s Outerlands area close to the Bricklyn / Vermont border.
I can also announce today that Brick Air has agreed to start daily nonstop flights between Bricklyn and Paris, France, within two months of the adoption of this agreement. This will be welcome news for the LEGO realms of both France and Bricklyn.
Finally, I want to make special mention of the invaluable help provided during this process by members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française. We look forward to their continued active engagement with the upcoming referendum.
Members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française in front of their headquarters, which also houses the Bricklyn Innovation Center. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.
What remains to be done, of course, is for the Bricklyn / France agreement to be ratified, first by the French parliament — with a vote expected on Tuesday, April 22nd — and then by the citizens of Bricklyn through a referendum, now scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th.
The Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs will continue to provide updates as necessary.
Thank you. Merci.
Guillaume de Bricklain, Secretary Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs
To the Editor: As a former member of the Folketing, I want to raise another issue that I am certain played into the concerns of at least some members of our parliament when reviewing the proposed Bricklyn-Denmark-France agreement. What I’m talking about may well be, as you may call it, the “elephant in the room.” It is about memories of the departure 45 years ago of thousands of our LEGO peoples from Denmark to a new home in the American state of Vermont. In emigrating, they blamed Danes — among the most tolerant people in the world — for intolerance of their (ironically called) “human rights.”
Rendering prepared by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Let’s not sweep under the rug the raw feelings many Danes still have when considering the ingratitude of thousands of LEGO people leaving their Danish homeland, the country that gave birth to them, so to speak — though more accurately these so-called people are simply plastic “minifigures” designed and manufactured here.
While we admire what Bricklynites have made of their American enclave, and understand their concerns about the new American president, it is still hard for some of us to let go of grievances about their emigration from Denmark to Bricklyn, though that singular event happened many years ago. — H. Christian Andersen, Bilund, Denmark.
To the Editor: I’m not going to say “I told you so,” but … . The bottom line is that Denmark for a variety of reasons has now made the right decision in withdrawing from an agreement that initially was to be just between Bricklyn and France. There will be no need for a border splitting the Realm of Bricklyn in half. Instead all of Bricklyn will become a part of the French Republic as an honored overseas territory. Of course, we Bricklynites will retain full autonomy in all our internal affairs, and the role of our Federal Council will change only in terms of dealing with the Outland world. Now we have a referendum to pass in three weeks! — Bill Tiler French, Bricklyn Jct., VT.
To the Editor: As a proud Vermonter, but these days an embarrassed American, I’m glad that Bricklyn officials have apparently worked out a security arrangement with France. The people of France , Vermont, and Bricklyn share the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. We welcomed the heroic Marquis de Lafayette to Vermont in 1825 , and look forward to Bricklynites being able to welcome their new French compatriots soon. — M.L, South Burlington, VT.
To the Editor: I must take exception to the comments to the editor left by Mr. H. Christian Anderson, as well as the failure of the Folketing to allow half of Bricklyn to associate with Denmark as a semi-autonomous territory in the Danish Realm. If the Folketing’s inaction was due, as Anderson suggests, to long-held grievances against the LEGO people who emigrated to Bricklyn in the early 1980s, we should look at ourselves in the mirror and recall that we denied the LEGO people of Denmark the human rights expressly set out in our Constitution. Unfortunately, the broader language in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), was not incorporated into Danish law until 1992.
📍 Article 10 of the ECHR provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.”
Photo from the archives of Danish Committee for LEGO rights, taken by an unidentified photographer in 1975, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
The Supreme Court of Denmark should never have so narrowly construed the rights set out in our Constitution so as not to apply to our own LEGO people, people who have brought so many economic benefits to our country.
It should not be surprising that thousands of LEGO people chose to emigrate in the late 1970s and early ’80s instead of tolerating second-class status where they were denied the freedom to hold opinions critical of Danish government policies and workplace conditions — and during which time several LEGO individuals were even imprisoned. — Oliver Hansen, Advokat, Lund & Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bricklyn negotiators at far end of table, under the blue-green-white-red flag of the Realm of Bricklyn; avatars for French negotiators on left, and Danish negotiators on right. Staff and translators in front (with their backs to the camera). The “real’ French and Danish officials participated from the offices of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen (see photo later in article). Above photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
In a stunning development, surprise trilateral negotiations between top officials from Bricklyn, Denmark, and France have resulted in the draft of a landmark four-year agreement.
The end result is that half of the Realm of Bricklyn will join the French Republic as an Overseas Territory, while the other half of Bricklyn will become part of the Realm of Denmark. The demarcation line between the two halves of the Realm of Bricklyn primarily uses the Brickooski River, with the Left Bank of the river part of France, and the Right Bank part of Denmark.
The spectacular Chasm of the Brickooski, a World Heritage Site, divides part of the City of Bricklyn (on the left) from the City of South Bricklyn (on the right). The renowned French restaurant, L’Étoile du Nord ,can be found on the Left Bank (near the pedestrian bridge visible in the distance). As noted, the Left Bank will become part of France Overseas, while the Right Bank will become part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick. Photo from The Bricklyn Eagle archives.
Bricklyn Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick hailed the landmark agreement, noting that:
“Bricklyn now has firm security guarantees from both France and Denmark, which should deter any unwarranted threats from the new American administration. At the same time, other than in matters of foreign policy, Bricklyn will retain all its current laws and government administration. Most people will barely notice any difference in day-to-day life, and the Federal Council will retain virtually all its current powers and authority.”
Thurnbrick also told the press that Chief Prognosticator of the Realm David Bricks and his staff were part of Bricklyn’s negotiating team and, in fact, pressed from the start for Bricklyn to enter into this surprising trilateral agreement. As is their practice, the Office of the Chief Prognosticator has not made any public statements about the negotiations or their role in them.
Chief Prognosticator David Bricks was a key member of the Bricklyn negotiating team that also included Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick and Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Bricklyn Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick echoed Thurnbrick’s words, while adding that:
“All parties have agreed to this as a ‘four year experiment,’ which we will closely monitor. At the same time, our French and Danish counterparts have informed us that four years from now — if today’s agreement is made permanent — Bricklyn will be eligible for membership in the European Union.
“In the meantime, we look forward to an influx of visitors from European LEGO realms, and human visitors from Europe as well!
Negotiators from Denmark (on left) and France (at head of table and on right) met in Copenhagen during the three days of meetings. Their microphones were at all times directly connected to their avatars seated in the Bricklyn Federal Building with the Bricklyn delegation. This was done, out of respect for Bricklyn’s Avatar Law. Photo from Le Monde, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
“We have also committed, if this agreement becomes permanent four years from now, to include European LEGO realms in an expanded League of Inland Cities headquartered here in Bricklyn.”
Negotiators from France and Denmark released a Joint Statement that stressed the importance of “protecting the integrity and security of a democratic Bricklyn,” noting that “while Bricklyn is but a small enclave within the State of Vermont, its people have lived in peace and security for generations, and have earned our respect, and our help if needed.”
The Joint Statement also warned the American administration that “Bricklyn, by this agreement, will become an integral part of the territories of France and of Denmark, and must be treated as such. This includes safeguards assured by our two countries’ longstanding membership in NATO.”
Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Photo from Barrot’s Wikipedia entry.Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish Foreign Minister. Photo from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark web site.
Plans are to quickly bring the Joint Agreement to the Bricklyn Federal Council for ratification, as well as to the French and Danish parliaments. Bricklyn Federal Chancellor Thurnbrick noted that “we are all fast tracking the agreement, and anticipate having it ratified by the three parties by May 1st.”
The Bricklyn Eagle reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. We received the following brief reply from Assistant Deputy Undersecretary N. Sane Lee, “Isn’t Bricklyn that teeny place in a state that’s home to traitors who vote for a radical leftist Senator and sneer at our President and future King. Go play with your Danes and your Frenchies. Stay away from our Greenland. And don’t have your little boats try to use our great Panama canal. Your actions today will only help Make America Great Again.”
A note from Bricklyn Eagle Editor Walt Brickman:
➤ One City, Two Countries
UN buffer zone guard post blocks street in Nicosia. “The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus is a demilitarized zone, patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), that was established on 4 March 1964.
“The Turkish army has built a barrier on the zone’s northern side, consisting mainly of barbed-wire fencing, concrete wall segments, watchtowers, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. The zone cuts through the centre of Nicosia, separating the city into southern and northern sections. … ”
That’s probably the most unusual and unanticipated outcome of Bricklyn’s negotiations. Analysts had been predicting association with either France or Denmark, but none spoke of association with both.
It will help, however, that most of the dividing line between French and Danish territory in Bricklyn will be based on the natural barrier of the Brickooski River. Denmark and France are also long-time allies with strong, amicable relationships. What’s more, the fact that the trilateral agreement is set to run initially for just four years should allow time to assess its workability. Finally, in homage to the Derby Line / Stanstead library and opera house, the Excchange Building — which houses the Bricklyn Public Library — will be designated as a site shared by French and Danish sectors of Bricklyn.📍
📍The agreement also provides that all residents of Bricklyn, as well as all visitors from the State of Vermont or from the nations of France and Denmark, will have full freedom of movement within both French and Danish parts of Bricklyn.
“The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was a gift from Martha Stewart Haskell and her son Horace “Stewart” Haskell. … The Haskells wanted Canadians and Americans to have equal access to the Library and Opera House and so they chose to build on the border.” Photo and text from Wikipedia entry.“The international boundary is marked as a black line on the floor of the reading room of the Haskell Library. In this picture, Canada is on the right side of the line and the United States is on the left.” Photo and text from Wikipedia entry. The Bricklyn Public Library, known as The Excchange,, will be designated as a site shared by French and Danish sectors of Bricklyn. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Update: March 29, 2025
Less than two weeks ago The Bricklyn Eagle gave us a positive example of cross-border cooperation in the small neighboring towns of Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, which for well over one hundred years have shared a public library and opera house. See the text immediately above this Update. Yet look at what happened just last week ago. Kristi Noem, the U.S. head of Homeland Security came up to Vermont, and like a spoiled, insolent child apparently “stepped back and forth across the border within the Haskell Librarry & Opera House. On the American side, wearing a grin, she said, ‘U.S.A. No. 1.’ And on the Canadian side, Noem said, ‘The 51st state.’ “
To the Editor: I am confident that members of the Bricklyn business community will support this remarkable agreement. It will not only help assure Bricklyn’s security, but will lead to an increase in tourism from overseas LEGO and non-LEGO tourists. At the same time, more Bricklynites will feel comfortable venturing overseas, without fearing they will not have a home to return to in the United States — since they will be returning to either Danish or French overseas territory. — Tom Brickorti, past director of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, Bricklyn Jct.
To the Editor: Where’s our gratitude to the State of Vermont, which will remain a part of the United States after we bail out? Vermont has provided Bricklynites with a safe and secure place to live for decades, and now because of a few threatening remarks from an obviously unhinged American president we’re ready to tie our fortunes to France and Denmark. Do we not remember what caused so many of us to leave Denmark in the 1980s? And how many Bricklynites who will soon live in French territory know how to speak more than a few words of French? I think our leaders are overreacting. — Margie Plater Knudson, South Bricklyn
