by Ian | Jun 10, 2010 |
Unlike the bloggers here whose names are attached to everything they write, the editors at the Sentinel are notorious for publishing unsigned editorials. Why not stand behind their words with their name(s)? (I suppose we’re to presume their editorials are the consensus of all their editorial staff? Perhaps it’s just head editor Jim Rousmaniere?) Anyway, below is the text of a recent critique against some of the liberty activism in Keene. In it they attempt to marginalize the record-setting 420 celebrations and act as though ending prohibition is an unimportant issue. They also back the puritanical view that women should keep their shirts on, cause, well, they may be equal, but they shouldn’t act like it – in the anonymous editor’s view. Of course, they also suggest that these are the only things that Free Keene activists have done and conveniently ignore the inside-the-system activists who have run campaigns like Free Keene blogger Nick Ryder and blogger-at-the-time Julia Miranda’s city council runs. Additionally, had they actually done some fact checking by actually interviewing one of us, they might have learned that neither the 420s or topless events were created by Free Keene’s bloggers.
Anyway, thanks to the Sentinel for the continued coverage, no matter how misinformed. Here’s their anonymous editorial:
“I remember Keene from when I was a child, when there was a Woolworth’s on Main Street,” writes a Sentinel reader in the feedback section of the newspaper’s website. “When I bought my first car, the first thing I did was pick up my best friend and head to Keene. I saw Keene flourish in areas of social growth for many years.” But now, he writes, “Keene has to realize that those days are gone.” Instead residents have to deal with the Free Keene movement. “These new people are activists,” the writer says, “and it’s the role of activists in our society to push limits. I don’t see any disadvantage to setting the limits back.”
We hadn’t thought of Woolworth’s as evidence of social advancement, but the staff was pleasant and it did have a decent lunch counter. The recent libertarian shenanigans downtown might make people nostalgic for just about anything. (more…)
by Ian | Jun 10, 2010 |
One one hand, the Keene Sentinel’s editorial stance is that the Keene Middle School outreach is ineffective and pointless, but this feature story in today’s paper by Sarah Palermo reveals that discussions are being sparked, within the school:
If today’s news becomes tomorrow’s history, what’s a teacher to do when it’s all happening right outside the classroom window?
Throughout this school year, members of the Free State Project or a related group called Free Keene have rallied outside Keene Middle School and Keene High School, waving banners protesting the government, and distributing literature as students leave in the afternoon.
They’re careful to stay beyond the boundary of school property. And teachers try to keep politics there, too, they say.
Keene High English teacher Jonathan Perry said he hasn’t discussed the groups and their agendas in his American Studies class, but the students bring up each event as it happens. (more…)
by Highline | Jun 10, 2010 |
1. An attorney with political connections in Concord, NH is caging a man like an animal for 18-months for participating in the black market sale of plants. Since the dawn of time people have wanted to alter their state of consciousness. People do it every day with alcohol. People do it every day with marijuana. By any measure of rational science marijuana is proven time and time again to be safer to us vs. alcohol.
“Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man(,)” according to DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Francis Young.
Why must we continue to toss people in a cage for voluntarily agreeing to exchange money for this plant? Wait, I know why. Good grief.
This man is not accused of hurting anyone. Accordingly, he should not be hurt by the state.
(more…)
by Highline | Jun 9, 2010 |
Today as I was walking down South Willow Street in Manchester I came across a NH State Trooper assigned to the commercial vehicle enforcement unit (you can tell this by their license plate being of the 700-series). The trooper was performing what appeared to be an inspection of a pick-up truck that was towing a trailer carrying various landscaping equipment.
I decided to stop and film the inspection.
More importantly than the filming of a routine inspection itself, I believe, is ensuring the willingness of government employees to accept the fact that the public has the right to monitor the actions of public officials in public. I was curious to see how the trooper would respond.
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by Highline | Jun 9, 2010 |
If you’re an open-carry activist or proponent… please read #9. The state is charging someone with disorderly conduct for what appears to be the mere act of openly-carrying a pistol. The judge rejected a plea in the case out of concerns that the man should be charged with a more serious offense.
This should be alarming to all of us who value our inherent and constitutional right to carry a firearm.
1. The Keene Police protected and served the community when one of their officers arrested a man for robbing someone of a 12-pack of beer and kicking him in the face. This is what the police should be doing. Good work Keene PD! This is a crime clearly worthy of state action as this man is a threat to those of us who wish to be peaceful.
Only go after people like this who have hurt someone and your days of having to worry about all the pesky activists will be numbered!
2. The Manchester Police have likewise protected their community when they caught a guy who beat the crap out of someone else with a baseball bat. Good work MPD! This guy obviously is dangerous and needs to be met with justice. This is the type of thing that protection services should be investigating and preventing. The guy could have avoided having the force of the state come after him if he simply refrained from using the blunt force of a baseball bat on another human being.
Initiating violence against anyone for any reason is always wrong.
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by Highline | Jun 8, 2010 |
Those of us who are active in the liberty movement’s media outreach spend a considerable amount of time speaking negatively about the actions of those who represent the state. To be fair to the truth of my past, I often speak negatively about actions that I myself took while representing the state. The tools we use to move towards a society that allows greater freedom is stronger than any weapon that the state relies on to exist and enforce it’s will. The tools we use are words, compassion, and understanding.
I believe our words should be used to punish when we are hurt and even more importantly… to thank when we are treated well.
Today I was pulled over traveling south on Route 3 in Nashua. I was going 70MPH in a 55MPH zone and anyone who knows the road knows that following the 55MPH limit would be dangerous when everyone is going 70+ around you. I was just keeping up with traffic and not trying to get somewhere quickly.
The Nashua officer approached me and I provided him with my license and registration. I then decided to follow my own advice that I frequently provide others when dealing with the police: remain silent.
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by Highline | Jun 8, 2010 |
1. It is refreshing when the state focuses on going after those who actually hurt others. A woman attacked with a dumbbell. An accused rapist. Another accused rapist. A man who breaks a woman’s nose in a domestic dispute. A man who shakes a helpless 11-month old child. This behavior, if proven to have actually have committed, is unacceptable and should be met with justice.
Is it really hard to understand that people within the freedom/liberty movement simply want consensual acts between people as well as acts which harm no other individual to be unfettered? It is amazing that simply wanting to allow other people to live their lives in the way they see fit is a goal that needs to be striven for.
In the “land of the free” shouldn’t this already be the state of affairs?
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