This week’s adventurous installment of AKPF #1 features historical documentation of presentations delivered in years past, combined with modern declarations straight from the source of the content in Keene, NH. Enjoy this creative imagining of artistic qualities courtesy of the Aqua Keene Parking Force.
This week’s Letter to the Keene Sentinel Editor.
You can barely see it. It’s right on the back of the war monument in Central Square. It’s a faded red peace sign. The statue was chalked more than two years ago, maybe longer. When asked where it came from, one atheist Free Keener said he didn’t know and, “Maybe God put it there.”
Until recently, few who frequent Central Square knew it was even there.
I oppose its removal.
Today, many are warming to the idea that war monuments, parades and holidays are just government propaganda. It’s less about the debt and honor owed the soldiers, and more about trying to justify past and future military endeavors. The people who think this way are not all hippies and peaceniks.
I happen to be a young veteran with a normal job and a normal life. I “served my country” and then one day I woke up when I came to realize that war is not the solution, it never was, and never will be.
Sending our sons and daughters across the globe to fight in countless undeclared wars in countries that most Americans couldn’t locate on a map is beyond immoral. Spending almost $1 trillion a year to fund more than 1,000 U.S. military bases and 250,000 soldiers to act as global policemen in a state of permanent war is self-defeating, wasteful and unconscionable. How can anyone in their right mind support such insanity?
Roughing it at Porcfest2014 • Quitting Facebook? • Veterans for Peace • Should the city pay for PumpkinFest? Homeless shelter? • Shaunna and Joe join • Show notes at: BlackSheepRising.org
The Free State Project‘s yearly camping festival, “Porcfest” (aka the Porcupine Freedom Festival) enters its eleventh year starting today!
Come join over a thousand liberty-loving people at Roger’s Campground in Lancaster, NH for an amazing week of fun in the beautiful White Mountains. Check out Porcfest.com for details.
![SteveVaillancourtRNH[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SteveVaillancourtRNH1.jpeg)
Steve Vaillancourt is a liberty-leaning state representative who is a relatively widely-read blogger at NH Insider. He’s a studied opponent of the insane War on Drugs and has frequently testified in favor of ending drug prohibition, at least on cannabis.
Now, in a recent blog post, Vaillancourt speaks about my run against Maggie Hassan in the Democratic primary race for governor of NH, giving me both kind words and his endorsement:
Freeman’s approach was both ingenious and refreshing…were I a Democrat, I’d vote for Ian Freeman
Thanks, Steve! You can read his full blog post here.
The following is Rich Paul’s letter to the Keene City Council, as recorded and transcribed by Derrick J Freeman:
When two groups of bullies attacked artists on consecutive days on The Common this month, the Keene City Government sent them a firm message: “Keep it up! We have your back.” How else can we interpret the facts?
In the first attack, four men, all of whom are employed by the Pour House or Pedraza’s, attacked my friend Andy from behind. I dropped my camera and phone, picked up the camera monopod, and drove three of them off. One Pour House employee was able to steal my camera and phone but serious violence was averted.
The City’s response was swift and sure: they arrested me two days later for being a felon in possession of a stick. They have not taken any action against the rioters and thieves. The video of this incident can be found on YouTube, and the thief, first name Terry, bragged of his theft (of the camera) on Twitter.
In the second incident, nobody was fast enough to protect the artist from serious harm, and therefore no arrests have been made. However, City Councilor Filiault is still willing to take the bold step of protecting violent thugs against offensive smiley faces and peace signs by outlawing sidewalk art. His message to bullies: “Hurt people, and we’ll give people what they want.” Perhaps a better solution would be to hold Dorrie O’Meara, who employs all 5 of the attackers, accountable for what her employees do while on the clock.
But then who would protect the bullies?
Richard Paul
C/O Cheshire County D.O.C.
825 Marlboro Road
Keene, NH 03431
In late 2013, the people calling themselves the “City of Keene” filed an appeal with the NH supreme court after they lost the Robin Hood cases. Now, six months later, (the wheels of ‘justice’ move slowly) the city’s expensive private attorneys have filed their brief, an appendix, and the NH Municipal Association has weighed in with an “amicus curiae“.
The NHMA, a group that represents the big-government interests of the various cities and towns in New Hampshire, argues in their 16-page amicus that the superior court erred by dismissing the cases against the Robin Hooders. They say the court did not weigh the “significant governmental interest” in parking enforcement against the right to free speech. In addition, they claim the bureaucrats should be protected from speech they don’t wish to hear and that “reasonable” restrictions can be placed on your free speech, to protect the government agents precious’ ears and egos.
The brief by attorney Charles Bauer filed on behalf of the city is 49 pages and argues that Robin Hooders’ conduct is not protected speech and that their employees will suffer “irreparable harm” if Robin Hooding is allowed to continue. The filing includes basically the same arguments made at superior court, just in appeal form.
The appendix filed by Bauer is 61 pages and contains several filings from the superior court case, for the supreme court’s review.
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