Tha e coltach gu bheil iomadh companaidh chliùiteach siorcais agus sràide titheach air an fhacal State nan ainmean...mar Welfare State International, No Fit State Circus, an Russian & Chinese State Circus, gun luaidh air a' Tollcross State Circus a-nise ann an Dùn Èideann.

Thàinig a’ bheachd airson Stàit Neo-eisimeileach an t-Sonais thugam agus mi an làthair aig bùthan-obrach Cluich Sràide le Spraoi, fear de na companaidhean ealain sràide as fheàrr ann an Èireann, ann am Port Láirge mu 2005... Shaoil mi gur e deagh bheachd a bh’ ann airson pìos de chluich sràide..mar sin dh’èirich an tiotal... is thàinig na pìosan bàrdachd is sgriopt gu h-ìosal a-steach orm is Èire an impis latha na dunach dhan eaconomaidh aca. Tha Stàt Neo-Eisimeileach Sonais cuideachd mar sheòrsa gearr-iomradh air am faireachdainn sin a gheibh duine ma bhitheas iad fortanach gu leòr airson a bhith air a chuairteachadh le sàrealain sràide no ann an co-theagsa fèill sràide, far am bithidh àite àbhaisteach agad a-nise na h-àite àlainn làn aoibhneis, ciùil, fèisteis is ealain, is thu a' coiseachd nan sràidean saor bho chàraichean is luchd fèisteis is ealain ann airson do chur ann an deagh-shùnnd.. Ged 's mathaid nach mair e airson ùine fhada, bithidh an stàt eanchainne sonais sin, mar rud sona beagan amach bhon bheatha àbhaisteach, na amas dhomhsa a chruthrachadh ris an obair agam...

Dìreach air son cùisean a dhèanamh gu tur soilleir, chan eil buntanas sam bith idir aig an ainm 'Stàt Neo-eisimeileach Sonais' ris an iomairt air Neo-eisimeileachd dha Alba, a-nise no aig ùine sam bith bho stèidhich mi an làrach-lìn seo ann an 2006 - nuair a bha mi fhathast a' fuireachd ann am Baile Àtha Cliath is gun smuain sam bith agam gun ann an Alba a bhithinn an ceann 7 bliadhna... is ainm air a' làrach-lìn agam a bhitheadh gu math nas erm... inteannaiche na mar a bha mi an dùil gum bithidh gu bràth. Ma gheibh sibh grèim air fear de na bileagan agam, no ma fhaiceas sibh mi ann am bùth-obrach is an lèine-t obrach agam orm, chì sibh cuideachd na faclan 'It's a State of Mind' air an sgrìobhadh ann an graifìtì gorm aig bun a' lògò – rud a tha mi an dòchas a nì cùisean gu tur soilleir.

Ge bè dè an dòigh a thèid cùisean ris a' reifreann ge-ta, tha mi an dòchas, ann an dòigh air choireigin, gun tèid againn uile 'stàt inntean neo-eisimeileachonais' a ruighinn... ach s'màthaid gum bithidh na faclan gu h-ìosal a' ciallachadh rudeigin do fheadhainn, ge bè dè an dòigh a thèid cùisean...

The Independent State of Happiness Manifesto

As it rains and pours outside,
we fight for a better mind inside
striving for a sun in ourselves that will never fade
A state not bound by its economic sadness
but by the strength of its spirit in a day of darkness
A break from broken hearts and dreams
A state in which our will for happiness is greater than our leaders' failures
No European Union but the union of hearts and minds that makes us human
While we yet live, let us kick and scream and come through a state of madness to overcome the sadness

They can take my job and they can take my home
but they will never take away my independent state of happiness

At the end of the day, I shall stand and see the sunset shining
and behold, an Independent State of Happiness.

Ariel Killick, 2007/2013

In Breaking News - A Statement from the Leader of the Anti-Depression Resistance Movement

"Obviously we're very concerned people might think we're just taking the piss in setting up an independent state, but nothing could be further from the truth. We're indisputedly serious and have successfully (and quite artfully) jumped through all the required diplomatic hoops - we obviously did prefer Aisle number 4 in the checkout queue at Lidl but unfortunately there were some insurmountable technical issues, such as they threatened to force us to actually do our shopping there & eat their sausages for a week. We were also interested in our local dole queue but again we faced competition from certain individuals pushing a synthetic from of happiness that we're very much against. We advocate a form of happiness that ideally doesn't endanger the liver, the lungs, future seratonin levels, your ability to hold down a job or an intelligent conversation. We're very proud of our allied forces, the Samaritans, they're doing some really sterling work on the front lines, dealing with very serious situations and we would encourage people to support them as much as possible. Some of the resistance members have suffered serious losses and are quite battle-scarred but this just firms our resolve to increase endeavours for the resistance movement.

We fervently believe in the power of positive affirmation, breaking down the patterns of social isolation, the hidden healing powers of a heartfelt hug and refreshing tea in a lovely hot mug. We also give out lollipops. Not exactly the most fundamental part of our anti-depression resistance movement, the lollipops, but they do taste quite nice. We rather like hugs too, but we have had to draw the line at kisses unfortunately, which is where the strawberry lollipops come in handy...

Of course it is quite possible to set up one's own independent state of happiness, say, in an auspicious area of your conservatory for example, or indeed you could get to know your neighbour better by suggesting setting up an joint independent state in his or her front garden! As long as you don't invite a diplomatic delegation from North Korea for tea, it's a guaranteed winner! (Nuclear warheads do so squash the petunias..)

Obviously though, one can't be in a state of happiness all the time - the many rogue states of madness are constantly on the attack - on the various waves of this sea of life however, one can always put on one's inner rubber floaties and practise some preliminary paddling before taking on the deeper seas...

How successful is the state? Well we're happy to say our happy smiley hit rate has averaged some 12 ¾ grins a minute - but only because some people's smiles look a little like grimaces and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference... we hope we got a smile from you..."

San eadar-àm ge-tà, dè ma stèidhicheas tu Stàit Neo-eisimeileach an t-Sonais airson corra uair a thìde nad sgìre fhèin? Cuir brath thugam airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh...ach bidh feum againn air àrainn de 3m x 3m agus air ar n-Oifigear Inntrigidh fhèin (agus mòran a bharrachd!) airson daoine fhàilteachadh don Stàit ùr-stèidhichte. Air là brèagha air choireigin..cuiridh mi Stàit Neo-eisimeileach an t-Sonais air bhonn anns a’ chiudha pàighidh aig Aldi..no sa chiudha dola...no àiteigin air an latha dhorch, fhuar ud san Fhaoilleach nuair a gheibh sinn uile ar cunntasan cairt-creideis....

 © Ariel Killick 2014

 ™ Stàt Neo-Eisimeileach Sonais / Independent State of Happiness It's a State of Mind

San eadar-àm ge-tà, dè ma stèidhicheas tu Stàit Neo-eisimeileach an t-Sonais airson corra uair a thìde nad sgìre fhèin? Cuir brath thugam airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh...ach bidh feum againn air àrainn de 3m x 3m agus air ar n-Oifigear Inntrigidh fhèin (agus mòran a bharrachd!) airson daoine fhàilteachadh don Stàit ùr-stèidhichte. Air là brèagha air choireigin..cuiridh mi Stàit Neo-eisimeileach an t-Sonais air bhonn anns a’ chiudha pàighidh aig Aldi..no sa chiudha dola...no àiteigin air an latha dhorch, fhuar ud san Fhaoilleach nuair a gheibh sinn uile ar cunntasan cairt-creideis....