http://freedomsphoenix.com/Article/112245-2012-05-23-julian-heicklen-flees-united-states.htm

Neighbors helping neighbors makes for strong communities

That was the text included on the bottom of the quarter-page flyer distributed to houses in the neighborhood ten days ago inviting people to attend and contribute items to a yardsale held yesterday. And it’s what motivated me to be involved in the event.

Why not get items no longer utilized into the hands of those who’d put them to better use? Seems like a win-win.

Since I’ve spent much of the past few years in a RV I already live pretty lean but I was still able to contribute some clothes. Friends rounded-out the yardsale offerings with books, CDs, DVDs, shoes, furniture, electronics, and other items.

In addition to informing those in the neighborhood about the event, it was posted to Craigslist. Passerbys also accounted for a sizable percentage of those who visited.

Though some of the items present had stickers affixed indication a price, many items had stickers that read “1 hug.” Instead of just being “free” – which might result in a “thank you” when parting, why not share the love? Underscore that personal connection? Break-down the silos that many erect?

One lady, who happened to be driving by with her husband picked up a couple of items and asked how much she owed. “You can take them for a hug!” I told her. That seemed to catch her off-guard, and though she initially told me “I can’t do that – I’m married!” Her husband, in the car idling feet away told her, “Give him a hug.” She did so and left with a smile. And she called me “dear.”

After the yardsale concluded clothes, blankets, pillows and shoes that weren’t claimed or bought were donated to the Hundred Nights Shelter (here’s their wish-list of items if you’re so-inclined). Tomorrow some other items will be brought to the Salvation Army.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the event – both in contributing items and time!

A couple of take-aways, should such an event be held in the future:

• hold the event in the AM (8am-noon)
• posts informational signs with arrows on a couple of nearby corners that incur higher vehicle traffic (i.e. Court St. & School St. as well as West St & School St.)

A few weeks ago, my shotgun would have subjected me to years in a state prison, I paid an 8.625% sales tax on nearly everything I purchased, and a progressive state income tax made every effort to steal from me the fruits of my labor. Finally, a local municipality driven mad by xenophobic anti-immigration activists declared my apartment illegal and threatened to evict me from my home. Thanks for that, no, really, thank you, because coming to New Hampshire is the single greatest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.

So I fit what I could in my van and fled the criminal gangs calling themselve The State, operating inside the arbitrary geopolitical boundary commonly known as New York. 5 hours north, I find myself in Marlborough, New Hampshire, just outside of Keene.

The move couldn’t have gone smoother. I made a forum post on the Shire Society website describing my predicament, and within hours I was contacted by a man who rented rooms in his house, a few message exchanges and a deal was made. I had become quite used to living alone, and had a bit of hesitation about living with 3 other guys, but as it turns out I really like the people I live with. Privacy is respected, but we’ll frequently find ourselves in common areas of the house hanging out, laughing, and discussing a wide range of topics.

On my first day, I was introduced to something of a private club we have not far from here. I can’t go into great detail on that in public, but suffice to say it is a place for freedom loving people congregate nearly any time, day or night. We eat, drink, inhale, exhale, watch movies, sing karaoke, plan activities, have deep philosophical discussions, and more. I was instantly plugged into a network of dozens of very serious liberty activists who are some of the coolest people I’ve ever known.

We exchange goods and services as free people should, by voluntarily exchanging value for value. This can be sort of offputting at first to some, when an individual is making dinner, offers you some, then asks for payment. But it didn’t take long for me to see the benefit to this. Sharing has its virtues, but a person is not going to be inclined to make free food every day, and even in the most giving of circles, someone is at some point going to feel like they are giving more than they are getting. By exchanging value for value, everyone is made whole all the time, nobody is ever losing, nobody is ever made to feel like they are carrying anyone else. Unless of course, that is what they desire to do, and people who are otherwise productive do get helped if they hit a rough spot. We’ve all known “that guy” who comes to the party to drink other peoples beer and eat other peoples food, but never brings anything to the table, or always comes away with more than he brings. “That guy” is unable to exist that way here for any significant period of time, his choices are only to produce more than he consumes, or find other people to leech off of. With value and production being the only available means of survival, we need not be surprised when there is lots of value and production going on. Within our small community, there is always food and drink, and other things, available. People are anxious to help eachother, for a small fee, and so whatever it is you need help with, someone is always ready to help you. With every new person who arrives, and every new skill and resource acquired, it becomes less and less necessary to go outside the community for the things we need, the inevitable outcome of which, is a self sufficient voluntary society where The State has no role to play.

We even have our own money. Sure it doesn’t have fancy designs with questionable meanings or pictures of dead tyrants on it, but I rather enjoy the sound of 0.1 Oz silver bars clinking about in my pocket, and the honest feeling of exchanging real value as opposed to the grim depressing knowledge that my primary means of exchange is the cause of so much human suffering.

People seeking to be free are unfortunately the frequent victims of armed men in costumes with tacky lights on their cars. In response to this, we have “Shire 911″. If you are threatened by individuals in such disguises, if they flash those ugly lights at you, call, txt, or transmit over your two way radio if so equipped, and available liberty loving people will come with the cameras, making every peaceful effort to hold them accountable.

In the event that you are kidnapped, or handed a threatening note by these mislead, theft fed aggressors, people will come to your court dates, offer you advice, tell you what to expect, and offer you moral support. Being a guy who has had his fair share of conflicts with the law, I can tell you it would have given me a great deal of joy to know a dozen or more people were outside my court dates with signs saying “Free Chris”.

Luckily I haven’t personally had any adventures in legal land since my arrival in The Shire, but observing, and talking to people about their adventures has been informative. As a man with no respect for fictional authority figures, I’m pretty much certain that this information will come in handy at some point.

The activism is energetic, fun, and frequent. If you haven’t read my previous note about the 4/20 rally in Concord, NH, I strongly suggest you do so, smoking pot on the steps of the State House in full view of the police before walking into the building and singing drug war parody songs was quite the thrill. But not everything need risk arrest, just the other day some of us went down to the local High School with signs and “Philosophy of Liberty” brochures. My sign said “Don’t let school interfere with your education”. The week prior I was sad to have to miss a visit to the University in Keene. There is some sort of outreach effort, rally, or civil disobedience sort of event happening pretty much at least once a week since I’ve been here, and I haven’t even bothered to look outside my local area. If one wanted more action, there are things going on in other parts of the arbitrary geopolitical boundary commonly known as New Hampshire, but I find that just hanging out with my new friends and being part of the counter economics is powerful action in and of itself.

I can hardly believe I spent so much time swimming against the tide in New York. I miss my friends and family there sometimes, but I can’t imagine going back. If you’re in a place like New York, and you feel the way I do about government coercion, you know that you’re in the wrong place. You know that the taxes are too high, you know that the cameras they are putting up on your streets are intrusive and unnecessary, you know that checkpoints and arbitrary searches are unconstitutional and invasive and wrong. You know that the gun restrictions are absurd and dangerous and contribute to a high crime rate. You know that your political systems are so terribly broken and corrupt that you have no hope of fixing them within your lifetime. I imagine if you know all of these things, you might, like me, find yourself pondering “Why do I tolerate this?”, and if you do, I imagine the only conclusion you could come to is “I shouldn’t tolerate this”.

So don’t tolerate it. Leave. Flee your oppressive governments and join us in New Hampshire. Why struggle to convince your neighbors to be free, when you can come to a place where your neighbors already so desire? Let’s trade freely, let’s speak freely, let’s enjoy beautiful scenery, let’s make one last stand for human liberty on planet earth. You see how bad things are getting, you know you can’t stop it doing what you’re doing. Dispersed across the country and planet the way we presently are, things are going to get much worse much faster and it could be generations before we can right the ship. But if we are concentrated in one place, working together against the forces of statist aggression, there really is a chance for Liberty in our Lifetime. Come and be a part of it.

While visiting the 21st annual Extravaganja festival in Amherst, Massachusetts, I had the chance to meet a long-time advocate for a peace declaration in the war on drugs. Jack Cole is one of the founding members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition who worked in undercover narcotics for a great portion of his police career. Though he had known for years while working in the field that he was actively harming communities by perpetuating an unnecessary war, it was some time before he decided to make speaking out against the war a major part of his life. Since doing so, he has found it difficult to, in good conscience, not continue to work hard to maintain the momentum LEAP has been building in opposition to prohibition policy.

In this interview, Jack overviews the surprising success LEAP has had since its formation in March 2002. Now spanning 86 countries, LEAP is beginning to have even more active duty criminal justice officials, as early on their public membership was almost exclusively retired individuals. Jack also gets into how the drug war is greatly decreasing the effectiveness of more imperative criminal justice functions because of the ease of fishing in the drug war.

Many thanks to Jack Cole and his fellow spokesmen for LEAP, who undertake the important task of disseminating unpopular truths. See the 13-minute interview embedded below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From NH-WMUR’s coverage of this incident:

The injured driver continually called out and pleaded not to let him burn. His legs were trapped under the dashboard, police said.Police said Frye climbed through the front windshield of the burning vehicle and freed the man’s legs. Knight helped Frye pull the man to safety.

I’ve been around numerous vehicle fires before, so I know for a fact that TFC Frye risked his own safety to save this guy’s life.  Some of these fires are so hot that even being within ten feet of the vehicle can become unbearable.

Please call or mail NH State Police Director Colonel Robert Quinn‘s office and ask that Trooper Frye be properly recognized for risking his own safety to protect a stranger’s life.

(603) 223-8813

Department of Safety
Division of State Police
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305

Federal law in the United States makes it a serious federal offense to possess a firearm or ammunition if you are a user of illegal drugs:

18 USC 922 – Unlawful acts

(g) It shall be unlawful for any person -

(3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled
substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances
Act (21 U.S.C. 802));

to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess
in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive
any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in
interstate or foreign commerce.

If you use cocaine and get caught possessing even a single round of ammunition, you can go to federal prison for multiple years depending on where you fall on the federal sentencing guidelines as established by the United States Sentencing Commission.

If you are a federal agent or police officer and decide to use cocaine, luckily, you are exempt from the laws that normally would put you in federal prison for being a “prohibited person” under the Gun Control Act of 1968 for ingesting your choice of intoxicating chemical substance:

18 USC 925 – Relief from disabilities

(a)(1) The provisions of this chapter, except for sections
922(d)(9) and 922(g)(9) and provisions relating to firearms subject
to the prohibitions of section 922(p), shall not apply with respect
to the transportation, shipment, receipt, possession, or
importation of any firearm or ammunition imported for, sold or
shipped to, or issued for the use of, the United States or any
department or agency thereof or any State or any department,
agency, or political subdivision thereof.

If government agents use cocaine with prostitutes and possess handguns and machine-guns on the cusp of the very serious responsibility of protecting the President of the United States in Columbia, they can only get fired because federal law doesn’t apply to them.

They are above that particular law.

CopBlock’s motto says: “Badges don’t grant extra rights,” but in reality… they do.

On Tuesday, April 24th I stopped by Keene State University to speak with Henry King, director of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies department. My visit was unannounced – motivated by my interest to share ideas that I thought overlooked by the program curriculum.

Despite the impromptu nature of my drop-in, King invited me to sit and for about ten minutes, we had a conversation. His colleague, department chair C. Paul Vincent, joined us about halfway through. It was a civil discussion but it was clear that we weren’t on the same page about some things – for example while I proffered that individuals have the same rights no matter where they’re born (and pointed-out that with that freedom comes personal responsibility – for more on this, check out the excellent 2-min video Chain of Obedience) King made mention of a “social covenant” that imparted rights as well as obligations.

Such an idea denotes that the individual is subservient to the majority. That doesn’t sync with me. After all groups don’t have rights, individuals have rights. A group of individuals doesn’t generate extra rights nor mitigate the rights of one individual.

Before we parted ways (King and Vincent were heading to lunch) I shared my contact information, we shook hands and said I’d be in touch via email.

For full disclosure, here’s the Holocaust and Genocide Studies overview:

The program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies is rooted in the conviction that the Holocaust was a cataclysmic episode in the course of Western history impacting culture, society, politics, ethics, science, and religion, and that there is no discipline in the academy un-touched by its shadow. In a world still tormented by mass murder and genocide, the program also rests on the moral imperative that learning from both the past and present may serve as a basis of hope for the future. The program combines historical background with an interdisciplinary exploration of both the Holocaust and other genocidal events through film, literature, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religious studies, women’s studies, and other offerings. With an understanding of such issues as prejudice, discrimination, and racism, students are equipped to analyze contemporary political situations, think critically about ethical responsibility, and respond actively to injustice.

While I have no doubt that those who major in Genocide Studies are more aware of Holocaust details than the average person on the street (mandatory classes review related literature and film and look at the incident from a sociological and philosophical angle), after my conversation with King and Vincent I still question whether students are ever exposed to the idea that government is at its core, based on violence.

To put it clearly: government is an association of individuals who claim the right to steal wealth from others within an arbitrary political boundary and who purport to have a “legitimate” right to use force to maintain their claimed monopoly of the provision of certain goods and services (which vary between governments – only underscoring its arbitrariness).

Let’s assume Genocide Studies departmental personnel and students all would vocally object to genocide. What then, is the best way to mitigate such events from occurring in the future? By continuing to look to self-proclaimed “leaders” for another one-size-fits-all “solution” or by being open-minded about other potential solutions and when necessary, shedding previously-held ideas for those that mesh with ones logic/conscience.

That’s why I stopped into Knight’s office – to have a conversation. I truly believe that were the idea of self-government broached in class, it would have positive, far-reaching, and sustaining implications aligned with the program’s mission.

One class, Comparative Genocide, lists as its purpose to “find essential similarities as well as differences, and to derive explanations for specific cases of genocide.” If those constructing the Genocide Studies program curriculum truly sought to impart on their students critical thinking why not introduce to them to a variety of ways to potentially mitigate such widespread, “legalized” slaughter? Why not start the argument where it begins?

Without the ready-made vehicle vehicle of government truly evil people (or good people responding to perverse incentives) wouldn’t have the ability to cause widespread destruction simply because they’d lack the financial resources and the blind allegiance. If theft or the initiation of force isn’t right for me or you to do then how can it become alright for someone else based on their place of employment? And why would any, totally uninvolved third party act as if they have the right to interject between the consensual actions others reach?

When the bad idea of double-standards isn’t questioned things like the Holocaust can happen. Also, by primarily focusing a single incident – the Holocaust – (admittedly horrific as it was) it may lead one to view it as an anomaly that couldn’t possibly happen again.

As already eluded to, on Wednesday April 25th I sent an email to King, Vincent, and Jim Waller (a colleague I was told touched-on some topics somewhat related to the points I brought-up):

Mr. Knight and Vincent,

I hope you’re doing well. I was the guy who stopped by your department yesterday before you two left for lunch.

I wanted to follow-up both to thank you two for your time and to inquire if either of of you, or perhaps Mr. Waller (whom I Cced on this email, per comments made yesterday) have the interest to meet to continue our conversation? Perhaps over coffee or a bite at the union or at somewhere on Main St.?

Again, the rationale for me reaching-out and having interest in sitting-down as proposed is to share ideas.

I’m not currently a KSC student, just someone from the community who has an interest in living in a more peaceful, prosperous world. Assuming we all agree that genocide is not a good thing, the question then becomes how it can best be mitigated. I’d advocate that it’s not through a top-down solution but by focusing on individual actions.

My review of Holocaust and Genocide Studies course listings has led me to conclude that such a perspective is not given adequate attention. I realize that such a statement is subjective so I welcome your feedback and ideally, an opportunity to continue our dialogue. Ideally individuals allow themselves to be presented with a lot of different views, so they can think critically and decide what resonates for themselves.

My schedule is pretty flexible so if you do have the time and interest to chat further let me know when you have time.

Take care,

-Pete

P.S. Here’s the Wiki link to “demoide,” which I mentioned yesterday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide

I personally prefer not to use such terms as “government” or “state” as it only reinforces the legitimacy of that institution (which, since it is an artificial monopoly, is rife with perverse incentives) and reinforces the double standards some claim exist based on place of employment (which then allow phrases like “under color of law” or “color of law” or justifications like “I’m just doing my job” to act as excuses for the initiation of violence). In reality, “government” is just an association of individuals, who, like me or you, are responsible for their actions. A piece of paper or uniform doesn’t make an unjust action just. The more that idea is internalized the less acceptable institutionalized violence becomes and thus the less-likely it will occur.

Later that night I received a reply from Knight, and though I won’t share it here out of respect for his privacy, he essentially noted that the program curriculum listed online wasn’t exhaustive to everything communicated in classes and that one of his goals is to equip students with tools they need to assist their own learning and life journey. He also noted that my contact information had been added to their announcements and encouraged me to join them at future functions.

I’ll definitely try to do that. It’ll be interesting to see how this on-going conversation unfolds.

These fliers will be hand distributed throughout the Keene community this week. Perhaps consider printing and distributing some yourself?

The online impeachment petition will be assisted by a written petition. Please feel free to stop by, ask questions, and possibly sign! The respective petitions I will hand deliver to the Redress of Grievances Committee at the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

[Art.] 32. [Rights of Assembly, Instruction, and Petition.] The people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble and consult upon the common good, give instructions to their representatives, and to request of the legislative body, by way of petition or remonstrance, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer.

Important note: The gathering will be outside the courthouse. Please do not go inside unless you have legitimate court business as doing so could (and probably will) subject you to arrest. I would also please ask that there be no bull-horning or anything that could disrupt the court proceedings.

Zero arrests, lots of signatures, and Governor John Lynch needing to start thinking about selecting a new District Court judge for the Keene region will make this a successful event in my book

Just download our new trifold and send it off to your favorite printer! Thanks to Meg McLain for the always-spiffy design work.

Get it here:
Inside
Outside

See more downloadable and printable outreach tools here.

Thankfully, some in the school support free speech and have made signs to counter the oppressors. Since it would have looked really bad for them to say no, admins approved the students’ signage. See the full photo by clicking the thumbnail on the right.

It’s crystal clear that the side of liberty and free speech is the right message, which is why the oppressors have resulted to taking the low road. While I was writing this article, I saw an update from MRHS student Hayden relating that someone has taken down her “Speak your mind” poster, within the first day of it being hung. It seems she struck a chord!

Thanks to Hayden, Apey, and anyone else who helped with this awesome project. Updates to come as they develop.