Yesterday on my way home from work, I saw a sticker on the back of a green minivan that stated: Proud Parent of a Soldier. As I drove behind this vehicle for several miles, I wondered if this parent actually understood just what message he or she was sending. My mind kept seeing dead Afghani, Iraqi, Pakistani, etc…men, women and children lying dead in the streets and in hospitals. My mind also went to the pictures of American soldiers gleefully urinating on dead Afghanis, the horrid Wikileaks video of the helicopter crew excitedly gunning down men, the torture and sexual abuse of Abu Ghraib, the burning of Korans. I know that I am not the only one who interprets nationalistic messages this way.
However, let me be clear. I once was a member of the US military and I once interpreted these nationalistic messages with visions of the American flag, the bald eagle, Stars & Stripes, the pledge of allegiance, and the list goes on and on! I would hear the national anthem and tears would come to my eyes. What glorious difference enlightenment brings!
After realizing I was just a dupe and a guinea pig to the sick, power hungry politicians, my viewpoint changed dramatically. I see how nationalistic tendencies destroy people and families, hell, the entire social system; and not just “American” people and families. The sole purpose of the military should be to protect the people, not to engage in endless wars for profit and population control, i.e. defense, not offense. I hope that more and more people start to see the way I do now, not like I used to.
As I write this, we are only one week away from the ultimate in nationalistic holidays (at least for the US), “Independence Day” aka the 4th of July. This is a day to indulge in the orgiastic displays of flags and stars and stripes, of fireworks, hot dogs, apple pie. Parents will put American flag shirts on themselves and their kids. Parties with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs will be had poolside in much of the US. And on this “independence day” I will be thinking of Bradley Manning, the innocent dead civilians of the hundreds of wars fought throughout time, and true freedom from government oppression.
Do mankind a favor and disassociate yourself from the indoctrination of nationalism and join me for Anarchy Day! See Kal Molinet’s site: www.liberateRVA.com he was my inspiration for this! Wear black and display signs of peace for one and all to see! I know there will be pushback, but keep your thoughts positive and love one and all, especially those that “hate” you! Peace and Love to All!
The edited video of the civil disobedience panel held at the 2012 Liberty Forum, in which me, Ian Freeman & Jason Talley converse with those present about ideas, strategy and impact. It was recorded on Friday, Feb. 24th, 2012 at the Nashua, NH Crown Plaza.
Do you have thoughts on the content discussed? Points where you agree or disagree? Things that need clarification? How would you have answered some of those questions?
The raw video of the Civil Disobedience Panel – a session held at the 2012 Liberty Forum, in which Jason Talley, Ian Freeman and I converse with those present about ideas, strategy and impact.
I went with Ian Freeman to his traffic court ticket on November 1. He was alleged to have not paid a parking meter, resulting in a $10 fine. He was found guilty despite several convincing motions to dismiss based on lack of competency of the witness, lack of clarity, and others. Despite his being found guilty, it was uplifting to know that by NOT taking the plea deal, he kept a parking enforcement officer off the streets and unable to ticket approximately 30 peaceful people whose crimes involve no victim–they would simply be extorted by agents of the State.
Thanks, Ian, for sacrificing your time and energy to fighting the State in their own home-turf, peacefully using words and reason and argumentation. The fact that they cannot negotiate using reason, but instead resort to force, is an indication of their dying system being replaced by Life 2.0 — a freer, more peaceful world.
Everyone who goes to court to defend himself against being charged with a victimless crime is using his mind and body and energy to change the world. Those who fight the state in court take up valuable time and resources for agents of the State–time and resources they’d rather be using to extort people. You can participate in this kind of activism by Pleading Not Guilty to victimless crimes and by handing out FreeKeene’s “Don’t Take the Plea Deal” flyers in your own town.
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