tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post526885076593430005..comments2023-09-01T09:38:54.262-04:00Comments on Dumb Looks Still Free: The essence of LibertyA Jacksonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-35753179810538926472009-07-01T09:25:17.915-04:002009-07-01T09:25:17.915-04:00Harrison - Republicans and Democrats, the Left and...Harrison - Republicans and Democrats, the Left and Right, all seek to enshroud themselves in the beauty of those seeking solace of the Great Tree of Liberty... but are unwilling to pay the token, themselves, at home. Thus their poverty of morals and ethics can only be rectified by the cost of the purchase of Liberty by the population at large: that will not be easy, it will not be free, and it will cost in blood. Some nations have gotten by with a very low cost in those regards (Philippines, Czechoslovakia, Hungary) and yet they had to put up with decades of brutal rule and lost loved ones who also paid into that final price.<br /><br />No war is good, but suffering the ills of government gone authoritarian, despotic and tyrannical is worse than any war to remove them. Overseas the only justice we have amongst Nations is that of warfare by the State - the holder of that negative liberty of society and all of its individuals. There is no 'higher justice' amongst Nations and only that which is built and maintained by the hand of man exists, and no higher authority can be sought for those things that happen between Nations.<br /><br />I do sorrow in the death to establish individual liberty. But the motto is 'Live free, or die' not 'Live free or be a slave of government'. We have too many seeking to make that latter come true on the Left and Right, because they are unwilling to support living freely for themselves and especially for their fellow citizens. Each of us must be willing to do that for the good of society in all of its individuals.<br /><br />"You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.” - Andrew JacksonA Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-65355302756990138902009-06-30T22:59:58.536-04:002009-06-30T22:59:58.536-04:00The Equivalency argument is just as rubbish as the...The Equivalency argument is just as rubbish as the Republicans comparing themselves to the Iranians as they are outnumbered in the House and complain about being repressed as a minority. Never in anyone's right mind should these be even contrasted on the same plane.<br /><br />War is hell, a beast that when unleashed may escape from the rational calculations of those holding its leash, but it is unavoidable when tyrants and dictators seek to impose their worldviews that stifle freedom, violate fundamental rights recognised by the international community and those under <i>jus gentium</i> and the law of peoples - the right to freedom of association, that of survival of political communities. To express our devotion and to show enough respect for them, we must be willing to defend them.<br /><br />An unjust peace is as good as an unfinished war, and ethically speaking, may be far worse than an unjust war itself. What is worse, as you pointed out, is that the "peace" of the first World War was concluded in such a manner by those who consciously <i>knew</i> that it was unjust and insufficient, and yet proceeded to choose the easier path. There is no easier path: the defeated must be convinced of their loss, the victors of their triumph. An inconclusive peace only encourages temporising with an evil to one's own disadvantage, because you then are held hostage by having to wage war at someone else's convenience and not yours.<br /><br />The people of Iran - Moussavi's Iran - have shown that despite the crackdowns, the brutality of the Basij and police, the detentions and jailings, they much rather would risk imprisonment and death than have to return to an even more repressive government than before, one that knows that its cover - of compassionate conservatism and religious piety and devotion to the Islamic Revolution and all the ideals it once stood for - has been smashed and trod on beyond any chance of reconciliation. Knowing that it does not have to pretend any more, the conservative order will choose to rule by absolute force alone, and that is an outcome that the Iranians cannot stomach - if not now, then even more so in the future, when their appetites for freedom have been stoked.Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17688001023588334672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-25924264602198633122009-06-26T11:48:51.965-04:002009-06-26T11:48:51.965-04:00Richard - I do write not for the present day, thou...Richard - I do write not for the present day, though try to keep it interesting for the present. My writings are for those in need of finding the path out of horrific troubles... the path to liberty and freedom. Thus those in the future will have basis to understand me.<br /><br />Those that close their ears and shut their eyes and murmur sweet nothings to abolish the blood an horror going on by authoritarian government want to deny that this is the end of authoritarian government of all stripes. The reductio ad absurdum of authority is raw power to kill those who disagree with you. Thus we do, indeed, slouch to worse times... and the path back is hard with all those good intentions.<br /><br />Thus the answer when arriving at Hell is to go through and get out as all paths away are better than any path to it. The way out is becoming forward and through.<br /><br />A civil society can do otherwise, but time grows short. I prepare for the march forward and through, now.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-35575900338133667292009-06-26T10:07:46.527-04:002009-06-26T10:07:46.527-04:00"Ghandi depended on the civility of the Briti...<i>"Ghandi depended on the civility of the British, while those fanatics in power in Tehran have NONE.<br /><br />In case you hadn't noticed the difference."</i><br /><br />Ah yes, but it is precisely that <b>difference</b> which must be ignored, lest a ray of light shine upon the deceit that is at the core of of their argument. For most assuredly it is a willful omission. <br /><br />Interesting post Jacksonian, however, tragic in that those sneering individuals, puffed up with their superior virtue, would neither take the time to read it, nor the energies to digest and understand it...and so we indolently slouch onwards towards the abyss.Just Another Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16127860738192381683noreply@blogger.com