Colm Gillis's Blog, page 3

Dictatorship Blog: November 15 2015

On Friday, the French President declared a state of emergency which, at time of writing, is still in place. Six times this declaration has been made since WWII but it’s only the second time (in the same period) such a state has been imposed within the French mainland. Nevertheless, France is accustomed to states of exception. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: 14 November 2015

A subject living under common law in the UK is liable for punishment for not acting to quell a disturbance: this is the considered legal opinion of A.V. Dicey, one of the foremost British jurists. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: 13 November 2015

Britain’s WWI cabinet dictatorship targeted treasonous activities, socialized British industry and introduced conscription. A lesser known fact is that, under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA), hard drug use was first prohibited in the UK. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: 12 November 2015

A ‘Eureka moment’ for an independent researcher like me is stumbling on something best termed an ‘insight.’[continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: November 11 2015

Britain had a dictatorship during both World Wars. This is not a slur, not hyperbole, it is a fact. Normal business was suspended, emergency measures taken, rights sacrosanct during normal times no longer enjoyed protection. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: November 10 2015

‘Radical-consentism’ … that’s the best name I could come up with for an ideology where two people emerge from a vacuum to contract something. It doesn’t matter what they contract. What is important is that they consent, they are old enough and, of course, at any time they can walk away. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: November 9 2015

“Not a lot of people know that” … apparently Michael Caine never said it. But, from wherever it originated, it expresses ownership of the unknown. A secret, a treasure to be carried around. Someday, somewhere, a conversation will move towards that little store of information you have that is untouched by others … the Church never said Earth was flat [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: November 8

Yesterday, I investigated the French state of siege. This is the emergency weapon in France and variations of it appear in other countries. For example, the state of emergency in Germany up to at least WWIi was largely based on it. The state of siege can be thought of as being similar to martial law. [continue reading ...]

Dictatorship Blog: 7 November 2015

Consistency and regularity and not strong points of mine when it comes to most things. Therefore, I have set myself a task a little Herculean for someone like me. The task is to maintain a ‘log’ recorded on the ‘web’ (blogs, as they are called!!) and to maintain it day-by-day. The log will be maintained for the book that I am currently writing. [continue reading ...]

THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR IS BRUTAL BUT NOT UNUSUAL

The Syrian conflict may led us into believing that war owes its origin to some religious or cultural inclinations. An astute observer of human affairs, Joseph de Maistre, is called upon to refute this argument. De Maistre also interpreted the meaning of conflict in the world. His thoughts are worth reflecting upon at this time. [continue reading ...]