Comments on: NSK Citizens’ Congress Dates

By: Robert Connolly

Robert Connolly — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:34:47 +0000

Mr Anthony seems to imagine that I am writing in all seriousness. I would suggest he try googling “irony”. I’ll try to avoid making any assumptions about his being American.
As for NSK’s criteria for choosing delegates, they’re obviously seriously flawed – how otherwise to explain my absence from the roster?

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:21:54 +0000

Robert Connolly presumes that the NSK is a conventional polity and also a democratic one.

The criteria i presume they used to choose delegates were probably “those who have something worthwhile to contribute”.

Whinging about “your democratic rights” (boo-hoo!) to the NSK, is not a worthwhile contribution.

By: henry

henry — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:52:18 +0000

parallel public events, when and where is these taking place

By: Robert Connolly

Robert Connolly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:02:29 +0000

Dear Mr Matzke
But how are the delegates chosen? Since I was not involved in any democratic mandate, they don’t represent me. Do you know how they were chosen, or by whom?

On the subject of historical precedent in European capitals, when Paris was the self-imposed capital of Europe, Laibach itself was the capital of the “Illyrian Provinces” created by Napoleon from Dalmatia, Croatia, Carniola, and Carinthia. That lasted for 4 years.

As for NSK embassies, I was awarded a passport by Irwin on the 6th June 1992 at an embassy they set up in Stockholm at an art centre where I was curating an exhibition. Perhaps that predates Berlin?

By: Christian Matzke

Christian Matzke — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:55:02 +0000

Let me correct myself: the Berlin embassy was in 1993, but the Moscow embassy was in 1992. It was incorrect of me to refer to the Berlin embassy as “the first major NSK embassy”. Instead I will call it a landmark NSK event.
Also, while thirty people is not a huge number, what is the population of the NSK State? I have heard nothing concrete except that it is larger than that of the Vatican. The Vatican has roughly 900 citizens. Let’s say then that the NSK State has 1,000. That means one delegate represents 33 citizens. Even if the NSK State has 3,000 citizens that is still one delegate for every 100 citizens. I would call that pretty good. I certainly do not have that sort of representation even in local government here in the U.S.

By: Christian Matzke

Christian Matzke — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:17:11 +0000

Robert,
as the NSK State is mare than just a European phenomenon I don’t see any reason they need to honor Europe’s politically consensual choice of capitals, nor the city that lies between them. The Congress could be held in Kyoto Japan or Exeter England and be just as valid.
Berlin has historic significance (Germania) that resonates with the work of the NSK, and personal significance (if you will) as it was the site of the first major NSK State embassy. It seems fitting to hold the first Citizen’s Congress there for both these reasons.

By: Robert Connolly

Robert Connolly — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:42:28 +0000

I should like, in a spirit of respectful and constructive enlightenment, to take issue with Mr Jass’s statement that Berlin is the capital of Europe. While it is true that Berlin (and Paris) has in the past been the self-proclaimed capital of a Europe mostly subjugated by force of arms, modern Europe’s politically consensual capital fluctuates between Brussels and Strasbourg. Consulting a map reveals that the midway point on this axis of power is Pétange in Luxembourg.
It is therefore obvious that Pétange, not Berlin, is the capital of Europe.
I would also like to suggest to the NS state government (the Organising Committee?) that the next congress be held in Pétange.

By: Robert Connolly

Robert Connolly — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:40:32 +0000

You say “those involved in this project were directly invited to realise it by NSK members themselves”. I got a pamphlet in the post inviting me to attend – not inviting me to apply, you’ll note, but to attend. I subsequently discovered that this was not an invitation to attend, but to apply to attend.
Which “NSK members” invited “those involved”, based on what criteria, and with what mandate – no one (as far as I’m aware) asked me to vote on this, or to nominate anyone to make such decisions?

By: The Organising Committee

The Organising Committee — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:23:21 +0000

All NSK Citizens were invited to apply for this event. Those involved in this project were directly invited to realise it by NSK members themselves. The number of delegates is not ideal, but is limited by budgetary and other practical considerations. Future events will be organised directly by the citizens themselves and you will have the opportunity to participate in these if you wish. You are also welcome to attend the parallel public events.

By: Robert Connolly

Robert Connolly — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:04:12 +0000

30 delegates can hardly be said to represent in any meaningful way the constituency of a state. Also, the fact that the citizens of NSK were not consulted leads me to question the legitimacy of this “congress”. Who exactly decided who the delegates are, by what criteria, and by what mandate?