BE THE GOOD

 

BE THE GOOD

Charlie Kirk was probably at the top of the list of people who did not deserve to die the way he did.  All he wanted to do was meet people where they were.  To join the conversation already happening in their minds, and to try his hardest to persuade them to the points of view he believed to be right, and good.

Charlie was a beautiful and unique soul.  More than anything, my heart cries out for his precious children and beautiful wife.  He left them with a foundation to build on that will last them a lifetime, but that is a small conciliation prize for the guiding light they have lost.  My best hope for them is that they will remember his example and strive to live by it for all the days of their lives.

But a moment this dark cannot be without a light.  It falls to all of us now to pick up the torch Charlie set ablaze.  It falls to us to light the torches of as many of our fellow Human Beings as we possibly can.

I know that many of us know someone who thinks that the world is a better place now that Charlie has been taken out of it.  Some of us even know people with a much bleaker outlook than that.  Those people have found themselves in a pool of darkness that is far blacker than even our grief.  I know it would be easy to fall into hatred against those people.  But to do that would be to dishonor the legacy Charlie built in his short 31 years on this Earth.

I call on all of us to choose EMPATHY over hatred and anger.  Talk to those people.  Try to reach them in their moment of utter blackness.  For they are more in need of the light than many of us can possibly imagine.  Not all of them are ready to be reached.  Not all of them are ready to start their long and arduous climb out of their own darkest moment.  Try anyway.  Because to try is the right thing to do.

And if you cannot reach them, then it is okay to love them from a distance, for now.  God is looking for them.  God is waiting for the moment they learn how to listen when He speaks.  So, try.  And if they aren’t yet ready, then leave them in God’s capable hands, and try again with the next one.

It is time for all of us to be unafraid.  To be bold.  It is time for the TIDE OF HUMANITY to RISE in utter defiance of those who would see us tear each other apart.

It is time to GO FORTH AND BOLDLY BE THE GOOD.

"I can't be quiet.  So I've got to be brave.  This is America.  Lately, it's scarin' us.  But one man can change it all in a day."  -Tom MacDonald

The Worst Kind of Human

What image do you conjure up when you think of "bad people?"  At the most basal level, it's probably something like thieves, rapists, and murderers, right?

If you look at the end result of someone's actions, the most notorious serial killer, the most successful thief, and the most abhorrent rapist are amateurs when compared to the average politician.

Worse than the worst serial killer

Even the most successful serial killers can only boast numbers in the dozens.  When politicians wage war, millions die.  And the vast majority of these deaths are innocent bystanders.  Take the Clinton sanctions against Iraq in the 90s.  By official estimates, more than 500,000 Iraqi children (not counting adults) were starved to death as a direct result.  When Madeline Albright, then Secretary of State, was asked if this horrible cost was worth it, she didn't even hesitate to say "we think the price is worth it."

Worldwide, war in the 20th century is estimated to have claimed more than 79 million lives. Even this is child's play when compared to Democide (death by government), which does not include war-related deaths and is estimated to have killed more than 260 million people in the same time period.  Individuals committing murder doesn't even hold a candle to the kind of carnage politicians unleash.

More despicable than the most "successful" rapist

In the United States in 2013, there were roughly 2.2 million people in State and Federal prisons.  (Side note: The United States houses just 5% of the world's population, but has 25% of the world's prisoners.)  Of these people, nearly half are incarcerated for non-violent crimes.  In the Federal prison system specifically, 86% of the prison population never harmed an actual victim.  To the objective observer, there are far too many people locked in cages who do not belong there.

Each year, more than 200,000 men are raped behind bars.  It stands to reason that about half of those people are among the non-violent offenders who should never have been locked up in the first place.  In other words, because of the arbitrary rules of politicians, roughly a hundred thousand innocent men are raped each year.

More insidious than the grandest larcenist

Each year in the United States, the IRS "collects" (steals) more than $2.2 TRILLION from people in the form of taxes.  This legalized form of robbery utterly dwarfs private robbery, which topped out at just $3.5 billion in 2014.  In fact, aside from taxation, police stole $5 billion from private citizens through their civil asset forfeiture program in the same year.

Civil asset forfeiture is where police "seize" property on nothing more than the suspicion that it was destined for illicit purposes.  Formal charges are never actually brought against the victims of this armed robbery, and targets are almost never able to reclaim their property.  All of this is on the say-so of some faceless politician.

It's time to stop holding politicians to a different standard than "ordinary citizens."  When the end-result of their actions is so demonstrably horrendous, maybe it's time to start considering alternatives to the way of life they have chosen for the rest of us.

“Anarchists did not try to carry out genocide against the Armenians in Turkey; they did not deliberately starve millions of Ukrainians; they did not create a system of death camps to kill Jews, gypsies, and Slavs in Europe; they did not fire-bomb scores of large German and Japanese cities and drop nuclear bombs on two of them; they did not carry out a ‘Great Leap Forward’ that killed scores of millions of Chinese; they did not attempt to kill everybody with any appreciable education in Cambodia; they did not launch one aggressive war after another; they did not implement trade sanctions that killed perhaps 500,000 Iraqi children.

In debates between anarchists and statists, the burden of proof clearly should rest on those who place their trust in the state. Anarchy’s mayhem is wholly conjectural; the state’s mayhem is undeniably, factually horrendous.”  -Robert Higgs

Taxation is Theft and Authority is a Lie

I have a couple of lines of questioning for you to consider.  The first deals with the nature of taxation.  The second, the nature of authority.

The Nature of Taxation


What is theft?  Or if you prefer, what is robbery?  From www.dictionary.com:

Theft.  Noun.  The act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.

Robbery. Noun.  The felonious taking of the property of another from his or her person in his or her immediate presence, against his or her will, by violence or intimidation.

I would amend these to include acts of fraud as well.

Fraud.  Noun.  Deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

Put more simply, I see "Theft" as the taking of something that does not belong to you, either by force or fraud.

Does the government own you, and by extension, the product of your labor?  Or do you own yourself, and so, the product of your own labor?  Because of public school "education," this one gives some people pause.  But the obvious answer is that the government does not own you, and so, cannot rightfully own the product of your labor.

In light of this, is it theft when the government takes the product of your labor through taxation?  If not, there is really only one alternative.  If taxation is not theft, then the government owns you, and taxation is slavery.  You might try to argue that it is neither, because you voluntarily and happily pay your taxes.  And maybe that's true for you, but what about your neighbor?  Are they happy to be extorted with every paycheck?  Morally speaking, you don't get to make that decision for them, only for yourself.

Bottom line: Taxation is theft, or worse, slavery.  But it's more than that.  If you don't pay your taxes, then eventually, men with guns will show up at your house to take everything you own and put you in a cage.  If you resist, they will use deadly force against you.  Ultimately, taxation is armed robbery with a side of aggravated assault.  And as with all robberies, sometimes government-sponsored robbery "goes wrong," and the victim winds up dead.

"If taxation without consent is not robbery, then any band of robbers have only to declare themselves a government, and all their robberies are legalized."  -Lysander Spooner

Authority is a Lie


Do you have the right to use violence to force your neighbors to behave a certain way?  Assuming they aren't aggressing against you you, clearly, you do not.  If you tried to force them to do what you wanted, you would be seen by all as a wrongful aggressor.  People would fully expect your neighbors to use self-defensive force against you.

Can you give a right you don't have to someone else?  Said another way, can you ask someone to use violence against your neighbors on your behalf?  Clearly, you cannot.  And once again, you (and your accomplice) would be seen as a wrongful aggressor.

Can you and your 10 best friends give away a right that none of you has individually?  Can the group of you decide to hire an agent to steal from your neighbor to fund a program you think would be good?  Once again, if none of you has this right, it cannot be given to another party.  The same can be said for any number of people.  You can all make a decision for yourselves - you can decide to chip in individually for a program or choose a leader for yourselves - but you cannot morally force these decisions on someone who has not voluntarily chosen to participate.

How, then, does a politician get the right to use violence ("law enforcement") and theft ("taxation") to run their organization?  If nobody can give this right to them - which they can't - then politicians do not have it.  In reality, politicians are nothing more than a gang of thugs who use violent, coercive force to form society as they see fit.  The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the general population thinks the government is legitimate, and the mafia is not.  Practically speaking, they operate in exactly the same manner.

The first step towards righting these wrongs is for people just like you to see the situation for what it is.  Spread the word.

"The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis." -Dalai Lama

The Bare Necessities of Firearm Safety

There are probably a million articles out there covering the topic of firearm safety, but a blog about Liberty wouldn't be complete if it weren't mentioned here.  If you are going to take up the means to defend yourself against any aggressor, you must be versed in using those means.  Which means, you must practice.

But before you ever pick up a gun, there are a few things you must sear into your mind.  Failure to follow proper safety procedures is the overwhelming cause of accidents involving firearms.  Much like a band saw, you must know how to handle the tool to ensure you don't lose a finger, or worse.

The basics of gun safety are extremely simple.  In order of importance (to this author), they are as follows:

1) Trigger Discipline.  Never put your finger inside the trigger guard when you are simply holding your firearm.  The only time your finger should ever touch that trigger is in the moments before you pull it.  For me, it is most natural to rest my trigger finger along the side of the gun, just above or across the guard.  See the photo at the beginning of this article for an example.

2) The Gun Is Always Loaded.  Even if it's not.  Always treat your guns as if they are prepared to fire on the next squeeze of the trigger, even if you just removed the magazine and cleared the chamber.  Which leads into the next item...

3) Never Aim at Something You Don't Intend to Destroy.  Always be sure you are pointing the end of your firearm in a safe direction.  Don't muzzle sweep your best friend's legs - it makes them nervous, and could end in tragedy.

4) Always be Sure of Your Target.  And what's behind it.  Most gun ranges have a huge berm of earth piled up behind the target area to soak up discharged bullets.  You never want to set up a target a quarter mile from your neighbor's house with nothing to halt your plinkers between you and them.

That's it - now you know the bare necessities of gun safety.  Obviously, there is a whole lot more to learn about the various firearms out there, but no matter what you have, these rules will always apply.  Next, it's up to you to get out there and make damn sure you know how to use your weapon, should the need arise.  Remember to exhale as you squeeze (rather than "jerk") the trigger!

Building the Future

Most people I know would agree that children are the future of our species and planet.  Most of them would also say that it all starts with a proper education.  It's true - we have to teach them to be good stewards of the planet and to continue to advance the Human species, but there is something much more important than teaching them math and science.

We have to stop producing fucked up kids.

Too often, there is a cycle of violence in families.  Your parents spanked (hit) you to gain your obedience as a child, and your grandparents did the same.  And so, you hit your children to illicit the same compliance.  It's easy to understand why - this is all you've ever known.  And clearly, it worked out okay for you.  But did it really?  If you are using physical force to make your kids behave, maybe your thought patterns need some adjustment.

Think about what it teaches a child when you operate under this paradigm.  They internalize the idea that violence is an acceptable means to resolve basic disputes.  They also learn that there are two classes of people: Those who are "allowed" to use violence against others, and those who are forbidden to defend themselves against this compliance-seeking force.

Given this, is it any wonder that most people don't think twice about such problems as police brutality?  Or the demonstrable fact that the political class does not operate under the same set of rules as the little people?  The whole of American society is currently based around using physical force against those who will not comply with what a few corrupt people in suits have scribbled on paper.  This force is applied even when the "criminal" has caused no actual harm to a victim.  To a healthy and rational Human being, this is a morally repugnant way to organize societies.

You might say that children will be forced into this paradigm anyway when they grow up, and for now, you would be right.  But people do not internalize ideas in nearly as permanent a way when they are adults.  What children experience during their most formative years becomes the bedrock of their worldview.  And while it can be unlearned (this author being an example), it takes a great deal more work and pain to shift how you see the world once you are an adult.  Too many people are not even capable of questioning the core beliefs they have always held.  And when they have learned the rule-by-force paradigm, the wheel continues to turn without so much as a second look.

The time to build a better future and break the cycle of violence starts right here, right now, with you.  If you want to learn more about Peaceful Parenting, here's a good place to start: http://www.peacefulparent.com/the-peaceful-parenting-philosophy/

"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think." -Margaret Mead

"Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." -Jess Lair

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -Frederick Douglass

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." -John F. Kennedy

Has your moral compass lost True North?

This message is for all the proud "law abiding citizens" out there.  The ones who think that, no matter what any law says, it ought to be followed to the letter.  The people who would happily vote "Guilty" on a case of illegally collecting rain water.  Or growing a garden in your front yard.  Or inhaling a leaf.  "Guilty," just because someone in a costume told you it was wrong for them to do those things.  "Guilty," despite that person never having harmed an actual victim.  "Guilty," ripping a family apart and throwing a peaceful person in a cage, effectively destroying the rest of their lives.  "Guilty," despite the knowledge that you are not compelled by any law to vote this way, no matter the evidence.  "Guilty," and damn it, you think they got exactly what they had coming to them.

What the hell is the matter with you?

Are you really not able to separate the morality of an action from the words written on a piece of paper by some faceless politician you'll never meet?  Do you not realize that the "law of the land" is nothing more than the law of men?  That these men, especially those who have sought and held positions of power, are nothing more than corrupted tyrants who couldn't care less about your well-being?  These people care for only one thing: Their own power.  And the worst part is that you know this!  Nobody thinks politicians are the most virtuous among us.  Everybody knows exactly how crooked they are.  How corrupt.  How untrustworthy.

Yet somehow, you think it's a great thing when someone is thrown in a cage on the say-so of these monsters.

If a person takes an action that does not cause harm to a victim, it is morally reprehensible to lock that person in a cage.  And if you participate in this imprisonment, or even think it is a righteous thing to do, you are the criminal.  And on some level, that's okay.  Just own it.  Stop trying to justify your actions as moral and righteous based on the words of corrupt men.

Of course, I do wish you would reconsider your thought patterns.

In any case, if you find yourself on trial for a victimless "crime" and I find myself sitting on your jury, I will not let your life be destroyed that day.  Maybe someday, you can offer me the same courtesy.

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within the limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.  I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."  -Thomas Jefferson

"If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." -Henry David Thoreau

Breath in your lungs, a Beat in your heart, and a Light in your eyes

Have you ever stopped to contemplate the sheer impossibility of your own existence?

Think about it.  The Universe, as far as we can see it, is at least 92 BILLION light years in diameter. And light is the fastest thing we know of: It takes it only 8 minutes and 20 seconds to traverse the 92.6 MILLION miles from the Sun to the Earth.  In a year, a beam of light travels 5,879,000,000,000 - almost 6 TRILLION - miles.  And that's just one year - our Universe is 92 billion of these years across.

There's a whole hell of a lot of space out there.  Much more than our brains can even begin to comprehend.  And it looks like our Universe gets bigger all the time.

In that space, as far as we can see, there are about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that's 1 billion trillion) stars.  We see more all the time as their light reaches us.  Each of those stars can easily have as many planets surrounding it as our own star.  Many of them probably have a lot more planets than our solar system.

That's a whole hell of a lot of planets.  Once again, far more than our brains can possibly understand.  There is truly little doubt that thousands or millions or even billions of those innumerable planets have conditions similar to our own Earth, and could support life exactly as we know it.

Given all this, is it even possible to calculate the odds that you, the person reading this, are alive and conscious in this time and in this place?  On the scale of the Universe, it isn't even a stretch to say that your existence is impossible.

Yet, here you are.

What's more, the atoms that make up your body are the very same atoms found in the stars.  You are literally made of Stardust!  And every single cell in that body is replaced once every 7 years.  No part of your physical makeup that was present when you were a child is present now.  Every cell has been replaced, multiple times if you're a more seasoned traveler.

So the next time you can't seem to get out of your head; can't quite shake that dark mood, just remember: You are a ghost driving a self-regenerating organic vehicle made up of the stars.  Your very existence in this time and place is a miracle of unimaginable magnitude.

And smile.  As with all situations and objects that have ever existed, this, too, shall pass.