Revision as of 03:08, 25 September 2005 editSamuelSpade (talk | contribs)32 edits →Is Melchizedek a Micronation or a Microstate, or something in between?← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 19:27, 19 February 2024 edit undoCewbot (talk | contribs)Bots7,217,530 editsm Maintain {{WPBS}}: 14 WikiProject templates. Keep majority rating "C" in {{WPBS}}. Remove 7 same ratings as {{WPBS}} in {{WikiProject United States}}, {{WikiProject Colombia}}, {{WikiProject Overseas France}}, {{WikiProject Micronesia}}, {{WikiProject Fiji}}, {{WikiProject Antarctica}}, {{WikiProject Business}}. Keep 7 different ratings in {{WikiProject Law}}, {{WikiProject Biography}}, {{WikiProject Micronations}}, {{WikiProject Finance & Investment...Tag: Talk banner shell conversion | ||
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{{Calm}} | |||
==Link== | |||
{{Old AfD multi| date = 6 September 2008 (UTC) | result = '''keep''' | page = Dominion of Melchizedek }} | |||
{{WikiProject banner shell|collapsed=yes|class=C| blp=yes|listas=Melchizedek, Dominion Of| | |||
{{WikiProject United States|importance=}} | |||
{{WikiProject Colombia|importance=low}} | |||
{{WikiProject Overseas France|importance=}} | |||
{{WikiProject Micronesia|MarshallIslands=yes|MarshallIslands-importance=|category=}} | |||
{{WikiProject Fiji|importance=low}} | |||
{{WikiProject Antarctica|importance=}} | |||
{{WikiProject Law|class=B |importance=Low}} | |||
{{WikiProject Biography|class=B }} | |||
{{WikiProject Micronations |class=B| importance=}} | |||
{{WikiProject Business|accounting=yes}} | |||
{{WikiProject Finance & Investment|class=B |importance=low}} | |||
{{WikiProject Politics|class=B |importance=low}} | |||
{{WikiProject International relations|class=B |importance=low}} | |||
{{WikiProject Countries|class=B }} | |||
}} | |||
Remove quotes off of official site. DOM may be a fictitious scam, but the website is really the official site of said fictitious scam. | |||
{{Archive box|search=yes |collapsible=yes |], ], ], ]}} | |||
] 19:25, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC) | |||
== The Ruse That Roared, Washington Post == | |||
==Scam== | |||
If a scam is ficticious it doesn't exist, so why bother mentioning it at all. The fact is that DOM exists as an ecclesiastical sovereignty, and UN member states have recognized this existence. Why ignore this fact? Just because there have been scams associated with DoM, that doesn't make DoM a scam itself. In fact, there have been many scams associated with the USA, so it must also be a scam, correct? | |||
Much, but not all, of this Washington Post article is reproduced on the page on DoM; that can be treated as reliable. For information only, I include an unreliable source (hosted on the Dominion of Melchizedek's site and which has been altered by them, with the addition of bracketed comments): link to the . ] (]) 08:06, 26 February 2015 (UTC) | |||
{{unsigned|67.124.49.20|on 00:23, 29 July 2005}} | |||
== Newspaper articles not currently used == | |||
==Lock?== | |||
Should we maybe get some sort of lock on this page, since it's so frequently vandalized in such an extreme manner? Someone might see the wiki-entry in vandalized form and be convinced by the scam. | |||
] 15:32, 21 July 2005 (UTC) | |||
:Reported the vandalism on ]. ] 22:27, July 21, 2005 (UTC) | |||
*I don't know anything about this topic and have no opinion beyond my concern for the repeated vandalism by the user(s) at ] and ]. This person not only added content to a quotation by the government of the Marshall Islands, but they repeatedly invalidate the external links by changing "https://" to "http://" and ".htm" to ".html". I don't think there is a need to lock the page if these IPs are blocked. They have been reported on ] multiple times. -- Reinyday, 6 August 2005 | |||
] (]) 16:33, 26 February 2015 (UTC) | |||
==Evidence== | |||
If you have evidence that the Dominion of Melchizedek is real, then please give it here. The country's own web site does not count, since it could easily be faked. An example of a valid source would be a reputable news service. Meanwhile do not remove other people's valid and referenced contrbutions. Doing so is considered vandalism. ] 18:20, 21 July 2005 (UTC) | |||
== Official website == | |||
There is plently of evidence to show bias on the part of the person that has repeatedly posted a one sided slant about DoM, a small example is the complaint linked from the article to the SEC web site, that refers to DoM similarily as the unenlightened press does, however, a better link is the outcome of the litigation at http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr17054.htm wherein after the SEC became more enlightened, described DoM like this, "The Dominion of Melchizidek has a website promoting itself as a sovereign entity, recognized by certain governments." | |||
Just a heads-up for any other editors who are tempted to add information that's taken directly from, and supported by a cite to, the : it's not a reliable source. If you want to add information, you'll need to find a nice, reliable secondary source, which is most likely to be a news article or something like Quatloos that's been accepted over on ]. Court documents will do, at a push (there's an argument that, if it hasn't been reported elsewhere, it's not weighty enough to merit inclusion, and there are possible BLP aspects when linking to court documents). | |||
Yesterday there was a quote from the Washington Post that was errased but clearly stated that DoM has official recognition from the Central African Republic (which is a UN member nation), but neither you nor your allies want to mention that fact, nor the quote from the Washington Post that questions who's to say that DoM is phony since it has all of those things that make up a nation state. | |||
Obviously, there's no problem with including the single link to the official website in the Ex Links section. Again though, that link really should be to ''www.melchizedek.com'', even if it's apparent that it's changed. The reason is, we have reliable secondary sources that state that's the right site (Quatloos and Global Pirates: Fraud in the Offshore Insurance Industry) and, with a scam that exists purely on the web, we really do need a reliable source for this. ] (]) 20:45, 26 February 2015 (UTC) | |||
The link to the OCC web site was brought to his attention by me, but he refuses to see the fact that this is the OCC's only official reference to DoM which is as a "sovereignty" although "non-recognized" by the US government. | |||
== Relatively recent activity involving DoM companies == | |||
{{unsigned|67.124.49.20|on 00:41, 29 July 2005}} | |||
It's possible that the convicted of insurance fraud in 2010 was related to DoM. Certainly, Cliffview Pilot says so. Not sure if they're reliable, and they don't really make a decent case, so I've not added it to the article. | |||
I think what clearly defines a micronation would be a populace that swears they are part of the nation. Apparently there are at lease "10,000 citizens and government officials of the Dominion of Melchizedek" Is there, say, U.N. documentation of this citizenry? Or do the Marshall Islands record loosing 10,000 citizens to a new country? ] 05:44, 26 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
A detailed summary of DoM c.2008, linked to by , can be found . I've not evaluated it for reliability, but it may have some useful stuff in it. ] (]) 11:41, 3 March 2015 (UTC) | |||
== Narrow Minded == | |||
==Meatpuppets== | |||
Why are those who post here about DoM so narrow minded? | |||
Just a reminder... | |||
Why only quote the negative stuff and not anything positive, other than a link to DoM's official site? | |||
Dominion of Melchizedek and associated articles, shall be semi-protected. If necessary, {{Vandal|Johnski}}, or any other editor believed by an administrator to be a sockpuppet or meatpuppet of Johnski, may be blocked indefinitely by any administrator. The article may be unprotected (and reprotected) at the discretion of any admin who deems it safe to do so. ] ] (]) | |||
{{unsigned|67.124.49.20|on 00:19, 29 July 2005}} | |||
== |
== External links modified == | ||
Hello fellow Wikipedians, | |||
Quoting from the Washington Post article about Melchisedek: | |||
I have just added archive links to {{plural:7|one external link|7 external links}} on ]. Please take a moment to review . You may add {{tlx|cbignore}} after the link to keep me from modifying it, if I keep adding bad data, but formatting bugs should be reported instead. Alternatively, you can add {{tlx|nobots|deny{{=}}InternetArchiveBot}} to keep me off the page altogether, but should be used as a last resort. I made the following changes: | |||
"Melchizidek has leaders, laws, religion, a flag, a disputed homeland and | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/fantasy-island-the-strange-tale-of-alleged-fraudster-pearlasia-gamboa/Content?oid=2182093 | |||
an unreasonable territorial claim -- the textbook definition of your basic | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/Alert/98-38.txt | |||
nation-state. Who's to say it's phony?" | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2010/10/08/boy-do-we-know-tzemach-ben-david-netzer-korem/ | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.dallasobserver.com/1996-05-02/news/scam-without-a-country/full | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/101206-02.html | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/06/15/SEC_Ties_Gold-Mining_Shares_to_Empty_Shell.htm | |||
*Attempted to fix sourcing for http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2009/lr21084.htm | |||
When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the ''checked'' parameter below to '''true''' or '''failed''' to let others know (documentation at {{tlx|Sourcecheck}}). | |||
{{unsigned|68.121.47.161|on 18:08, 3 August 2005}} | |||
{{sourcecheck|checked=false}} | |||
:''The Ruse That Roared'' is really quite quotable and is one of ] more entertaining pieces. | |||
Cheers.—]<small><sub style="margin-left:-14.9ex;color:green;font-family:Comic Sans MS">]:Online</sub></small> 21:49, 29 March 2016 (UTC) | |||
<blockquote>"It's a con artists' operation through and through," declares John Shockey, | |||
head of the fraud unit in the office of the U.S. Comptroller of the | |||
Currency. "It's a phony bank, a phony country, a phony dominion -- the whole | |||
thing's a phony." </blockquote> ] 20:12, August 4, 2005 (UTC) | |||
== Bias of Editors == | |||
Other quotes from The Washington Post, | |||
November 05, 1995, Sunday, Final Edition | |||
SECTION: OUTLOOK; Pg. C01 | |||
LENGTH: 2914 words | |||
Bromley86 is a contributor and an editor of this page who continually changes information back to his original edits without due respect for a realistic analysis of the current Status of the Dominion of Melchizedek. This page has been skewed and bias for many years and only purports negative information on the state from over 10 years (ago as of 2016). | |||
BYLINE: Richard Leiby; James Lileks | |||
There is no new information about the current administration of the Dominion of Melchizedek under Prime Minister David Williams and other Members of the Body-Politic, their positive activities in humanitarian efforts, or the removal of all former members; including the Founder's who turned over all title, claim, and right to the Dominion of Melchizedek. | |||
"the Dominion of Melchizedek -- a mysterious island nation whose leadership consists of such colorfully named | |||
personages as Branch Vinedresser (the minister plenipotentiary) and G.M.R. Wijbers (minister of European affairs). | |||
Further, this particular user and editor of the page has shown he is not competent in his understanding of International law, the Law of Nations, or the proceedure of Nation States in the recognition of foreign States. This is evident in the fact that he/she sources "Quatloos", the Security and Exchange Commission and the Comptroller of the United States in their comments about the current status of recognition of the Dominion of Melchizedek. Those departments/entities have no authority to determine the Status of any foreign State. Such powers reside exclusively with the State Department of the United States and similar high offices of other States. | |||
Though it lists diplomatic offices in Washington, Rome and Jerusalem, the Dominion of Melchizedek can't be found on any map. Its only apparent land holding is an uncharted, Gilliganesque isle, 14 miles square, in the conveniently remote South Pacific --which it supposedly purchased for $ 5 million last year. | |||
Finally, the major source used, Quatloos has dozens of missing or dead links. To use Quatloos as the sole source of relevant, up to date, and fair analysis of a State is bias and arbitrary. | |||
Melchizedek may be merely a ruse, but getting to the truth requires a walk down a bizarre labyrinth that includes a home-brew religion.... Based more on tax laws than territory, | |||
Melchizedek may be the ultimate post-modern state. | |||
This is one way the introduction could read... It could be amended, however, the current introduction is not fact, unsupported, and should not stand if this page is going to be reflected fairly and properly. | |||
Melchizedek calls itself "an ecclesiastical and constitutional sovereignty based on the principles of the Melchizedek Bible" (in the Old Testament, Melchizedek is the "king of righteousness" who blessed Abraham). | |||
"The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM), Is a micronation formed in the 1990's and has undergone major transformations as the current Members continue to learn, understand, and apply international law so the State can effectively and peacefully co-exist among the Family of Nations. Former Members of the Society, including the founders have been removed by the current Members of the Body-Politic and although there have been reports of fraud perpetrated by the Dominion of Melchizedek in the 90's and early 2000's, there has been no such reports since 2012 under the current administration of the DoM." | |||
Obviously, Melchizedek craves legitimacy. But so far, only one government has given it any diplomatic recognition: The Central African Republic. | |||
] (]) 16:24, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
We can be sure of this much. The Dominion of Melchizedek is not a gag. | |||
: You are repeatedly adding a section to the lead which is both a promotional whitewash, and unsourced. You clearly have some COI with the subject of this article: your editing history spans several years, with no other edits. Just what is your connection to this group? Are you aware that WP sourcing policy applies equally to editors with "inside knowledge", and the rest of us. ] (]) 16:28, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
Richard Leiby is a Washington Post editor and reporter. | |||
:: What aspects of the introduction do you consider "Promotional whitewash" and "Unsourced"? The Micronation was formed in the 90's (recognized that is), The removal of the founder of the Dominion of Melchizedek is sourced on the States Website, if you can find any allegations of fraud or illegalities of the State since 2012, then that particular statement would be proven false I suppose. The Statement about the current Members continuing to learn, understand, and apply international law to peacefully co-exist is based on learning and knowing the mindset of the current Head of State of the Dominion of Melchizedek, Prime Minister David Williams. His information is readily available on-line. | |||
{{unsigned|68.121.47.20|on 03:24, 6 September 2005}} | |||
:: As for "Promotional Whitewashing" and "Unsourced" content in the lead, there is no proof which substantiates the current lead on this page. I have attempted to find where this statement is made in the Quatloos article cited. There is nothing of the sort. Two wrongs do not make a right. If you can proof that the statements made by me in the lead are in error, by all means, it should be updated to reflect the facts. Just as the current lead should be updated to reflect the facts. Accusations can go both ways, which is why it is important to stick with facts and reliable sources. ] (]) 16:44, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
== Request for Comment == | |||
::: Please note that, per ], the lede should introduce and briefly summarize the article. As it currently stands it does that quite well, and there is no need to defend any of the charges within the lede. | |||
*] (Also ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]) - POV over the validity of Dominion of Melchizedek's sovereignty, and claims over numerous small islands in the Pacific plus Antarctica. | |||
::: If there is consensus that we need to defend against some of the charges of fraud, or soften their blow, let's find independent ] on that topic and write a new section about the current administration of the DoM, since 2012. ] 17:13, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
:::: Please Note, per ], "The lead is the first part of the article that most people will read. For many, it may be the only section that they read". You state, the introduction does a good job with introducing the facts presented on the page, however, nowhere in the article does it state that 1) the individuals charged where not charged as Members of the Dominion of Melchizedek but rather, All individuals charged with fraud or other such criminal activities were charges as US Citizens (as they should be since those individuals were, in fact, US Citizens because they never properly naturalized into the State per the procedures laid out by the United States or international conventions. 2). The introduction is misleading because nowhere in the article cited does it make the statement which is being made in the introduction. Further, Quatloos is not an authority on which States/Societies are considered recognized or unrecognized. Quatloos is a website, not a government or an agent of the US Government or any government, regardless if they purport to be attorneys. Likewise, Other sources such as the Security and Exchange Commission and the Comptroller of the United States have no authority to determine whether or not a State has recognition or exist. Per the (which the US is signatory to); "The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states. Even before recognition, the state has the right to defend its integrity and independence" 4). The Dominion of Melchizedek has been recognized by multiple countries, some of which is even cited within this page. | |||
This needs to be put in perspective: | |||
::::″According to the Washington Post, the Central African Republic extended diplomatic recognition to the DoM in 1993, but the Post article went on to remark, "...you get the feeling that the Central African Republic would recognize the State of Denial if it had a letterhead." An article in the Quatloos! the online anti-fraud site noted that: "Melchizedek has apparently obtained some sort of recognition from some smaller states ... all of which are notable for their corruption. Claims that the DoM has received recognition from any major government are pure lies.″ | |||
* The "Dominion of Melchizedek" has been identified by multiple international authorities as, first and foremost, a financial scam, created by convicted criminals. | |||
* There are ''no'' verifiable sources that support DOM's position over the Pacific islands, atolls and reefs it claims, and no evidence that any member of DOM has even visited most of them ] being the only exception I'm aware of. | |||
* DOM's claim over a large portion of Antarctica is preposterous, and has no foundation in law. Again, there is ''no'' evidence that any member of DOM has ever been within 1000 kilometres of Antarctica, so even setting aside the legal question, DOM has made no attempt to enforce its own claim, rendering it entirely baseless. | |||
* There is ''no'' evidence that DOM has a physical presence in any of the territories it claims, derives financial income from those territories, or has created a single piece of physical infrastructure within their borders. | |||
* While DOM claims that it has been "recognised" by several UN member states, the central and west African nations in question are well known for engaging in fiscal diplomacy. It is interesting to note that claims made by the ] to have been "recognised" by UN members states are founded on paper agreements with - you guessed it - ] and the ]. Furthermore, none of the countries that DOM claims to have "relations" with maintain a physical presence in any of DOM's "territories" - and neither does DOM maintain any physical presence in those countries. | |||
:::: The Washington Post was correct in its reporting that the Central African Republic extended Diplomatic Recognition to the DoM, Everything else is an opinion of the editor of the Washington Post and the editors of this page. More importantly and to the point, those comments have no bearing on the political relationship between the two States. Further, the statements credited to Quatloos is also an opinion. The Fact is that the DoM has been recognized in various capacities by various states and yet, the introduction still leads with the statement that the Dominion of Melchizedek is '''"unilaterally declared, internationally unrecognized micronation"''' (which "unrecognized" is spelled incorrectly). | |||
So, what I suggest is: | |||
:::: As for writing a new section about the current administration, That is preferable. However, this requires the willingness of the editors and monitors of this page to be willing to address the bias and double-minded opinions being perpetrated on the entire page and to update the entire page to reflect a more neutral and accurate history of the Dominion of Melchizedek (a video recorded history of the DoM by the two longest Members of the DoM can be found on its Official Website under the notice section). The fact is, that the Dominion of Melchizedek is recognized and since the current Head of State, David Williams has taken over the State in 2012, there has been no reports of fraud, deception, nefarious activities or the like. This should be addressed in the introduction if a reader is going to get a full picture of the micro-state and its current activities in the international community. | |||
* Remove all references to DOM from ], since their claim has about as much validity as a claim to territories on the Moon. | |||
* Briefly mention DOM's claims in ], ], ] and ], but make it clear that they are essentially without foundation. | |||
* Remove all reference to DOM from ]. It simply isn't one. | |||
* Remove all reference to DOM from ]. This is merely a promotional link that adds nothing of value to the article. | |||
* Ensure that the entry on DOM in ] is factual and NPOV. | |||
:::: As for providing a reliable source, what do you suggest? Are letters from foreign Governments thanking the Head of State of the DoM for their assistance during a health crisis considered an independent and reliable source of information? How about the many websites, interviews, and articles that speak about David Williams and his years of educating individuals in the area of international law and the principle of the Right of Self-Determination? When you are not actively out seeking press, but focused on building a State, where do you find a reliable source? The website of the Dominion of Melchizedek is not considered a reliable source, yet I wonder how many other official government websites are likewise considered unreliable sources! ] (]) 18:44, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
--] 23:37, 6 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::: I wouldn't focus too much on the lede. As I mentioned, it is meant to summarize the article, and to do it well. We can't add any content into the lede that does not already exist in the article. | |||
::::: If you feel that there is a side to this that is misunderstood or underrepresented, gather some sources and put together a draft section. No, the government slash website of DoM is not considered a reliable source, but if what you say is true then there should be ] that portray the DoM in a positive light since 2012. | |||
''* The "Dominion of Melchizedek" has been identified by multiple international authorities as, first and foremost, a financial scam, created by convicted criminals.'' | |||
::::: On the other hand, if such sources are unavailable, then it will be impossible to write such a section. In that case the article will likely remain as it is, a fairly accurate summary of the sources that are available. ] 19:00, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
This is only due to inacurate journalistic reporting of opinions from the hip that was repeated by such authorities. Can you list those authorities? Remember someone in power giving their personal opinion doesn't count, such as John Shockey, because his organization's only official statement refers to Melchizedek as an authority that licesned banks, and defines Melchizedek as a "sovereignty", although "non-recognized" by the US. | |||
:::::: You say "I wouldn't focus too much on the lede". umm, the lede is the most important part! Why wouldn't I focus on it? Did you actually read my response? The DoM has been recognized. Yet the lead, as well as other information inaccurately reports the opposite. The section under recognition even states the DoM has been recognized not only by the Central African Republic but other smaller states! This makes the lede inaccurate; not to mention double-minded and contrary to the facts presented within the article itself! | |||
''* There are ''no'' verifiable sources that support DOM's position over the Pacific islands, atolls and reefs it claims, and no evidence that any member of DOM has even visited most of them ] being the only exception I'm aware of.'' | |||
:::::: When you say "fairly accurate", in whose opinion? I have been accused of having a POV conflict of interest, yet "fairly accurate" means nothing. Something is either accurate or it is not. With regards to recognition, I have added many links from various documents provided by foreign governments to the Dominion of Melchizedek on Treaties of Peace and Recognition, however, Those links are always taken down and I am told they are not reliable sources simply because those documents are housed on the DoM's website. | |||
SBS national news broadcast in Australia showing the Iroijlaplap of Taongi declaring that he granted to Melchizedek a 50 years sovereign lease isn't a verifiable source, or the court in Fiji recording the sovereign leases over Solkope and a portion of Rotuma, or the Hawaiian university revealing the same? | |||
:::::: The problem, at the end of the day, is simple. The editors of this page and the public at large are highly ignorant of international law, the Law of Nations, and how this Planet actually operates. It is not understood how Nations recognize other nations or who in a government has the authority to take such action, most people have never heard of the right of self-determination or actually exercised said right, and most are completely ignorant of their own history. This page paints the Dominion of Melchizedek in a purely negative light. It does not keep the third party sources of foreign government documents when added. It does not keep in mind that all nations/states/societies all have had checkered past, including the United States. The Founders had to fight a war. They had to borrow money and go into debt. They had to trade and get recognition from the pirates in the beginning because they couldn't get recognition from the more notable states at that time (). Heck, they had to completely reform their Government because the Articles of Confederation was a complete failure. This is just the facts because creating a new society is not an easy thing to do. People make mistakes just like Societies do. | |||
''* DOM's claim over a large portion of Antarctica is preposterous, and has no foundation in law. Again, there is ''no'' evidence that any member of DOM has ever been within 1000 kilometres of Antarctica, so even setting aside the legal question, DOM has made no attempt to enforce its own claim, rendering it entirely baseless.'' | |||
:::::: You can find documents from the DoM's website which provide sources of foreign governments recognizing the DoM. You can find Letters from Liberia as late as February of 2015 thanking the DoM for helping during a national crisis. These documents, whether Misplaced Pages wishes to acknowledge them or not, clearly show that 1) the State is recognized as a separate state by other governments, 2) the state is very much real, not a fantasy, nor an online phenomenon, and 3) the lack of news on the DoM and its activities is proof that the state, under its current administration is not involved in any activity which would cause government agents to go after its members or peak the interest of the media. It is well known that negative news is the best form of news and positive news is boring news. | |||
It is not baseless when it is in treaties with UN member states, and we have confirmed with Dr. Dewey Painter, a high ranking offical of DOM that he has spent 6 months in Antarctica. Call him yourself and ask him for proof if you don't believe it. Melchizedek can take as much time as it wants to perfect its claim, so long as no other governement does so first. | |||
:::::: At the end of the day, these dialogues contribute to the public record of the State doing what it can to correct the misinformation and the skewed bias nature of the Misplaced Pages page known as the Dominion of Melchizedek. I am still waiting for proper answers to the questions I have put forth over the past couple of years and still waiting to see who, as an editor on this page, actually have the credentials to discuss international matters with regards to self-determination and the recognition of states/societies. | |||
''* There is ''no'' evidence that DOM has a physical presence in any of the territories it claims, derives financial income from those territories, or has created a single piece of physical infrastructure within their borders.'' | |||
:::::: @bradv, How much of the material, sources, and factual truths provided by the various sources which contribute to the contents of this page have you personally gone through and vetted? ] (]) 19:53, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
What led you to this conclusion? Have you visited any territory claimed by Melchizedek? | |||
::::::: It is not Misplaced Pages's job to decide international policy, and it is not the job of individual editors to argue about international policy. It is our job to go through reliable sources, summarize them, and gather the sources together into an encyclopedia. | |||
''* While DOM claims that it has been "recognised" by several UN member states, the central and west African nations in question are well known for engaging in fiscal diplomacy. It is interesting to note that claims made by the ] to have been "recognised" by UN members states are founded on paper agreements with - you guessed it - ] and the ].'' | |||
::::::: From the statements you have made here and on your talk page, I'm beginning to think you are ] to help build an encyclopedia. You are here to promote the Dominion of Melchizedek, and convince people that it is a real country. | |||
Can we see a link to these documents? Do they have independent sources such as the Washington Post supporting these claims? | |||
::::::: It is not, and even if we say it is on Misplaced Pages, it still won't be. ] 20:40, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
''Furthermore, none of the countries that DOM claims to have "relations" with maintain a physical presence in any of DOM's "territories" - and neither does DOM maintain any physical presence in those countries.'' | |||
::::::::I can't speak for Bradv, but in my case 100% of the existing cites and can state that they accurately support the points made in the article. I've also had a quick look, for the purposes of this discussion, at DoM's mentions in the online press 2012 onwards: | |||
As of what date is your information? | |||
::::::::*In the context of scams: | |||
::::::::*Tangential: | |||
::::::::So there's no ability to add anything about the current activities of DoM as, at best, it's morphed from an entity notable for being involved in scams to a non-notable entity. That morphing, should it be the case, does not mean the article needs to be deleted, as the historical situation is still notable. ] (]) 20:58, 28 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
::::::::: Bradv, you mention "it is not the job of Misplaced Pages or the editors to decide international policy" I agree one hundred percent. You nor this site, have that authority or knowledge base to make such determinations (it is evident in your responses). Yet, almost immediately after your statement you follow up by making an assumption on international policy by assuming the State doesn't exist, which is an opinion not substantiated by any reliable and verifiable source. This is a violation of Misplaced Pages's policies and procedures! You don't have the right to voice your opinion. You only have the permission to add verifiable information. | |||
So, what I suggest is: | |||
::::::::: Furthermore, you are making assumptions and presumptions to my motives for engaging in the correction of facts and verifiable information presented on this page. You have proven, based on your off hand comments that you do not have a neutral point of view on this page because you keep interjecting your bias assumptions and opinons. I have maintain one firm position which is that the lede to this page is unverifiable and inaccurate not only because of the source that was cited, but because of the source presented within this article by other editors which state that a "reliable" source; Washington Post, indeed adminted that the DoM has received diplomatic recognition. Regardless of the opinion of the editor of the article sourced about the reasons the Central African Republic or any other state would engage in recognizing the DoM (diplomatically or otherwise), this is a factual event. Two facts are verifiable as cited in my previous response on the Rights and Duties of States..."The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states. Even before recognition, the state has the right to defend its integrity and independence". This is international law and is agreed to by all states. Furthermore, Article 6 of the same International treaty states "recognition is unconditional and irrevocable". I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty straight forward and specific to me. Considering the State has received communications from a foreign Government as late as February of 2015, and considering there are numerous documents from other states engaging in Treaties of Peace and Recognition, your comment that the state "still wouldn't exist" or any editors comment that the State is unrecognized is a complete lie! It is something you want to believe but does not fit the reality at hand. | |||
''* Remove all references to DOM from ], since their claim has about as much validity as a claim to territories on the Moon.'' | |||
::::::::: You can make whatever statement of assumption you wish about my motives, but it should be clear to any neutral party that reviews this dialogue, I am pointing my responses and my focus of facts presented on this page with third party source material that Your Government and every other Government know, understand, and abide by. I am also pointing out violations of Wikipedias own policies regarding verifiable sources. ]. | |||
Not true. | |||
'' | |||
* Briefly mention DOM's claims in ], ], ] and ], but make it clear that they are essentially without foundation.'' | |||
::::::::: @Bromley86 - This also includes @Bradv; Just because someone writes and article and they are considered third-party from the Subject of the page and Misplaced Pages, does not mean that the Source is accurate in what they present. Bromley86, you cited numerous articles that were posted after 2012, yet all these articles merely mention the name Dominion of Melchizedek! Seriously, | |||
What is your level of authority or expertise to make this determination? | |||
:::::::::your first Article references a woman who has had no affliation with the DoM prior to 2006. Anything she has done personally, does not automatically tie to the State! Who knows why this particular individual decided to write this article in 2013, 3 years after the event allegedly occured? | |||
''* Remove all reference to DOM from ]. It simply isn't one.'' | |||
:::::::::Your Second article is a blogger who decided to write a historical peice on other micronations because of an indivdiual trying to claim a track of land for his daughter! (more than likely her source for the DoM was this page). It is a one paragraph, mentioning facts she found interesting! | |||
Knights of Malta is mentioned there, and Melchizedek isn't actually listed as such but only a reference to it under Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Malta. Certainly (besides a longer and better documented history) Melchizedek has more hallmarks of a microstate than SMOKM. | |||
:::::::::Your Third article has got to be a joke if you are including this as a reliable source. The only mention of the Dominion of Melchizedek is the fact that this man "Alleged to have ties to the Dominion of Melchizedek". Ok. People alleged things all the time. Doesn't mean they are true! That is why in a court of law, allegations must be verified by facts! | |||
''* Remove all reference to DOM from ]. This is merely a promotional link that adds nothing of value to the article.'' | |||
:::::::::Your Fourth article again has only a mere mention of the Dominion of Melchizedek in relation to a group attempting to exercise its right of Self-Determination, unfortunately, they are following the path of the DoM early on which is the lack of understanding "naturalization of citizens". | |||
Dominion of Melchizedek is a very well know state (albeit unusual, controversial, only recent in history, except for the Biblical claims) and the "dominion" part of its name adds to the article about "Dominion". There is a dominion aspect even to the word, Melchizedek. We're not trying to promote anything, just have a complete reference for all aspects of this subject, since it was so unfairly and incompletely portrayed in the past. | |||
:::::::::Your Fifth article only has this mention "scams (like the Dominion of Melchizedek, which sold fake passports at inflated prices)". Of course, this allegation is address in the history of the DoM put out by the State itself. The man who was arrested for creating fake passports was not only caught creating fake passports for the DoM but multiple nations. He was not a "member" of the DoM nor any other state he was selling passports of! Criminals don't care about things like that! There are thousands of people who sell fake passports of any state to any person dumb enough to pay for them. | |||
Unsigned interpolations above posted by ] | |||
:::::::::Your Sixth article only states this..." In addition, he is said to have shares of a fictional bank in the "Dominion of Melchizedek" ok. where is that proof? Again, people can and will say anything. Just because something is said, does not make it true. | |||
: I think that the claims should NOT be included in island articles because of extremely low notability in given context. The item on ] should be kept under watch as it looks as irresistible target of a vandal. If the vandalism continues it should be reported on ]. Misplaced Pages isn't playground for jokes and trolls. ] 15:15, 7 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::::::::Your final two articles 7 mentions the DoM in passing and 8 is a link that goes to a subsription page which is a violation of wikipedias external link policy..notabley number 6. | |||
:: I agree, the contibutions in question tend to rely on sources which falls short of being authoritative; they appear to exhibit a pro-DoM agenda. ] 23:58, 7 August 2005 (UTC)]] | |||
:::::::::Bottom line is that I keep hearing about reliable sources, crediable sources. yet you present these articles which are a joke at best. If anything, it shows that people who write about microstates will continue to write about the Dominion of Melchizedek based on its history because they have no other information to go by. By and large, it is due to the information on this page since anytime someone hears about the Dominion of Melchizedek, they will look it up on Misplaced Pages. | |||
: I'd say the way the article is now appears ok to me, but I might provide some more evidence of its recognition and maybe a counter by saying it is not a member of any international organizations and provide some evidence of the 1993 recognition. ] 00:50, August 30, 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::::::::I see you took the citation down off the lede. That is the first step. however, per the policies on Misplaced Pages and lede to pages, "As a general rule of thumb, a lead section should contain no more than four well-composed paragraphs and be carefully sourced as appropriate." As the Lede stands, it is one blanket statement that has no verifiable source. The lede should also "Like in the body of the article itself, the emphasis given to material in the lead should roughly reflect its importance to the topic, according to reliable, published sources.". Since there is no reliable, published source verifying the lede, it stands to reason, it must be changed and updated to reflect an accurate discription of the topic at hand. <!-- Template:Unsigned --><small><span class="autosigned">— Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 22:40, 28 July 2016 (UTC)</span></small> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--> | |||
==Hoax== | |||
Should not have link to Hoaxes as this category states: | |||
"To forestall edit wars, religions and religious figures are excluded from nomination for this category." | |||
Therefore because Melchisedek is based on the Bible and recognized by UN member state as ecclesiastical state, this reference must be removed. | |||
::::::::::I wasn't providing them as references in articles, merely pointing out that there's been no mention in news sources of the DoM in a manner which would support the sorts of changes that you would like to make. Thank you for making my point in detail! | |||
{{unsigned|68.121.47.161|on 17:22, 3 August 2005}} | |||
::::::::::Regarding the Lead, it's fine as it is: | |||
::::::::::*''The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM), is a unilaterally declared, internationally unrecognised micronation'' - all mentioned in the Body and referenced, with the exception of the actual word "micronation". I'll have a look at making sure that's in somewhere. | |||
::::::::::*''known for facilitating large scale banking fraud in many parts of the world during the 1990s and early 2000s'' - again, covered in the body and reffed, although I see none of our current refs/points relate to the naughties, so I'll remove that part. ] (]) 02:46, 29 July 2016 (UTC) | |||
== Fraud == | |||
The link to ] is justfied; the hoax is not the religion, but the alleged microstate. If someone were to post an article on a ] claim to ], it would fall under hoaxes. ] 20:37, 9 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
Just visited DOM's website. A purported "photograph of Melchizedek" looks like an island in Fiji! (Cannot identify which one it is — but I'll try to find out) ] (]) 10:07, 30 December 2016 (UTC) | |||
== Johnski Redux == | |||
I'm sure you may be sincere in believing that Melchizedek is a hoax as a micronation. | |||
It appears once again Johnski and his meatpuppets have started to push their propaganda on the DOM article. Please be aware this went through arbitration many years ago and the result was the banning of of Johnski and ALL of his known meatpuppets. This page can be semi-protected by an administrator and new meatpuppets can be banned. ] (]) 13:47, 27 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
Actually in a way you are correct, because Melchizedek never claimed to be a micrnation. Instead it has consistently claimed to be an ecclesiastical sovereignty for which it has received dejure recognition from at least one UN member state. | |||
: Diffs? ] (]) 15:06, 27 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
::Andy, I'm not sure what you mean. ] (]) 13:11, 28 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
It has also gained a false and misleading reputation as fake country, but because it never claimed to be a country, it also doesn't deserve that label. | |||
::* ] | |||
::: Where are these "meatpuppet edits"? Who is "Johnski"? ] (]) 13:16, 28 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
In fact it appers to me to be unique, somewhere between the SMOM and the Vatican with many other attributes. | |||
::::They are the edits being done by unregistered users. Johnski was (is) someone who is directly involved in DOM who along with other people are making a concerted effort to add unsubstantiated claims. https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Johnski/Proposed_decision ] (]) 01:54, 29 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
Because it doesn't enjoy the same reputation or complicated long history as those more august sovereignties, that doesn't mean that it is not sincere in its claims. | |||
The past 15 years of Melchizedek's history reveals consistency and growth in line with its original and current claims. | |||
It is not a hoax that Melchizedek claims a section of the Antarctica. It may be a far stretch for them to claim it but their claim doesn't appear to me to be a hoax. | |||
That is why I believe it is crazy to link it to hoaxes. | |||
:But is it ''more'' notable as a hoax than as an ecclesiastical sovereignty — somewhere in the middle between "SMOM and the Vatican" sounds rather vague. The article needs to reflect how it is percieved outside of Misplaced Pages, this is key. This means balanced material and presnetation. ] 11:38, 11 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
== Baptist claim to antarctica and unanswered questions of 68.123.207.17 == | |||
I see that Centari hasn't answered question of 68.123.207.17 where he or she ask pertinent questions of his or other's statement such as Hutt having recognition from same governments. | |||
Also, PMANDERSON, if the Baptist religion laid claim to Antarctica it wouldn't be a hoax it would be a fact. If you falsely published that Baptist Church laid claim to such then it would be a hoax, but since DoM really lays claim to Antarctica it isn't a hoax. | |||
Furthermore, while the Baptist religion may have ecclesiastical goverance, it doesn't rise or seek to rise to the level of Vatican like statehood as Melchizedek does. | |||
In some ways, Melchizedek has achieved more of the hallmarks of statehood than has the Vatican. | |||
If the Vatican laid claim to a section of Antarctica, would you consider that a hoax. | |||
I can't find where Melchizedek is largely known as a hoax. | |||
While the Washington Post pointed out that aiming nuclear weapon from Ruthenia to France was a "Ruse that Roared" the article itself did not say that Melchizedek is a hoax, nor has any article that i've seen of any credibilty done so. | |||
:You're right. Melchizedech is not a hoax. It's a fraud. Big difference. An it looks like you have some too. Looks like they're selling the rug from under your feet! --] 06:35, 19 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
::Melchizedek has demonstrated that it is neither a hoax nor a fraud. Westarctica.com gives no competition to Melchizedek from the link you provided. What is your agenda to attempt to discredit a recognized ecclesiastical sovereignty? --[[User:69.104.16.189 | |||
|69.104.16.189 | |||
]] | |||
:::What Melchizedech has "demonstrated" is a propensity to produce official-looking documents which have no meaning in international law, a capacity to influence officials in several poverty-striken nations known for endemic official corruption, a desire to exploit internecine conflicts for its own financial benefit, and a longstanding association with banking fraud that has been reported extensively, throughout the world over more than a decade. Melchizedech's assertion that it is an "ecclesiastical sovereignty" stands in stark contrast with the fact that it has no association with any known religion. Westarctica's claims to a quarter of Antarctica have exactly the same legitimacy as Melchizedek's - none - although the later's fraudulent Antarctic land sales are at least of a much lower order of magnitude that the banking frauds perpetrated by agents of Melchizedek. --] 02:14, 26 August 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::Gene, your claims fall short of the truth. Why do the Melchizedek documents have no meaning in international law? What has Melchizedek gained from the conflicts surrounding "Rotuma" if that is your reference? How is Melchizedek associated with fraud of banks it has licensed? So every government that has licensed a bank is associated with any fruad of that bank? Why should Melchizedek need to be associated with any known religion? And how did you determine that it has no association? That would be like saying that original Christianity had no association with the Jewish religion. Which agents of Melchizedek perpetrated banking frauds? The facts seem to be that non-agents, i.e. bank owners perpetrated the those frauds. From what I've read it was only a few banks out of 300 hundred that were licensed that gave Melchizedek this reputation. Since Melchizedek has official recognition from UN member states and treaties with such that mention Melchizedek's claim to 90-150 West Antarctica in those treaties, certainly that is of more consequence than the sily web site you linked. It is doubtful they sold any real estate in Antarctica, and the reason that a few of the banks licensed by Melchizedek were able to achieve fraud of a serious magnitude is due to the fact that Melchizedek is a functioning government, whereas the web site you listed has no reality in the world of governments. | |||
== 67.124.49.20 == | |||
You have reverted this page 6 times in 24 hours. This is a violation of the three revert rule. Please stop changing to an edition that has a POV Shocktm 23:39, September 5, 2005 (UTC) | |||
What does POV indicate? | |||
{{unsigned|68.121.47.20|on 02:47, 6 September 2005}} | |||
POV = Point of View. In this case you are presenting information that makes DoM look legitmate/real when it is far from it. Here are some things you should read before editing this or any other page. | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
When commenting on ] or voting, you should always sign your name by typing in four tildes (~~~~). This way people will know who made the comment and can respond to you. Shocktm 20:55, September 7, 2005 (UTC) | |||
== Vandalism in Progress == | |||
I have reported a ] for this page by: 208.57.91.27, 67.124.49.20, 63.164.145.85, and 68.121.47.161 | |||
for their repeated attempts to change this article to one with a POV. The user(s) have been warned many time, but they continue to change this page and ] and ] to their POV. Shocktm 20:59, September 11, 2005 (UTC) | |||
:This guy's been vandalizing for months at every chance. Why is he still being only blocked for short periods of time? ] 16:44, 16 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
No Sir, Madam, please seriously consider the following: | |||
Some of you are the ones that has POVs here, as everything I and the others you quoted have only presented supportable facts and with balance and more depth. | |||
For example, you think your point of view is more prevailing than dipomatic recognition from a UN member state. I am only presenting facts. | |||
Another example is that you insist that the Washington Post stated that Melchizedek is a "ruse" where-in-fact it presented two possible "may" be options, one, "may" merely be a ruse to "may" be the "ultimate post modern state". | |||
Also, I can not find anywhere in any Forbes article the word "ruse" but i can find the most recent reference to a Forbes article mentioning Melchizedek that refers to Melchizedek as "dubious". | |||
I'm not the first one nor are any of the others you quoted the first to mention Melchizedek in the Taongi article, and the claim by Melchizedek is significant enough to have promted both Marshall Islands government to denounce it and the Taongi Iroijlaplap after that fact to grant a 50 years soveriegn lease which he delared on SBS Australian national TV. | |||
How can you call an ecclesiastical state a micronation? Just because it has had negative opinions from the press and a few people like retired John Shockey, and bad experiences with banks it licensed doesn't take away its right to be recognized as it has been recognized by UN member states. Remember that the Vatican had its own banking scandals, which resulted in suicide. | |||
Perhaps you want the Catholic religion to have a monopoly on ecclesiastical statehood? | |||
How can it be vandalism to put back the original page that you din't create for Ecclesiastical State? Again, why should the Vatican be the only ecclesiastical state in the world? This apparently is your POV but not the fact. | |||
Everyting I and the others have done to improve the text of the article about Melchizedek has given it more facts, depth and balance, without any POV and every fact brought forth is supportable. | |||
If I were biased I wouldn't have left in the significant negative stuff. There were two links to the Adkission collection of only negative stuff, so I left the one there that links to the Shockey statement, but for the debunking one, not to be repetitive, I linked to that very negative article, which is actually an article, wherein the one that was linked from "Debunding Article" isn't an article at all but is still covered. | |||
:If Melchizedech is an "ecclesiastical state", by which I assume you mean a formally consitituted hierarchical religious institution with the rights of sovereign state, why is there no reference to that religion on the Melchizedech website, or in any of the many press reports concerning this entity? Assuming it actually has one, is Melchizedech's religion registered as such for taxation purposes in any recognized jurisdiction anywhere in the world, how many adherents does it have, what is its structure and the titles of its officers, what are its beliefs and practises, and if so, where are the external sources that can be accessed to confirm this? --] 03:28, 18 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
---------- | |||
Misplaced Pages policy extrapolates ] outside its virtual space, to, for our purposes, formal political, scholarly, journalistic, etc. consesus. I challenge that the pro-DoM contributor is magnifying certain favourable sources, ones that fall very short of amounting to such a consensus here and elsewhere. We can't keep going around like this in circle. I wish for the pro-DoM editor to be more critical and reflective, wrt the above, review closely and adhere to ], ], ], and ]. Thanks. ] 23:58, 11 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
== is DoM a Micronation? == | |||
Accroding to Misplaced Pages on Micronation, "This article is about entities that are not recognized by any world governments..." | |||
Clearly Melchizedek should not be labeled as such due to the fact that it has received "diplomatic recognition" according to the Washington Post from at least one world government, i.e. the Central African Republic. The letter from the Central African Republic states that the recogntion is both formal and official and refers to Melchizedek as "an ecclesiastical sovereignty". | |||
Melchizedek has its "House of Elders" and its own translation of the Bible which is in print. | |||
It has all of the hallmarks of a state, including, citizens, disputed territorial claims, even sovereign leases, one from the "sole sovereign owner" of Solkope during the time the Fijian constitution was suspended, and one from the Iroijlapap of Taongi. | |||
It not only asserts control over its citizens through its laws, but it contols the entities it allows to be incorporated under its laws. It has a court system that has been recognized by US courts. | |||
Melchizedek seems to have gone far beyond what can be seen from the category of "micronations" and at least rises above the level in many aspects of the Military Order of Malta to statehood. | |||
Perhaps as a compromise, the article can call Melchizedek an "ecclesiastical sovereignty" instead of a micronation or ecclesiastical state, since it has been refered as such by that world governemnt, CAR, and it seems to rise above the category of "micronation". | |||
Micronations also generally only have one or two people actively involved in their government, whereas, Melchizedek seems to have officials all over the world working actively on sovereign leases, recognition, etc. Melchizedek existed before microations began popping up on the Internet, even though, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw called Melchizedek "the first nation on the Internet" back in the late 1990s. | |||
It also appears that scams associated with banks licensed by Melchizedek stopped after the House of Elders of DoM elected Richard James McDonald as Melchizedek's "president" several years back. Perhaps this will reduce the fear that any positive statement about Melchizedek could be used to further frauds, and since McDonald is a retired law enforcement officer with no apparent criminal record. -Johnski 16:02, September 18, 2005 | |||
:When examining claims of sovereignty on places you have never heard of, the first thing you should do is to take any statment by that entity with a large grain of salt. Many people use double talk and comparison to other entites to 'prove' that their entity has sovereignty, when it is just made up think. In order believe in the entity, proof needs to be provided. | |||
:I will address some of your issues/claims. | |||
:The DoM indicates that it was recognized by the Central African Republic as a "ecclesiastical sovereignty". First no one consideres the CAR to be good source of recogntion, it is a poor country in Africa that is susceptible to bribery or misunderstand. Two the phrase "ecclesiastical sovereignty" makes no sense. It uses the wrong phrase/tense - if it is like the Holy See, it would be a ecclesiastical sovereign entity or ecclesiastical sovereign state. The claim of recogntion seems to be bogus or at least a misunderstanding. Also we only have the DoM website and a few newspaper articles repeating what is on th website as proof. It would be better to get the proof from the country providing the recogntion (like the statements we get from the US and Marshall Island denieing the claim) | |||
::Shocktm, you made me doubt my understanding of the word, "sovereignty" so I looked it up on http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sovereignty and found that the tense is correct as it can be a noun, and please note the definitions. If you used it in the tense you might be thinking of it would sound better, like, the ecclesiastical sovereignty of Melchizedek, or that, Melchizedek has ecclesiastical sovereignty over it citizens. | |||
:It is also easy to make a website where you can claim anything you want including a government/territorial claims/etc. See http://users.metro2000.net/~stabbott/RHBJ.htm for a website that admits it is making this up and compare it to the DoM's website. Or compare the DoM website to the Hutt River Province, Sealand, Conch Republic You will quickly see that the DoM website does not provide enough proof to believe any of its claims. | |||
:Newspapers/TV/Radio have been tricked before to publish articles that are untrue. So have a news article does not proved much proof of something being true. Many articles from repuable sorces need to be made before something should be considered a fact. There is a lack of that with regards to the DoM - the article that do talk about the DoM use phrases that indicated that the DoM is not real or at least they considere it suspect. | |||
:We have actual no idea of how many people are part of the DoM, but it does not matter much as even some of the entities listed on the Micronation page have had hundreds of people involoved (see Conch Republic for example). Most everyone who has reead about the DoM consideres it a micronation and specificaly a micronation invloved in fraud. Until evidence is provided to the contrary, this should be what the article indicates. Shocktm 21:47, 18 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::I respectfully disagree with what you have written, as it doesn't matter how poor a nation is, diplomatic recognition from a UN member state is more compelling than anything you can say about it. So assuming there was financial incentive (no evidence of this) the US normally gives financial incentives to third world countries to get what it wants, but it doesn't make the US any less legitimate does it? There was no misunderstanding with the letter of official recognition as it invites DoM to open a diplomatic mission in CAR, etc. Search the term "ecclesiastical sovereignty" and you will find that it is a term used by others. | |||
::The web link you showed was apparently make by a person that went to all of that trouble to discredit DoM. This actually gives more credence to DoM that it has such lively enemies, in my judgement. You have no idea of the motives of those that attempt to discredit Melchizedek, it could all stem from some religious competition, or policial POV. | |||
::Remember that DoM was recognized before it had any presence on the Internet. Not only that, but the Washington Post isn't the only source to note the recognition from CAR, and there have been other credible publications that have noted other recognition to boot. If the Washington Post made an error on the recognition, you can be sure they would have later retracted it. I actually took the time to read the Melchizedek Bible, and it is a serious work, not something that is made up to back a fraud. Have you read it? I suspect that some of the people behind trying to keep Melchizedek in the micronation category think that by doing so it may lend more credibility to a micronation in which they may have involvment. | |||
::The press has never been able to put Melchizedek in the actual frauds, only banks that it licensed, and there is a huge difference, which seems to be ignored. Keep in mind that the SEC did not sue Melchizedek only a lawyer bringing clients to a bank licensed by Melchizedek. Same goes for criminal prosecutions against those that used banks licensed by Melchizedek. It is also significant that when the US OCC made reference to "Melchizedek" as the licensing authority for a DoM bank, it referred to Melchizedek as a "sovereignty" in its written publication, although not "recognized" by the USA. It never wrote, phony, fraudulent, fake, fictitious, fictional, micronation, etc. | |||
:::This is a misstatement of the nature of diplomatic recognition. There are only two possibilities: recognition and non-recognition. "Non-recognized sovereignity" means ''something we do not recognize as sovereign'', not some middle position. But I seem to have said this before. ] 03:31, 19 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::Hello PMANDERSON, I'd rather not split hairs with you, but if that were the case, it would say, "non-sovereignty". There is a huge difference between the two points, and "non-recognized sovereignty" is a form of defacto recognition of Melchizedek as a "sovereignty". You might want to study the subject of "defacto recognition" which Melchizedek seems to have lots of from around the world. In fact, a sovereign is a soverign whether recognized or not. | |||
::::I believe that point is made somewhere in a wiki article. You may be confused between the fact that CAR diplomatically recognizing Melchizedek and the fact that US does not. Because US does not, they don't have to recognize the recognition of any other state that does. So their saying that they don't diplomatically recognize Melchizedek doesn't mean that other states don't too. ] 04:01, 19 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::::If the Treasury's fraud warning had meant ''de facto'' sovereignity, it would have said so. But unless some genuinely original falsehood is added to this talk page, I do not expect to comment further. Silence implies contempt. ] 04:25, 19 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::::First, it wasn't a fraud warning, and second, when de facto recognition is intentionally or unintentionally extended, rarely, if ever, are the words, "de facto" used. I didn't say it was recognizing that Melchizedek is a defacto sovereignty, what I meant was that when it defined Melchizedek as a "non-recognized" sovereignty that it extended a type of defacto recognition to Melchizedek. Also, it recognized that the relative bank was under the jurisdiction of Melchizedek, a form of defacto recognition of Melchizedek as an authority that regulates said bank. ] 05:00, 19 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::Your point that news papers can write things that aren't true, that is true, but the same goes for the negative POV expressed, they could be wrong as well. In fact, you can see that Forbes' opinion of Melchizedek evolved over time to "dubious". ] 22:46, 18 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::Johnski, believe in what you want to believe in. You need a concensus of people to change the article to what you want it to read and you will not find that here. Nothing about the DoM makes it look like a real country or even the SMOM. In fact the thing it looks like the most is Sealand, which everyone calls a micronation. The overwelming majority of information out on the web or in print indicates that the DoM calls it a micronation and a fraud. When many say it is micronation and a fraud, it probably is micronation and a fraud. | |||
:::I looked up the phrase "ecclesiastical sovereignty" on Google and found it used 371 times, many of which refere to articles on the DoM (many calling the DoM a fraud micronation). Sovereignty is a correct word but with the adjective of ecclesiastical it only refers to the juristicion of a church (and the phrase that should be used is ecclesiastical juristiction, not ecclesiastical sovereignty - it is misusing the definition of sovereignty). DoM is not claiming to be a church, it is claiming to be a country (Church do not make claims to land). | |||
:::The website I refer to was not created to debunk, discredit, or challange the DoM, rather it was one person's attempt to write an alternative history (a type of fiction). The point I was trying to make is that the website looks real and could be misread by those who do not know that. Similarly the book 'The DaVinchi Code' is believed by some to be real even when the author calls it a work of fiction. | |||
:::When you provide evidence that the DoM is real, I will examine the evidence and if it is creditable, I will agree to change the article. Until then the article should remain the same. I will also stop discussing the DoM until evidence is provided to prove its existence. This discussion has not change your opinion or mine and continuing it will get us no further to a point of agreement. Shocktm 20:46, 19 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::Shocktm, I doubt that you or PMANDERSON speak for everyone that posts here or will in the future. Part of the problem is that Melchizedek is unique amongst states. You want it to fit into this ecclesiastical box or that sovereign box and you don't want to mix the two. The fact is that Melchizedek has always claimed to be "an ecclesiastical sovereignty" and never has it claimed to be a "country" or a "micronation". Part of the perception problem has been that it has been perceived as claiming to be a "country" which got it the false fictional country label. The Vatican mixes the sovereign and ecclesiastical elements, so why can not Melchizedek do the same. You are like a doubting Thomas that has to see and touch it yourself. I think you visiting a Melchizedek territory and seeing a Melchizedek governement ruling that area the only way you will ever believe. I'm not trying to convince you that Melchizedek is real, I'm only showing you that Melchizedek has the hallmarks of an ecclesiastical state, perhaps weak in all areas, but enough to capture the essence in this article. | |||
What do we have to prove existence of Melchizedek. | |||
::::1. Constitution, laws, government officials in three branches of government, territorial claims, sovereign leases. | |||
::::2. Human and corporate citizens, the evidence which is seen throughout the press. | |||
::::3. Unique Bible translation that the Dominion of Melchizedek seems to be based on. | |||
::::4. Credible Press pointing to diplomatic recognition from UN member state, (copy is publiclly available) and other forms of recognition. | |||
::::5. evidence of sovereign leases seen on Hawaiian University web site for one island and SBS TV on another island. | |||
::::6. Claim to Jerusalem as homeland with the Bible teaching that Melchizedek is the eternal eccesiastical and soverign authority over (Jeru)Salem. Dominion of Melchizedek lays claim to this spiritual heritage consistently for the past 15 years. In this aspect Melchizedek could be considered a government in exile. | |||
::::Please show me how any "micronation" has achieved this much or can show this depth. If you insist on leaving the micronation article as it is, it should say that there is an exception where a micronation has achieved diplomatic recognition from a world government as "an ecclesiastical sovereignty". | |||
] 05:42, 20 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::::All of the above, apart from the bible translation and "recognition by a UN member state" are common to most serious historic micronations. Producing a bible translation means only that those doing so have a command of Hebrew and/or Greek - not that they possess "sovereignty". Claiming Jerusalem is the same as claiming Mars - total nonsense - unless there exists the means of physically imposing the claim, which there isn't. The Hutt River Province has been "recognised" by the Ivory Coast in exactly the same way Melchizedech has been "recognised" - by paying money to a corrupt official in a poor African nation to sign a meaningless document on official letterhead. None of this makes Melchizedech "unique", "sovereign", "ecclesiastical" or anything else other than a fraud that exists primarily to part the gullible from large amounts of money. Here endeth the lesson.--] 23:30, 20 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::::Sir, can you point me to the link of that letter of recognition from the Ivory Coast, and is there any independent verification of that from a credible source like the Washington Post? Hutt seems closer to a state than any other listed in micronations except Melchizedek and perhaps Sealand. ] 05:48, 21 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:I suggest you contact the Hutt River Province Vice-Minister of Foreign Afairs. Hutt River - which, unlike Melchizedech, does actually physically inhabit the territory it claims to possess - doesn't make a habit of publishing its private correspondence online. Having a claim documented in a "credible source" does not validate the claim. Credible media organisations document all manner of outlandish and invalid claims on a regular basis; that doesn't make any of them them true.--] 05:04, 22 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:: So, a verbal confirmation from a micronation itself is stronger and better evidence for you than the Washington Post (the most respected Washington based publication) and published copy of the letter of recogntion?] 22:13, 22 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
:::Taken in context with the fact that Hutt River has actually named an Ivorian diplomatic representative, based in the Ivory Coast, whose existence as such can be verified, yes. In addition, Hutt River Province has existed for over 30 years and has never been involved in banking fraud, so its representatives are a far more credible source than a group founded by convicted felons that has been intrinsically linked by US, Italian and other governments with massive fraud, and which appears to have no other raison d'etre than to act as a front for the perpetration of banking fraud. --] 03:20, 23 September 2005 (UTC) | |||
::::I agree that Hutt does have that advantage, if true, to ruling from its own territory. Since you interested in Hutt why don't you change its opening identifier to a "principality"? On the other hand, they are landlocked, and Melchizedek has advantage of diversity. Your agrument that they have less credibility because some of the banks they have licensed used fraud in their business practices is not a convincing agrument, when their government's dejure recognition has been confirmed by perhaps the most respected political publication in the world. | |||
I don't buy your agruement but do vote for giving into the fact that Melchizedek is a recognized government. If you can provide something like Melchizedek has in terms of recognition for Hutt, I'll push that they too be moved to the category of microstate. |
Latest revision as of 19:27, 19 February 2024
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Archives |
The Ruse That Roared, Washington Post
Much, but not all, of this Washington Post article is reproduced on the Quatloos page on DoM; that can be treated as reliable. For information only, I include an unreliable source (hosted on the Dominion of Melchizedek's site and which has been altered by them, with the addition of bracketed comments): link to the waybacked copy. Bromley86 (talk) 08:06, 26 February 2015 (UTC)
Newspaper articles not currently used
Bromley86 (talk) 16:33, 26 February 2015 (UTC)
Official website
Just a heads-up for any other editors who are tempted to add information that's taken directly from, and supported by a cite to, the official website: it's not a reliable source. If you want to add information, you'll need to find a nice, reliable secondary source, which is most likely to be a news article or something like Quatloos that's been accepted over on WP:RSN. Court documents will do, at a push (there's an argument that, if it hasn't been reported elsewhere, it's not weighty enough to merit inclusion, and there are possible BLP aspects when linking to court documents).
Obviously, there's no problem with including the single link to the official website in the Ex Links section. Again though, that link really should be to www.melchizedek.com, even if it's apparent that it's changed. The reason is, we have reliable secondary sources that state that's the right site (Quatloos and Global Pirates: Fraud in the Offshore Insurance Industry) and, with a scam that exists purely on the web, we really do need a reliable source for this. Bromley86 (talk) 20:45, 26 February 2015 (UTC)
Relatively recent activity involving DoM companies
It's possible that the Ronald Allen convicted of insurance fraud in 2010 was related to DoM. Certainly, Cliffview Pilot says so. Not sure if they're reliable, and they don't really make a decent case, so I've not added it to the article.
A detailed summary of DoM c.2008, linked to by someone heavily involved in Quatloos, can be found here. I've not evaluated it for reliability, but it may have some useful stuff in it. Bromley86 (talk) 11:41, 3 March 2015 (UTC)
Meatpuppets
Just a reminder...
Dominion of Melchizedek and associated articles, shall be semi-protected. If necessary, Johnski (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), or any other editor believed by an administrator to be a sockpuppet or meatpuppet of Johnski, may be blocked indefinitely by any administrator. The article may be unprotected (and reprotected) at the discretion of any admin who deems it safe to do so. Misplaced Pages:Requests_for_arbitration/Johnski/Proposed_decision Davidpdx (talk)
External links modified
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Bias of Editors
Bromley86 is a contributor and an editor of this page who continually changes information back to his original edits without due respect for a realistic analysis of the current Status of the Dominion of Melchizedek. This page has been skewed and bias for many years and only purports negative information on the state from over 10 years (ago as of 2016).
There is no new information about the current administration of the Dominion of Melchizedek under Prime Minister David Williams and other Members of the Body-Politic, their positive activities in humanitarian efforts, or the removal of all former members; including the Founder's who turned over all title, claim, and right to the Dominion of Melchizedek.
Further, this particular user and editor of the page has shown he is not competent in his understanding of International law, the Law of Nations, or the proceedure of Nation States in the recognition of foreign States. This is evident in the fact that he/she sources "Quatloos", the Security and Exchange Commission and the Comptroller of the United States in their comments about the current status of recognition of the Dominion of Melchizedek. Those departments/entities have no authority to determine the Status of any foreign State. Such powers reside exclusively with the State Department of the United States and similar high offices of other States.
Finally, the major source used, Quatloos has dozens of missing or dead links. To use Quatloos as the sole source of relevant, up to date, and fair analysis of a State is bias and arbitrary.
This is one way the introduction could read... It could be amended, however, the current introduction is not fact, unsupported, and should not stand if this page is going to be reflected fairly and properly.
"The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM), Is a micronation formed in the 1990's and has undergone major transformations as the current Members continue to learn, understand, and apply international law so the State can effectively and peacefully co-exist among the Family of Nations. Former Members of the Society, including the founders have been removed by the current Members of the Body-Politic and although there have been reports of fraud perpetrated by the Dominion of Melchizedek in the 90's and early 2000's, there has been no such reports since 2012 under the current administration of the DoM."
Bssmith117 (talk) 16:24, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- You are repeatedly adding a section to the lead which is both a promotional whitewash, and unsourced. You clearly have some COI with the subject of this article: your editing history spans several years, with no other edits. Just what is your connection to this group? Are you aware that WP sourcing policy applies equally to editors with "inside knowledge", and the rest of us. Andy Dingley (talk) 16:28, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- What aspects of the introduction do you consider "Promotional whitewash" and "Unsourced"? The Micronation was formed in the 90's (recognized that is), The removal of the founder of the Dominion of Melchizedek is sourced on the States Website, if you can find any allegations of fraud or illegalities of the State since 2012, then that particular statement would be proven false I suppose. The Statement about the current Members continuing to learn, understand, and apply international law to peacefully co-exist is based on learning and knowing the mindset of the current Head of State of the Dominion of Melchizedek, Prime Minister David Williams. His information is readily available on-line.
- As for "Promotional Whitewashing" and "Unsourced" content in the lead, there is no proof which substantiates the current lead on this page. I have attempted to find where this statement is made in the Quatloos article cited. There is nothing of the sort. Two wrongs do not make a right. If you can proof that the statements made by me in the lead are in error, by all means, it should be updated to reflect the facts. Just as the current lead should be updated to reflect the facts. Accusations can go both ways, which is why it is important to stick with facts and reliable sources. Bssmith117 (talk) 16:44, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- Please note that, per the manual of style, the lede should introduce and briefly summarize the article. As it currently stands it does that quite well, and there is no need to defend any of the charges within the lede.
- If there is consensus that we need to defend against some of the charges of fraud, or soften their blow, let's find independent reliable sources on that topic and write a new section about the current administration of the DoM, since 2012. Bradv 17:13, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- Please Note, per The manual of style, "The lead is the first part of the article that most people will read. For many, it may be the only section that they read". You state, the introduction does a good job with introducing the facts presented on the page, however, nowhere in the article does it state that 1) the individuals charged where not charged as Members of the Dominion of Melchizedek but rather, All individuals charged with fraud or other such criminal activities were charges as US Citizens (as they should be since those individuals were, in fact, US Citizens because they never properly naturalized into the State per the procedures laid out by the United States or international conventions. 2). The introduction is misleading because nowhere in the article cited does it make the statement which is being made in the introduction. Further, Quatloos is not an authority on which States/Societies are considered recognized or unrecognized. Quatloos is a website, not a government or an agent of the US Government or any government, regardless if they purport to be attorneys. Likewise, Other sources such as the Security and Exchange Commission and the Comptroller of the United States have no authority to determine whether or not a State has recognition or exist. Per the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (Article 3) (which the US is signatory to); "The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states. Even before recognition, the state has the right to defend its integrity and independence" 4). The Dominion of Melchizedek has been recognized by multiple countries, some of which is even cited within this page.
- ″According to the Washington Post, the Central African Republic extended diplomatic recognition to the DoM in 1993, but the Post article went on to remark, "...you get the feeling that the Central African Republic would recognize the State of Denial if it had a letterhead." An article in the Quatloos! the online anti-fraud site noted that: "Melchizedek has apparently obtained some sort of recognition from some smaller states ... all of which are notable for their corruption. Claims that the DoM has received recognition from any major government are pure lies.″
- The Washington Post was correct in its reporting that the Central African Republic extended Diplomatic Recognition to the DoM, Everything else is an opinion of the editor of the Washington Post and the editors of this page. More importantly and to the point, those comments have no bearing on the political relationship between the two States. Further, the statements credited to Quatloos is also an opinion. The Fact is that the DoM has been recognized in various capacities by various states and yet, the introduction still leads with the statement that the Dominion of Melchizedek is "unilaterally declared, internationally unrecognized micronation" (which "unrecognized" is spelled incorrectly).
- As for writing a new section about the current administration, That is preferable. However, this requires the willingness of the editors and monitors of this page to be willing to address the bias and double-minded opinions being perpetrated on the entire page and to update the entire page to reflect a more neutral and accurate history of the Dominion of Melchizedek (a video recorded history of the DoM by the two longest Members of the DoM can be found on its Official Website under the notice section). The fact is, that the Dominion of Melchizedek is recognized and since the current Head of State, David Williams has taken over the State in 2012, there has been no reports of fraud, deception, nefarious activities or the like. This should be addressed in the introduction if a reader is going to get a full picture of the micro-state and its current activities in the international community.
- As for providing a reliable source, what do you suggest? Are letters from foreign Governments thanking the Head of State of the DoM for their assistance during a health crisis considered an independent and reliable source of information? How about the many websites, interviews, and articles that speak about David Williams and his years of educating individuals in the area of international law and the principle of the Right of Self-Determination? When you are not actively out seeking press, but focused on building a State, where do you find a reliable source? The website of the Dominion of Melchizedek is not considered a reliable source, yet I wonder how many other official government websites are likewise considered unreliable sources! Bssmith117 (talk) 18:44, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- I wouldn't focus too much on the lede. As I mentioned, it is meant to summarize the article, and to do it well. We can't add any content into the lede that does not already exist in the article.
- If you feel that there is a side to this that is misunderstood or underrepresented, gather some sources and put together a draft section. No, the government slash website of DoM is not considered a reliable source, but if what you say is true then there should be newspapers or books that portray the DoM in a positive light since 2012.
- On the other hand, if such sources are unavailable, then it will be impossible to write such a section. In that case the article will likely remain as it is, a fairly accurate summary of the sources that are available. Bradv 19:00, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- You say "I wouldn't focus too much on the lede". umm, the lede is the most important part! Why wouldn't I focus on it? Did you actually read my response? The DoM has been recognized. Yet the lead, as well as other information inaccurately reports the opposite. The section under recognition even states the DoM has been recognized not only by the Central African Republic but other smaller states! This makes the lede inaccurate; not to mention double-minded and contrary to the facts presented within the article itself!
- When you say "fairly accurate", in whose opinion? I have been accused of having a POV conflict of interest, yet "fairly accurate" means nothing. Something is either accurate or it is not. With regards to recognition, I have added many links from various documents provided by foreign governments to the Dominion of Melchizedek on Treaties of Peace and Recognition, however, Those links are always taken down and I am told they are not reliable sources simply because those documents are housed on the DoM's website.
- The problem, at the end of the day, is simple. The editors of this page and the public at large are highly ignorant of international law, the Law of Nations, and how this Planet actually operates. It is not understood how Nations recognize other nations or who in a government has the authority to take such action, most people have never heard of the right of self-determination or actually exercised said right, and most are completely ignorant of their own history. This page paints the Dominion of Melchizedek in a purely negative light. It does not keep the third party sources of foreign government documents when added. It does not keep in mind that all nations/states/societies all have had checkered past, including the United States. The Founders had to fight a war. They had to borrow money and go into debt. They had to trade and get recognition from the pirates in the beginning because they couldn't get recognition from the more notable states at that time (barbary treaties). Heck, they had to completely reform their Government because the Articles of Confederation was a complete failure. This is just the facts because creating a new society is not an easy thing to do. People make mistakes just like Societies do.
- You can find documents from the DoM's website which provide sources of foreign governments recognizing the DoM. You can find Letters from Liberia as late as February of 2015 thanking the DoM for helping during a national crisis. These documents, whether Misplaced Pages wishes to acknowledge them or not, clearly show that 1) the State is recognized as a separate state by other governments, 2) the state is very much real, not a fantasy, nor an online phenomenon, and 3) the lack of news on the DoM and its activities is proof that the state, under its current administration is not involved in any activity which would cause government agents to go after its members or peak the interest of the media. It is well known that negative news is the best form of news and positive news is boring news.
- At the end of the day, these dialogues contribute to the public record of the State doing what it can to correct the misinformation and the skewed bias nature of the Misplaced Pages page known as the Dominion of Melchizedek. I am still waiting for proper answers to the questions I have put forth over the past couple of years and still waiting to see who, as an editor on this page, actually have the credentials to discuss international matters with regards to self-determination and the recognition of states/societies.
- @bradv, How much of the material, sources, and factual truths provided by the various sources which contribute to the contents of this page have you personally gone through and vetted? Bssmith117 (talk) 19:53, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- It is not Misplaced Pages's job to decide international policy, and it is not the job of individual editors to argue about international policy. It is our job to go through reliable sources, summarize them, and gather the sources together into an encyclopedia.
- From the statements you have made here and on your talk page, I'm beginning to think you are not here to help build an encyclopedia. You are here to promote the Dominion of Melchizedek, and convince people that it is a real country.
- It is not, and even if we say it is on Misplaced Pages, it still won't be. Bradv 20:40, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- I can't speak for Bradv, but in my case 100% of the existing cites and can state that they accurately support the points made in the article. I've also had a quick look, for the purposes of this discussion, at DoM's mentions in the online press 2012 onwards:
- So there's no ability to add anything about the current activities of DoM as, at best, it's morphed from an entity notable for being involved in scams to a non-notable entity. That morphing, should it be the case, does not mean the article needs to be deleted, as the historical situation is still notable. Bromley86 (talk) 20:58, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- Bradv, you mention "it is not the job of Misplaced Pages or the editors to decide international policy" I agree one hundred percent. You nor this site, have that authority or knowledge base to make such determinations (it is evident in your responses). Yet, almost immediately after your statement you follow up by making an assumption on international policy by assuming the State doesn't exist, which is an opinion not substantiated by any reliable and verifiable source. This is a violation of Misplaced Pages's policies and procedures! You don't have the right to voice your opinion. You only have the permission to add verifiable information.
- Furthermore, you are making assumptions and presumptions to my motives for engaging in the correction of facts and verifiable information presented on this page. You have proven, based on your off hand comments that you do not have a neutral point of view on this page because you keep interjecting your bias assumptions and opinons. I have maintain one firm position which is that the lede to this page is unverifiable and inaccurate not only because of the source that was cited, but because of the source presented within this article by other editors which state that a "reliable" source; Washington Post, indeed adminted that the DoM has received diplomatic recognition. Regardless of the opinion of the editor of the article sourced about the reasons the Central African Republic or any other state would engage in recognizing the DoM (diplomatically or otherwise), this is a factual event. Two facts are verifiable as cited in my previous response on the Rights and Duties of States..."The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states. Even before recognition, the state has the right to defend its integrity and independence". This is international law and is agreed to by all states. Furthermore, Article 6 of the same International treaty states "recognition is unconditional and irrevocable". I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty straight forward and specific to me. Considering the State has received communications from a foreign Government as late as February of 2015, and considering there are numerous documents from other states engaging in Treaties of Peace and Recognition, your comment that the state "still wouldn't exist" or any editors comment that the State is unrecognized is a complete lie! It is something you want to believe but does not fit the reality at hand.
- You can make whatever statement of assumption you wish about my motives, but it should be clear to any neutral party that reviews this dialogue, I am pointing my responses and my focus of facts presented on this page with third party source material that Your Government and every other Government know, understand, and abide by. I am also pointing out violations of Wikipedias own policies regarding verifiable sources. "All material in Misplaced Pages mainspace, including everything in articles, lists and captions, must be verifiable.".
- @Bromley86 - This also includes @Bradv; Just because someone writes and article and they are considered third-party from the Subject of the page and Misplaced Pages, does not mean that the Source is accurate in what they present. Bromley86, you cited numerous articles that were posted after 2012, yet all these articles merely mention the name Dominion of Melchizedek! Seriously,
- your first Article references a woman who has had no affliation with the DoM prior to 2006. Anything she has done personally, does not automatically tie to the State! Who knows why this particular individual decided to write this article in 2013, 3 years after the event allegedly occured?
- Your Second article is a blogger who decided to write a historical peice on other micronations because of an indivdiual trying to claim a track of land for his daughter! (more than likely her source for the DoM was this page). It is a one paragraph, mentioning facts she found interesting!
- Your Third article has got to be a joke if you are including this as a reliable source. The only mention of the Dominion of Melchizedek is the fact that this man "Alleged to have ties to the Dominion of Melchizedek". Ok. People alleged things all the time. Doesn't mean they are true! That is why in a court of law, allegations must be verified by facts!
- Your Fourth article again has only a mere mention of the Dominion of Melchizedek in relation to a group attempting to exercise its right of Self-Determination, unfortunately, they are following the path of the DoM early on which is the lack of understanding "naturalization of citizens".
- Your Fifth article only has this mention "scams (like the Dominion of Melchizedek, which sold fake passports at inflated prices)". Of course, this allegation is address in the history of the DoM put out by the State itself. The man who was arrested for creating fake passports was not only caught creating fake passports for the DoM but multiple nations. He was not a "member" of the DoM nor any other state he was selling passports of! Criminals don't care about things like that! There are thousands of people who sell fake passports of any state to any person dumb enough to pay for them.
- Your Sixth article only states this..." In addition, he is said to have shares of a fictional bank in the "Dominion of Melchizedek" ok. where is that proof? Again, people can and will say anything. Just because something is said, does not make it true.
- Your final two articles 7 mentions the DoM in passing and 8 is a link that goes to a subsription page which is a violation of wikipedias external link policy..notabley number 6.
- Bottom line is that I keep hearing about reliable sources, crediable sources. yet you present these articles which are a joke at best. If anything, it shows that people who write about microstates will continue to write about the Dominion of Melchizedek based on its history because they have no other information to go by. By and large, it is due to the information on this page since anytime someone hears about the Dominion of Melchizedek, they will look it up on Misplaced Pages.
- I see you took the citation down off the lede. That is the first step. however, per the policies on Misplaced Pages and lede to pages, "As a general rule of thumb, a lead section should contain no more than four well-composed paragraphs and be carefully sourced as appropriate." As the Lede stands, it is one blanket statement that has no verifiable source. The lede should also "Like in the body of the article itself, the emphasis given to material in the lead should roughly reflect its importance to the topic, according to reliable, published sources.". Since there is no reliable, published source verifying the lede, it stands to reason, it must be changed and updated to reflect an accurate discription of the topic at hand. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bssmith117 (talk • contribs) 22:40, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
- I wasn't providing them as references in articles, merely pointing out that there's been no mention in news sources of the DoM in a manner which would support the sorts of changes that you would like to make. Thank you for making my point in detail!
- Regarding the Lead, it's fine as it is:
- The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM), is a unilaterally declared, internationally unrecognised micronation - all mentioned in the Body and referenced, with the exception of the actual word "micronation". I'll have a look at making sure that's in somewhere.
- known for facilitating large scale banking fraud in many parts of the world during the 1990s and early 2000s - again, covered in the body and reffed, although I see none of our current refs/points relate to the naughties, so I'll remove that part. Bromley86 (talk) 02:46, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
Fraud
Just visited DOM's website. A purported "photograph of Melchizedek" looks like an island in Fiji! (Cannot identify which one it is — but I'll try to find out) David Cannon (talk) 10:07, 30 December 2016 (UTC)
Johnski Redux
It appears once again Johnski and his meatpuppets have started to push their propaganda on the DOM article. Please be aware this went through arbitration many years ago and the result was the banning of of Johnski and ALL of his known meatpuppets. This page can be semi-protected by an administrator and new meatpuppets can be banned. Davidpdx (talk) 13:47, 27 June 2019 (UTC)
- Diffs? Andy Dingley (talk) 15:06, 27 June 2019 (UTC)
- Andy, I'm not sure what you mean. Davidpdx (talk) 13:11, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
- Where are these "meatpuppet edits"? Who is "Johnski"? Andy Dingley (talk) 13:16, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
- They are the edits being done by unregistered users. Johnski was (is) someone who is directly involved in DOM who along with other people are making a concerted effort to add unsubstantiated claims. https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Johnski/Proposed_decision Davidpdx (talk) 01:54, 29 June 2019 (UTC)
- Where are these "meatpuppet edits"? Who is "Johnski"? Andy Dingley (talk) 13:16, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
- Andy, I'm not sure what you mean. Davidpdx (talk) 13:11, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
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