Freedom Tribe

Precisely one week ago, Anders Monsen published his top 50 libertarian fiction list, and included the rules he chose. I particularly like his restriction of only one choice per author; not only does it help spread the love around, as it were, but it encourages the listmaker to reflect on the various volumes of, for example, Robert Heinlein and to attempt to articulate the ineffable: Which one do I really like best, and is good at promoting liberty?

Here's a "project" we could easily do, and promote everywhere. Feel free to edit and add/subtract questions, of course. I know you will anyway. :)

Absolutely sterling article... print off these "questions" and offer them to anyone who wants any sort of infringement on our self defense rights. Could start a real discussion, once in a while anyway. I intend to post this all over the place. Oh, and how many of those questions can WE answer accurately? I had to look up two of them. ML

Yow. Another large block of time away from here—completely unintended, yet utterly unavoidable.

One of the very few (I think it was only four of us) individuals who had attended all of the Liberty Round Table conclaves died yesterday morning.

And I am long overdue in acknowledging three stalwart gentlemen whose shoulders have helped carry me further than my grownup self sometimes thought I could go.

This article is from the current issue of The Price of Liberty. I like to think it is one of my better efforts, and have been surprised at how little feedback I've gotten after posting it on a number of freedom and gun rights message boards. A little discouraging.... but I guess that's just life these days. Anyway, thought I'd share it with you here as well. Comments are, of course, most welcome.

I Love My Guns
By Susan Callaway, Editor

April 02, 2012

Some recent comments on various message boards frequented by shooters indicate that a few people are either changing their minds or are bowing to the politically correct pressure of the day. They have begun to assert that they do NOT "love their guns" and only view them as necessary tools.

While I couldn't agree more that guns are simply tools, pretty much like any others, I don't know why that would make them unlovable. Most men love their tools, all different kinds, and men have always loved their guns. I'm certainly not ashamed to join those men.

But, you might ask, just what is it that we (who still profess it anyway) actually love about guns? Aren't they killing machines, good only for harming others? We hear that a lot.

So, why do I love my guns? Let me count the ways.

I’ve been keeping an eye out for news from Belarus in the wake of the bombing. As is typical of our media, now that the bleeding is over, their eyes have mostly turned elsewhere. Having Belarusian friends provides more of an insider’s view—as does the experience of Lobo and the snolfs, freshly returned from a visit to that part of the world. The contrasts between the situations—and people—of that country and this are rich in irony.

Dear friend and fellow LRT Knight Carl Bussjaeger offered an amusing peek at some psychobabble ... and in poking around, I found the other psychotic babble, which is not so pleasant.

Via the LRT discussion list comes word that JPFO founder Aaron Zelman died on December 21. I wasn’t fortunate enough to meet him in person, but did communicate with him a few times. His energy and creativity were palpable even in email. He will be sorely missed ... and I hope JPFO continues their important work. My condolences to Aaron’s family and friends.

Guns And Weed
Because there's no such thing as "half-free."

Catching up on some blog reading lately, I came across something that was so suffused with irony I can’t help but remark on it ... even though I have misgivings about doing so.

It is wonderful to see that our dear Uncle Warren is back to making music.

A good deal of my absence here—and the lightness of subject when I do post—can be attributed solely to fear.

I’m finding some interesting, er, artifacts as I sift through stuff I’ve been carrying around for years. One thing that caught my attention last night is a copy of Fifth Estate’s spring/summer 2005 issue. I believe it was an essay—the title of which I’ve used for this ramble—that sparked something within me.

My dear friend Carl Bussjaeger shared some good tidings with me, and has given permission for me to share with y’all. Let’s step in to the library ...