Sidewalk Chalk is not a Crime
Last night a group of peace-loving activists decided to spread their message using sidewalk chalk, a medium constantly used on the sidewalks of downtown Keene, and which can be removed by a light rainfall or lawn sprinkler. However, according to the always factual Keene Sentinel, when used to apply pro-peace messages to pro-violence monuments, this once harmless and not even semi permanent art form takes on the properties of vandalism.
Central Square defaced
By Kyle Jarvis
Sentinel StaffPublished: Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Civil War Monument in Central Square was defaced with political messages.
The monument, which features a statue of a soldier, was discovered this morning to have been drawn on with sidewalk chalk.“Obama lied,” and “stop paying taxes” were written in chalk, along with “taxes>theft” and peace symbols.
A peace symbol was also drawn on one of the cannons in the park, and a fuse box had the words “stop paying taxes.”
Several other statements were also written in chalk on the sidewalks in the park, including “innocent people don’t belong in cages,” and “no victim, no crime.”
It’s unclear whether the messages written in the area of the monument are related to those written on the sidewalk, or whether the same people were involved.
The chalk was washed off the monument this morning.
See the article here.
Here are some photos of the beautiful activist artwork that brightened up Keene Central Square. More can be found at the Keene Central Square’s Nightcap Facebook Page. Here’s a direct link to all the photos.
Comments
61 Comments on Sidewalk Chalk is not a Crime
I guess this would be a more appropriate place for me to put my comment … as much as I support many of the messages that were written, I don’t support chalking in this way. It is, at least, not very considerate of the person who has to clean it up.
It’s obviously nothing near the severity of spraypaint, which is far more time consuming and expensive to remove, but it is still vandalism.
Inconsiderate behavior drives people away, rather than attracting them.
the person who had to clean it up was paid to do so with money stolen at the point of a gun.
i don’t have much sympathy for the person paid with stolen money to do the job of a sprinkler.
Nice. They do make chalk in spray form, which might be an easier medium for these artists to work with.
LOL….oh no…its chaulk….it will wash away first rain……i hope this happens everywhere!!!!!!!
Actually, I believe park maintenance is done largely by volunteers.
And, by this logic, it’d be a-ok to use spray paint, or to tear down the gazebo entirely, because after all, it was paid for with extorted money. Do you think the results of those behaviors would be positive?
It’s sidewalk chalk, after all, it’s not the end of the world — but I do encourage people to be more circumspect in how they choose to behave. Behaving in ways most people consider inconsiderate does not attract people to pro-liberty folks or positions.
People are already heavily biased towards the state — liberty activists need to be that much more blameless, in order for people to clearly see the injustices we’re trying to highlight.
Anyhow, I’ve said my piece, time to let the matter drop 
Sorry, but this is stupid and childish. This does nothing to promote liberty and only tarnishes the image of FreeKeene. It’s erasable graffiti.
Would you do this in an anarchic society? Please people, think with your heads and live free and ignore the government. It’s not as publicity generating as this crap, but the farther the pendulum swings in favor of positive publicity, so can it swing farther back in favor of negative publicity. I understand we’re about to hit panic mode in this country, but nothing of quality comes out of more quantity.
first off: it’s chalk. the same thing i have seen almost all the businesses up and down main street use on the “city sidewalks” at some point or another. it’s obviously not the CHALK that people have a problem with, it’s the speech. so if everyone could stop being distracted by the medium, and discuss the real issue: people are bothered by free speech, not sidewalk chalk.
second, i’m not concerned with doing PR for statists anymore. i would rather get more people who support freedom to come here, or to come out from hiding in keene. that’s who i’m catering to, and i’m fine with that.
so i didn’t get the statist vote on this one. good.
Smeg,
So good to see you out from under Sam. Is it true that you don’t do the dishes well, or is Sam just extra particular? It must be hard to live with an unstable anarcho-fascist.
On one hand, I see that this is another poke at the “public property” lie perpetuated by the government gang to fool people into thinking they’ve “donated” their money towards useful goods and services for “everyone” rather than the reality of being robbed of their hard-earned cash which is then spent on whatever the bureaucrats deem useful for their differing agendas (like propagating more deceptions that lull the enslaved populace into thinking they’re truly free).
On the other hand, I don’t like the idea of vandalism even if it’s erasable and/or the victim is the state.
I don’t really know how to feel about this one other than that I’m not thrilled with it nor totally turned off by it.
Regardless, I do hope that at some point, more constructive activism is performed that shows activists in a good light instead of being easily bent into a negative one. Far too often, it appears that activists are just walking right into the traps set up by the statists or even ones of their own making. Kind of difficult to reach out to others and educate them if every thing they hear about you is that you’re a jerk, a vandal, a drunk, a nudist, or whatever else that’s being spread around.
I wonder if people would get this upset if a little girl used chalk to draw a hop scotch board, or if someone decided to draw some flowers?
It is definitely the message that the haters are afraid of, not the medium used and not the “damage” caused by the chalk.
peace. love. anarchy
I wonder what would happen if the chalk art was “God Bless America!” or, “These brave soldiers died for our freedom!”, or “I love my teacher!”
Sorry, I can’t do this any more. It was hard enough to come up with those.
If there have been repeated incidents of chalking in central square, expressing any idea, then it has been demonstrated to be a public forum according to the US Constitution. When a type of speech reaches this status, there can be no restrictions put on the type of speech allowed, only upon the time, place, or manner of such speech. And since chalk has been used in the past, it seems that the manner of speech can’t be questioned without a flat ban on chalking.
So, according to their own law, this was not vandalism, it was pure free speech. And if the statists don’t like it, they need to ban chalking. Not that that would be a moral or effective solution, but that would be the only way to call what these FKers were doing “vandalism”.
Based on the coverage that this got – I’d say: Chalking = effective activism.
Experiment:
Chalk the statue with pro-state messages and see if it gets press.
“God Bless America”
“Support our Troops”
“Blood for the Blood-God”
“Pay Your Taxes Hippie”
etc.
ASSWIPE PAUL writes: “I don’t support chalking in this way. It is, at least, not very considerate of the person who has to clean it up.”"…Well, Paul, you asswipe, NOBODY HAS TO “CLEAN IT UP”…it’s raining right now, Mother Nature & Time are “cleaning it up.” So free expression by chalk doesn’t meet your arrogant approval? TOUGH SHIT, ASSWIPE! And, Mr. KNOW-IT-ALL Paul, do you know that the Gazebo was recently painted by an EAGLE SCOUT, for an EAGLE SCOUT Project…///…. …///This bullshit “outrage”, from ALL you ASSWIPES, about both the chalk-talk, & the City Council Drinking game, shows me that YOU KIDS just can’t handle reality. GROW UP, KIDS! What’s it gonna take? Some poor kid gets attacked or beaten up by Joe 6-Pack, who got his panties in a bunch over the SLANT-in-HELLs’ over-hyped tabloid journalism??? Some fucking “patriot” goes postal with a gun??? Is THAT the kind of shit you all wanna see go down? If so, just keep freaking out over NOTHING! FUCKING NOTHING. chalk. fucking chalk. our troops are getting killed by IED’s in Afghanistan, and YOU ASSWIPES gotta bitch about chalk…I Guess there are no SIDEWALK ARTISTS in Liberty-Land…
KeeneNative-while using differant words ( I try to be at least halfway polite,asshole!) 
- this is the point I have tried to express in many posts-there is much more wrong with the world than the great injustice that is Keene. I am not sure how to even try to end it, but to ignore it is too hard.
How does the Eagle Scout feel about his painting project being drawn upon?
Hopefully this was not the work of smeg,her design work seems much better on the ‘net. And I do get tired of hearing that all tax money is taken at gunpoint.Have you ever looked up the word ‘hyperbole’? To assume that every dollar was actually taken by an armed gunman is ridiculous. When did the gunman come to your house? And yes,Obama lied,but it wasn’t about the Civil War. I am sure that was over before he was elected. —bil PS-KeeneNative-I still owe you for the royalties I haven’t forgotten!
And I do get tired of hearing that all tax money is taken at gunpoint.Have you ever looked up the word ‘hyperbole’? To assume that every dollar was actually taken by an armed gunman is ridiculous. When did the gunman come to your house?
Bil,
Do you deny that this isn’t how it works?
1. Decide you actually own your property.
2. Refuse to pay taxes.
3. The government sells your house.
4. You decide to stay, it is YOUR house.
5. The sheriffs department shows up to evict you.
6. You decide to stay, it is YOUR house.
7. The sheriffs department decides to boot in your front door to extract you.
8. You decide to stay, it is YOUR house.
9. The sheriffs department decides to taser you as you’re obviously not “cooperating.”
10. You decide to defend yourself, it is YOUR house. You grab a firearm.
11. The sheriffs department KILLS YOU.
At any point, any of that can change .it is not automatic that the money is taken at gunpoint. So why say so?? And those steps are not always in that order. And anything after your step 7 is pure conjecture on your part. Worse case scenario.
You live in your world,I live in mine. —bil
Bil,
Were you not paying attention to Ed and Elaine Brown??????????????
It absolutely is not conjecture. What do you think cops do when people point guns at them?
quickie: sorry for the confusion, bil…the Eagle Scout’s Gazebo painting was NOT chalked…more later…Yes, the rain has washed the last of the chalk away…it’s GONE, as you read these words…some big deal, huh???…
This is one of those few times where the Keene Sentinel outclasses Free Keene. Hopefully these kids and misguided adults grow up at some point. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
Outclasses?
Who are you, Ron Burgundy?
I don’t know the history of the park, but I am sure that some of the items there were donated. There also had to be an artist that sculped the fountain and the statue. I am sure these persons didn’t want these items to be used as a chalk board. I don’t have a problem with the messages, I just have a problem with the way they are being presented.
Chalk is vandalism. Defacing any type of property is vandalism.
Who are you trying to win over with this tactic?
I can understand the public outcry regarding “desecrating hallowed ground.” America is, afterall, a war culture. We have been constantly at war or preparing for war since the beginning. We are inculcated in school and by the media to “honor the troops and the war dead”.
But should we really do so? People who kill innocent people should not be honored, even if they did so because they had been brainwashed by the state. There have been many conscientious objectors throughout US history who saw through the lies. Honoring the troops and the war dead is just promoting the lie that it is acceptble to kill other people when you are not actually defending your life at that particular moment. This actually deceives more young people into going to war and killing and dying.
The honorable thing to do is expose lies. Keep chalking!!!
Snowdog,
If you don’t like seeing chalk on common property maybe you should fix the injustice the artists are chalking about.
Innocent people are being kidnapped and caged by members of the city. This needs to be addressed.
I’d like to see chalk on all public property until aggression on peaceful people ends.
We will not be ignored anymore. People have a right of redress of grievances. The government has been petitioned, that didn’t work. Now it’s time to bring the petition to the people, with chalk!
Everyone owns common property. Everyone has a right to use it. It’s not vandalism if you have a right to use the property, it’s art.
Chalkers for justice !! That would make a good bumper sticker. If everyone did as they wanted with public property, how long would it last? Suppose I felt like watering the sidewalk while you were chalking? Woukldn’t that be my right? Don’t you think it might piss you off?
Yeah,and fuck the veterans,what did they ever do for me?? Remember,it is killing and fighting that has made this country what it is today!! —bil
Oh,yeah,the Browns.That was a bit more than not paying your property taxes to save your house. Besides,their protest was quite effective,and most protests have a price. Awareness of the unfairness of the system will not be achieved overnight. —bil
Oh,yeah,the Browns.That was a bit more than not paying your property taxes to save your house.
Yeah, they ramped up the violent rhetoric… but other than that, is the same thing. Morally, I think use of force to defend oneself against the aggression of anyone is an acceptable act. In reality, I think using violence to defend oneself against the state is a stupid act. The violence the Brown’s spewed made them look like the violent crazy sociopaths.. when in reality the federal government are the violent crazy sociopaths. The Brown’s were just an older married couple who wanted to be left alone.
Pay taxes… or go to court… don’t go to court, get raided.
The truth is, the Brown’s didn’t harm ANYONE. They only wished to defend their OWN property… which the government seized out from under them.
Had they defended themselves against the feds with a gun, what do you think would have happened?
Suppose I felt like watering the sidewalk while you were chalking? Woukldn’t that be my right?
It would be your right, I might start use paint to make it last a little longer, if you did that.
I might climb on places that are harder for you to reach when you aren’t around.
But chalk works for now…
“It would be your right, I might start use paint to make it last a little longer, if you did that. ”
But isn’t this the logical progression of the main argument being presented by the supporters? They claim it’s public property, and therefore they consider it their right to act like the owners of the property. This implies they can destroy the property if they wish. Whether it’s chalk, paint, or acid, it’s all the same as far as that argument goes.
Hmmm… this one is hard for me to get behind 100%. I don’t take issue with chalking plain old sidewalks and paved areas. However, I do feel it is inappropriate to chalk the statue, plaque, equipment, etc (especially any surfaces that are vertical or otherwise don’t get direct rainfall).
I would encourage the activists who spend so much time in the square to get in contact/involved with the volunteer group that maintains it. That could lead to a better idea of what those that care for the space consider appropriate. Perhaps activists could volunteer to improve the square, and in return get “permission” to place temporary art pieces or signs informing the public of those activists who have been jailed, their “crimes”, and the length and (tax) costs of their imprisonment. I know how most feel about having to ask for permission to use public property as they wish, but this would be more of a respectful (to the volunteers) gesture intended to improve public attitudes towards FK.
I agree Jefferson.
P.S. I liked your Kentucky resolution.
It’s interesting that the people who equate chalking the sidewalk with a “crime” are the same ones who have no problem with locking peaceful folks in cages to extort money out of them.
since the messages looked good
didn’t hurt anyone
didn’t destroy anything good looking
and had a good message
I thought they were a great idea. Thanks for writing them.
I would also support free keene folks if they tore down the civil war statue
I couldn’t find the direct link in this post so here it is.
http://www.keenesentinel.com/articles/2010/08/13/news/local/free/id_409420.txt
My God, this is normal activism in my neck of the woods, and in fact is done by almost everyone (political or not). Most of it is on the college campus, but you do see some of this spill out into the city sidewalks. OH NOES! Someone chalked some controversial statements! Those horrible Free Keeners, what will we ever do?!
The Browns are criminals and would have killed and forced their own violence on others if they werent stopped. Remember, bombs were found on their property.
I know, reality…and you guys here dont like it do you.
The Browns are criminals and would have killed and forced their own violence on others if they werent stopped. Remember, bombs were found on their property.
I know, reality…and you guys here dont like it do you.
John,
Who, in their entire lives, did they hurt? I think Ed had a conviction from like 20 years ago or something… but Elaine was a respected state licensed dentist.
Yes, they had weapons and bombs on their own property. Their unequivocal declaration was that their weapons and bombs were to defend themselves from being caged like animals for not paying taxes.
Other than professing to defend themselves against being kidnapped…. can yon tell me who Ed and Elaine harmed? What makes them criminals in your mind?
And John… what your position is on this matter is precisely what the government would like you to think: these people are violent and belong in cages. The government is the violent ones though.
The one true issue that I wish to address is the myth that we own our home. When I came to this realization some time ago it’s just sad. Depending on how one reacts, the way Bradley invisioned the course of events, is pretty much my vision too. If one must continue to pay for something, then you do not own, you’re just renting.
Michael,
The one true issue that I wish to address is the myth that we own our home. When I came to this realization some time ago it’s just sad.
Excellent to have someone else here who understands this!
I’ve been present when the Sheriff’s department does this to someone: kick them out of their own home for failing to pay taxes.
I’ve never seen someone defend themselves against the Sheriff’s department’s forceful eviction, but you’d better believe that if they had tried to defend themselves both the deputies executing the eviction and I (who was there as assistance) would have returned fire.
You cannot defend yourself with violence against the violence of the government. If you do, you’re dead…. and the government will spin it that you were a whacko. People will believe it too… just look at John’s opinion a few comments up.
I remember a long lecture about Carl Drega at the police academy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Drega
What Carl did was horrific… he violently took human life. Why did he do it? Because the government screwed with his freedom to deal with his own property as if it actually belonged to him. He snapped. Everyone has a snapping point, I think.
Carl should have never hurt other human beings…. and neither should have the judges, code enforcement officers, and police officers who hurt him (and continue to hurt countless other individuals every single day).
The Earth doesn’t have to be flat anymore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLCEXtpTNYU
I think that people are more upset with the fact that Free Keeners chalked up the square than just the simple fact that it was chalked. I’ve seen chalk on the sidewalks all up and down main street. How come those incidents didn’t make it into the paper. Why wasn’t there public outcry those times?
The human condition is war.Look at how many years of peace there have been compared to those of war. War is politics by other means.I think Bismark said something like this. And why would you decry the use of force to defend yourself against unjust agression.Note that according to forum rules,I am not advocating it.But if the ‘patriots’ of 1776 hadn’t done so,we would all still be speaking English today!
Sometimes the acts of government force people to act in the only way they believe is left to them. Carl Drega was one. Earlier this year,I was getting a ride to LAX,and was talking to a friend about this.I predicted that it was only a matter of time before someone that was fed up with the system ,an American,flew a plane into either a federal building or financial center.Within 5 days,someone flew into the IRS center. It gets dangerous when someone has nothing left to lose. (Don’t try this at home)
thinkliberty- there is no place on that common I couldn’t climb to, But have no interest in undoing any grafitti you may write,I will leave that to the volunteers,or the well paid city employees, using extorted tax money. They waste so much, a little more doesn’t bother me!
As far as any government reaction to resistance or incovering malfeasance,you should read the official CIA paper on this, calling someone crazy is one of the first things they use. In fact,the tin-foil hat method is referanced. Many other interesting methods, but it is classified. Other agencies use the same tricks.
Nice to see the current batch of recent war veterans chime in-where was your concience then, or is there a time limit on hindsight?? —bil
The human condition is war.Look at how many years of peace there have been compared to those of war. War is politics by other means.I think Bismark said something like this. And why would you decry the use of force to defend yourself against unjust agression
The individual human condition is peace. Social interaction always brings the possibility of conflict, hence a solid framework is necessary to keep the peace. The Philosophy of Liberty is that framework.
And no one here decries defensive force, only force that is *initiated*. Certainly they might suggest that using defensive force on an elephant when you are but a grasshopper is a no-win situation but that’s just common sense. Elephants and grasshoppers do not mix.
Yes,individually,the condition is peace.I have been home all day and no violence yet.But as you point out,social interaction always brings out the possibility of conflict. History will show that if there is a possability,there is more often a probability.Talking nations and groups of people. And there was a lot of decrying of defensive force earlier in the thread. It may be futile defensive force, but sometimes that is all there is. Believe it or not, there are some times when a political conviction is worth putting your life on the line for. Even if the odds are against you. I hate to use the example of MLK, it is over-used here. But what if folks had said ‘Gee,Martin, is it really worth it? You could get hurt doing this shit!’ Or the coal strikers in W.Va years ago.There are countless examples throughout history. Look at the Easter uprising in Ireland,1916. Did any of them really think they would prevail at that point? But did they go anyway,hoping it would awaken more people to the injustices? Not all happy endings. But beginnings. —bil
But as you point out,social interaction always brings out the possibility of conflict. History will show that if there is a possability,there is more often a probability.Talking nations and groups of people.
Dissent is the price you pay for individuality. The more voices in the symphony straying from the song, the more cacophonous it becomes. The mistake of statists is that they think uncompromising force is the solution, that if they threaten enough, assault enough or kill enough of the dissenters, they can create their ideal vision of order and peace. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In contrast, those who choose the path of liberty seek to sing their own songs, not shout down the songs of others, and perform duets, trios, quartets and so on to gain mutually positive results. A far more productive, peaceful and harmonious method to achieve the same goal.
I hate to use the example of MLK, it is over-used here. But what if folks had said ‘Gee,Martin, is it really worth it? You could get hurt doing this shit!’
I’m not sure how this relates to the conversation. Not that I’m an expert on MLK but I’m unaware of MLK running around with an Uzi or kung fu kicking racist ninjas in the chest or anything else violent, defensively or offensively. As I understand it, he was quite the contrary, being a pacifist like his hero Gandhi.
Saying no to someone else’s actions against you or not cooperating with their attempt to harm you is not aggression. It is defense.
Yeah,I got carried away with that one! Although there was one of those blaxploitation movies from years ago where the hero acted sort of like that! LOL. —bil
This “movement” is almost as viable and serious as PETA. Free Fishkill! I think ya’ll should focus on the topless cuties aspect, you really had something with that.
People Eating Tasty Animals??? What kind of problem do you have with PETA?? —bil
slayerboy on Thu, 12th Aug 2010 5:17 pm
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Sorry, but this is stupid and childish. This does nothing to promote liberty and only tarnishes the image of FreeKeene. It’s erasable graffiti.
Would you do this in an anarchic society?
Um, no, dude, there would be no government to protest in this fashion in an anarchic society…
Um, no, dude, there would be no government to protest in this fashion in an anarchic society…
In an anarchic society, the land (or portions of it) would actually be owned by individuals i.e. no “public property” illusion to even spark a protest let alone the government theft angle.
So someone would actually own the gazebo and park,and if you drew on it,you would get punched. Then you would have something to protest. No matter what type of society there is , someone is unhappy. —bil
1/2 way through this looo–oong post, SOMEBODY shoulda’ walked it over to the Forum…..Glad to see you recognize the Royalties that are owed to my Dad, bil!…That’s why it’s called a “PROMISE-ory Note”!…Ever heard of the “Shadow Project”???…every year, “they” would go around and make chalk outlines of peoples’ bodies lying in various “poses” on the sidewalk…(“they” usually didn’t use actual people, just drew chalk outline shapes…same thing…).So, next morning, folks saw the impression of bodies scattered around…It was always around August 6-10~or so…It was a memorial-type protest against nuclear weapons, around the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Anniversary…Several years, it DID get significant Sentinel coverage, when it happened…Just like now, some knee-jerk bureaucraps&do-gooders/goody-2-shoes/stick-up-their-butts type folks came out and howled in protest…&Most of the rest of us just sat back & enjoyed the brief show…this is just more of the same ole’ same ole’.same ole’…knjr…..
The “free expression” that your group did in Central Square was vandalism. It doesn’t matter if it was done with sidewalk chalk, spray paint, or blood. Some people defaced a statue dedicated to Veterans and deceased local soldiers that served in the Civil War. To even think that the desecration of the memory of someone who fought for their country is harmless is insane.
Personally I don’t like the kids that chalk up the sidewalk downtown, I feel it makes the downtown area look cheap and dirty. To chalk up Central Square also makes it look cheap and dirty.
And just in case you didn’t know, the money for the statue, the fountain and the gazebo came from donations from people, rich and poor. I personally donated $50 to build the fountain and $100 for the gazebo. I am hardly rich, but I managed to find a way to make my donations because I care about Keene. If I could form a “protective agency” to make sure that Central Square and downtown Keene would remain free of senseless vandals and immature partiers trashing the Square and Main Street, I would. However I will leave this duty to the (rather inneffective) Keene Police Department and save my money making my home safe and free from misguided antisocial protest groups.
“Some people defaced a statue dedicated to those who chose to kill or die in one brutal conflict or another, but especially the Civil War. To even think of desecrating the memory of someone who fought for the various nationalist agendas of their era’s politicians under the guise of patriotism is insane.”
Fixed that for you, no charge.
KN,Jr.-several years ago in Brattleboro,there was a ‘die-in’,where people lay down in the streets and sidewalks,and the chalk outlines were made. I didn’t care about that,but it did bugger up the traffic.So I went into Bakers Bookstore and bought some chalk,then drew happy faces,belly buttons,and clothes on the outlines. Somehow that was not right,and several of the protesters got mad,and asked a cop to make me stop. However,I had as much right to draw as they did.
Drawing or writing on the sidewalk doesn’t bother me,it is on the statue and gazebo.Even little kids draw on the sidewalk and no one cares. —bil
Keene Native JR- where is KN Sr.?? I have his royalties check,in the form of a ten dollar gift certificate from Fritz fries. He mentioned once that he like the place-me too! How do I get it to him?? If he/you go on the forum side,there is a message place, nothing here in the blog spot. —bil MMMM -fries!
@ Zeus:
You are an idiot. The Civil War was fought for many reasons, but the primary reason was for Freedom for slaves. If you and your little band of pretend Freedom Fighters can’t understand that people died so others could gain Freedom, then maybe all of you should think twice about your little movement and about what you really stand for. Being Free People means that you are willing to stand up for Freedom, and die for that same Freedon. It does not mean you can sit in central Square in the nude drinking beer and smoking bong hits while other, braver people do the dirty work for you.
If this Zeus person is a representative sample of your group, then all of you are idiots and can go to hell!
I don’t agree with chalking anything but the sidewalk, and while I do support wisely chosen civil disobedience to bad laws, I don’t support being inconsiderate to others.
I do think there were better ways to end slavery than a massive war. Many countries were able to do so. While the motives of many northern soldiers were no doubt to defend slaves, the motivations of Lincoln were not — he stated as much — and while the motives of southern soldiers may have been for independence, the purpose of that independence was largely to abuse innocents.
There was no pure good cause in the civil war, and while I do consider the civil war tragic — over 500,000 dead, I’m obviously very glad slavery was ended.
And I do agree with bravely standing up for the rights of others — although bravery does not always take the form of war. Consider the bravery of Gandhi, MLK, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, or others. This is the kind of bravery I think is appropriate for our time.
You are an idiot. The Civil War was fought for many reasons, but the primary reason was for Freedom for slaves.
Nationalist malarky and rewritten history spoonfed by cartoons and public schools.
The primary reason the Civil War was fought was because the South wanted to secede from the North and Abe Lincoln was willing to sacrifice 600,000 of his fellow Americans to stop them from going their own way. Only 2 years into the war did he free the slaves and he did it as a tactic to hurt the South, not because he cared so much about ending slavery. Get the facts and stop listening to the Bubblegum versions provided by the state indoctrination centers.
If you and your little band of pretend Freedom Fighters can’t understand that people died so others could gain Freedom, then maybe all of you should think twice about your little movement and about what you really stand for.
People died because politicians wanted something from someone who wasn’t willing to give it up. Every time that happens, they send young men and women to their deaths to get whatever it is the politicians want and then they lie to your face and tell you you’re fighting for freedom. Tell that to the poor third-world bastige caught in the middle who’s house got blown up, has had half his family killed by “friendly fire”, and has to eat the dog to survive.
Being Free People means that you are willing to stand up for Freedom, and die for that same Freedon. It does not mean you can sit in central Square in the nude drinking beer and smoking bong hits while other, braver people do the dirty work for you.
Saying no to the state is real bravery. Saying no when they come for your wallet, or your home or your children, that is standing up for freedom. Going to foreign lands to kill brown people because a bunch of idiot politicians told you to and because you’re getting paid to do so is not bravery. It is giving in. It is becoming the ultimate tool of the state. Obedient, Zealous and Willing To Kill for their agenda.
If this Zeus person is a representative sample of your group, then all of you are idiots and can go to hell!
Thank you for your participation in an honest, openminded dialogue… and taking a big fat dump in the middle of it.
Zeus-have you read General Smedley Butlers book ‘War is a Racket”? I would recomend it. Though it seems you may get the idea already,this is from one who was there. And was a real patriot. —bil
Good idea, bil. I know about Smedley Butler but I’ve never read his book. I just bought it on Audible.com.
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