“Patients’ pain ignored” – Letter to Concord Monitor

May 7, 2012 by Ian · 2 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Personal Freedom, Police, Politics, Response

Paul O’Day of Spofford writes to the Concord Monitor, calling out the head of the NH police chiefs, Richard Enfield for his lack of compassion:

Re “Law enforcement resisting pot bill” (Sunday Monitor front page, April 29):

Enfield Police Chief Richard Crate was quoted as saying the pending medical marijuana bill is “looking for a potential solution when there’s not a problem out there.”

Many people endure needless pain and suffering because of the prohibition of this medicine.

Others risk losing their money, their liberty, their houses and their kids if they break the law to stop their pain.

Some people with cancer or other serious ailments succumb unnecessarily to the symptoms of their illness or its treatment such as chemotherapy, dying months or even decades sooner than they would have had they been able to use medical marijuana.

Untold numbers unnecessarily suffer from the worst diseases and ailments known to mankind. Others unnecessarily risk everything to escape their suffering. And some people are unnecessarily sent to an early grave – and there is no problem out there? Read more

“Non-Violent Communication” Looks like a Self-Improvement Cult

April 18, 2012 by Ian · 9 Comments
Filed under: Response, Your Evolution

NVC Guy with Puppets Derrick recently posted his interactions with the state prosecutors and referenced “Non Violent Communication“, a communication tactic that has surfaced among a fairly large group of liberty activists.

I wouldn’t say that there is not value in “NVC”. People are excited by it for a reason – who doesn’t want to be a better communicator? It’s certainly true that empathizing and being able to understand what someone wants is critical to productive communication. It appears NVC has these goals in mind, which is certainly good. However I encourage people to be cautious, as it has the hallmarks of a self-improvement cult.

I think it’s great that people want to improve their communication skills. However, having been involved in network marketing (which also has similar cult hallmarks) at a much younger age, it’s pretty easy for me to spot this stuff. One look at the NVC website makes it pretty clear that it’s just another self-improvement cult. Browse the seminars, costing as much as hundreds of dollars, and don’t forget to order audio and video (cassettes!) available with quantity discounts.

I like the intentions of NVC, but not how it mixes wants with needs. You need food, water, shelter, and air. Most other things are not needs. They are wants and desires. Because of this, NVC screams “jargon”. Caution is advised. You’d think someone ostensibly focused on language (the NVC creator) would have noticed he was using a term incorrectly.

Besides, who would want to be seen as needy?

Easy suggestions for better communication: Read more

Ridley Gets It

March 29, 2012 by Ian · 16 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Response, Video

Dave Ridley comments on some of Keene’s controversial activism and explains while he thinks that some is better than others, that overall we are doing the right thing:

An Open Message to Monadnock Students

March 27, 2012 by Pete Eyre · 73 Comments
Filed under: Announcement, Copblock, Living Free, Outreach, Personal Freedom, Response, Video, Your Evolution

Hey Monadnock students (& others) – I hope to see you at the Keene Starbucks at noon this Saturday, March 31st!

Defense Filed Documents in State v. Jason Talley

March 23, 2012 by Bradley Jardis · 14 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Court, Issues, National, New Hampshire, News, Politics, Response

- Defendant’s response to the State’s response to the Defendant’s response to the State’s Motion to Quash Subpoenas

Popularity is No Virtue

March 21, 2012 by DerrickJ · 31 Comments
Filed under: Response

The path to freedom is not clearly marked. To me, Liberty means freedom to act. Unless coercion is used, the actions of others cannot impede one’s own pursuits. I value a varied approach to achieving liberty, which is why I am disappointed to see Skeptikos go.

In his parting post, he references 3 bits of activism in which I took part (I made 2 of the 3 videos), and then claims that Ian’s disregard for some people’s criticism is the motivation behind “wildly irrational decisions” (read: “unpopular actions”).

Anyone can point out what is and is not popular. I realize that today violent solutions to complex social problems are more popular than peaceful ones, and that people dedicated to peace will face a chorus of discouragement. However, I’m encouraged by the words of Jack Kerouak when he said, “Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.”

The world is not molded by people who talk but by those who act. Since action reveals confidence in one’s ideas, my hope for Skeptikos as well as anyone with criticism is that his dismay will ignite a flame of action which burns brighter than ever before. Show me how it’s done. May you be guided from within rather than from without. Best wishes.

Growing Displeasure at My Zero Tolerance For Threats Against Government Officials

March 14, 2012 by Bradley Jardis · 23 Comments
Filed under: Response

Displeasure seems to continue to be growing at my decision to inform government officials about the threats against Judge Edward Burke.

From my response to a critic:

“Don’t forget it was anonymous PUBLIC comments that the University System of New Hampshire used in court to help justify why they needed a temporary restraining order against ME from carrying a firearm on state property (state property I carried firearms on numerous times before as a law enforcement officer).”

Yeah, it feels strange quoting myself like that, but you get the idea.

I know there are lots of people in disagreement with me on this, but, I believe mere threatening violence against another is a violation of the non-aggression principle.

Here is the full response I posted on the NH Underground Forums.

KHS Students Protesting Administrator’s Targeting of Rainbow Clothing

March 8, 2012 by Ian · 8 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Corruption, Living Free, News, Personal Freedom, Response

Rainbow Shirt Tomorrow at Keene High School, students and teachers will be taking part in an event called “Hold your color” to show solidarity behind students who have been allegedly harassed and threatened for wearing rainbow clothing by school administrator Thomas Burke (is he related to Keene district court judge Edward Burke?). People at school will be wearing rainbow to show support. Here’s a guest blog by KHS student Renee LeBlanc with detail on what is happening:

The Mission of Keene High School is to provide each student with the tools to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. However, one administrator finds it necessary to restrict diversity in the form of rainbow clothing.
Back in December, a senior at Keene High school was in his house office on school business. He happened to be gay, and sporting a rainbow shirt. While in the office, Mr. Thomas Burke asked to speak with him about the shirt he was wearing. It read “Can’t think straight” and a rainbow was featured under it. The shirt was not revealing, obscene, or in bad condition. Burke demanded that he not wear it again, claiming it was “bad for the school environment.” He then wrote him up for a “dress code violation” yet gave no detail on the slip. From there, Burke proceeded to threaten the student with suspension. This student and his friends were very offended by this.

A freshman girl, who is straight, was in the same house office about a month earlier. She had been absent the day before and needed an admit slip. However, while the secretary was writing, she informed the student that she had been reported for her low cut shirt. Mr. Burke then appeared and asked to speak with her. Burke asked her to pull up the shirt, Read more

Obama Administration Conditionally Acknowledges Extrajudicial Killings

March 5, 2012 by Free Concord · 6 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Free Concord, International, Issues, National, News, Politics, Response

From freeconcord.org:

Eric Holder’s memory wasn’t failing him today as he spoke at Northwestern University in Chicago. They were likely running through his mind, but there were three names Holder dared not to speak. They were Samir Khan, Abdulrahman Al-Awlaki, and Anwar Al-Awlaki. They are the three US citizens who have been executed by drone missile attacks in Yemen, without so much as the order of a judge to show as a warrant for their death.

The ‘Attorney General’ (military ranking being fully apropos) gave a carefully crafted response to the legal questions the administration has been facing since the September 30 killing of Anwar Al-Awlaki. Holder essentially declared the president to be within his authority (for who is there to challenge it?) to order the killing of anyone deemed an external threat to the defense of the United States. A search of the internet reveals no video of the address. The Washington Post provides some fairly in-depth coverage. Here’s a disturbing snippet from the lawyer-in-chief.

Some have argued that the president is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who is a senior operational leader of al-Qaeda or associated forces. This is simply not accurate.

Public Officials “DOXed” – Anonymous Lawyers Wanting to Help Jason Talley

March 3, 2012 by Bradley Jardis · 32 Comments
Filed under: Court, National, New Hampshire, News, Response, Update

This blog is made pursuant to NH Rules of Professional Conduct 3.6 (c) (6) as the people of New Hampshire should be made aware of the danger to the public interest.

-/-

I’ve heard rumblings that the hacker group Antisec has been “DOXing” public officials in the Keene area. I even heard that Judge Burke had been “DOXed” due to the groups displeasure over his interaction with Carlos Miller.

Given the recent threat against Judge Burke, I will make sure the NH Attorney General is made aware of this.

I just happen to be at the AG’s office yesterday making a formal complaint for a criminal investigation into the court orders enacted following a judge being caught on camera committing a crime. The investigator I met with was cordial, polite, and friendly. Out of respect to him, I will not repeat anything that he said to me.

I also asked that the investigator relay my request that the Attorney General’s Office should assume control of State v. Jason Talley and dismiss his charges.