July 03, 2006

What Do The Fireworks Mean?
By MamaLiberty

July 01, Saturday night, I watched a spectacular fireworks show in my new home town of Newcastle, Wyoming. Yet, as I watched the rapid fire of colored lights and simulated bomb bursts in the darkening sky, I wondered just what it all really meant to the others watching from the grandstands of the county fairgrounds, or like me, from their homes.

I couldn't help but think of all the suffering and death those "bomb bursts" represented to the original patriots who fought the British, or all of the other Americans down through the 230 years since - all those caught up in the wars for, of and by the various governments - none of them required to repel an invasion, except the hapless defenders of the south in the war of northern aggression.

So many dead and maimed since 1776. For what? Did those who fought the wars after the revolution die to protect our "freedom?" I don't think so. They suffered and died so governments could continue their games and consolidate their power over their misguided people. The really sad part is that we have never learned, and so we allow our government to continue its power games, paid for by the blood and tears of all those caught in the web of war - and all those who are forced to pay for it in money and pain.

When will we ever learn? When will we recapture the Spirit of 1776 and reclaim our birthright of liberty and justice for all? What will it take?

A Little Temporary Safety - Short and Sweet
By L. Reichard White

Indulge me here, folks, I'm just celebrating the Fourth of July, you know, "America's Holiday," the official day the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founders, declaring their independence from repressive government.

And now, moving right along - - -

Polls have consistently shown that, being the macho folks we apparently are, we Americans don't care if the U.S. Government listens in on our phone conversations, spies on our e-mails, and/or secretely black-bags our domiciles, frames some of us, and now, peeks over our shoulders at our bank accounts. Even if "the government" breaks its own laws doing it -- and doesn't really have to. [1]

After all, despite Ben Franklin's quip that "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," what's a loss of "essential liberty" and less privacy -- as long as "the government" provides us a "little temporary safety?" (Read the rest here)

Borrowed Trouble
By Lady Liberty

I like to read, and I also like to watch movies. Because I like doing both of those things so much, I'm happy to encourage others to enjoy them, too.

I have a lot (okay, I have more than a lot) of books, and I have a few of my favorite movies on DVD. Although I'm fairly careful of these books and movies because I value them so much, I have been known to loan those I recommend to good friends. After all, if you can't trust a good friend, who can you trust?

Earlier this week, I was in a foul mood after having had to write a check. No, it wasn't for an extortionate utility bill, nor was it a payment on something I didn't really want or need. Instead it represented the amount it cost me to replace several books and DVDs that had not been returned to me by a so-called friend despite her ongoing promises (ongoing without results for about nine months now). (Read the rest here)

The Not So Good Book
By Emiliano Antunez

The cacophony at the Miami-Dade Public Schools hearing in mid June could be heard all the way across the Florida Straights. At the center of the political storm was a picture book intended for seven to nine year olds called “A Visit to Cuba” (Vamos A Cuba), in which life in Cuba is depicted as similar to life in the United States. As expected, many in Miami’s Cuban expatriate community where appalled at such a suggestion and asked the school board to ban the book from the school systems libraries. Faster than you can say Huckleberry Finn, the ACLU threatened to sue the school system if the book was banned. The board voted six to three to ban the book, while everyone was oblivious to the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

Cubans who either were forced to leave Cuba by the Castro government or left in order to escape execution, persecution, prostitution or destitution have every right to feel indignant about the book's rosy content. The ACLU is also within its right over its concerns about the banning of books. So if both sides are right (or at least within their rights) who or what is wrong? The root cause of this entire problem, which on the surface appeared to be caused by a simple book, is in reality the existence of government (i.e. public) schools. (Read the rest here)

Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership
America's Aggressive Civil Rights Organization

JPFO ALERT: The Guardian

As the 230th anniversary of the birth of our nation draws near, it's natural to think about our country: its origins,
its ideals, and its current state.

We all know that a well-trained but non-professional, unorganized militia had taken on the British -- the biggest
superpower on earth at the time. This rabble of farmers, merchants, dockworkers, and others fought ... and they won.

One of the primary reasons for their success lay in their arms. More than a decade later, this was not forgotten when
the founders established the Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment: the right to keep and bear arms.

In honor of this Independence Day, please take a moment to download "The Guardian" The most recent in our series of "Government, Keep Out" speeches ( www.jpfo.org/keepoutspeeches.htm ), "The Guardian" describes not only the importance of firearms in the founding of our country, but the dangers currently posed to this precious right. As you listen our inspirational speech, you can almost _hear_ the "shot heard 'round the world" in the back of your mind. (Read the rest here)

To Physicians: New Discoveries in Acupressure Promise Everything From Alertness to Pain and Stress Management
From the World Center for EFT

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) -- According to University of Michigan researchers, do-it-yourself acupressure can keep students awake in class without caffeine or high-sugar snacks. Their results, reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, agree with what acupuncturists have been saying for millennia – that stimulating key acupuncture points improves the body’s flow of energy for optimum health.

But the student alertness study used only physical stimulation. Students tapped on the tops of their heads and on their legs, feet, and hands for several minutes at a time. Practitioners of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), which combines acupressure tapping with focused thought, report significant results for not only mental alertness but relief from pain, stress, anxiety, phobias, and other problems. Anyone can learn EFT by downloading the free EFT Manual. (Read the rest here)

The Coast Is Toast: Take the Money and Run
By Ed Ward, MD

For more than two decades the US government has known of global warming and it's disastrous effect of rising sea levels. Multiple studies were commissioned regarding possible solutions with cost consistently evaluated. These facts were never widely publicized by government or the corporate media, but not until recently have these facts become classified and censored.

Why Are Americans So Angry?
by Congressman Ron Paul - R - TX

I have been involved in politics for over 30 years and have never seen the American people so angry. It’s not unusual to sense a modest amount of outrage, but it seems the anger today is unusually intense and quite possibly worse than ever. It’s not easily explained, but I have some thoughts on this matter. Generally, anger and frustration among people are related to economic conditions; bread and butter issues. Yet today, according to government statistics, things are going well. We have low unemployment, low inflation, more homeowners than ever before, and abundant leisure with abundant luxuries. Even the poor have cell phones, televisions, and computers. Public school is free, and anyone can get free medical care at any emergency room in the country. Almost all taxes are paid by the top 50% of income earners. The lower 50% pay essentially no income taxes, yet general dissatisfaction and anger are commonplace. The old slogan “It’s the economy, stupid,” just doesn’t seem to explain things. (Read the rest here)

Government Keeps People Poor
by Sheldon Richman

Washington reruns are boring. A Democrat beholden to Big Labor proposes an increase in the mandated minimum wage. Republicans beholden to Big (and small) Business defeat the bill. End of episode. Each side has thus reestablished its bona fides with its respective constituency and thus can return to what it really cares about - spending the people's money on war against this, that, or the other.

Both sides will claim to care about the poor, but "caring" means they can be counted on to utter the "right" words on cue. That's Washington for you - nothing more.

As the great movie Wag the Dog illustrated, politics is show biz and pageantry. What counts is perceptions. Results - or the lack thereof - don't matter because in short order the public will be distracted by something else anyway. (Read the rest here)

Twelve Step Feminist Cure
By Carey Roberts

It's a condition that's known to be chronic, progressive, and highly contagious. With my own eyes I've seen bright, caring women fall under the sway of its deceptive allure. They soon begin to speak and act like someone possessed.

Its initiates are taught that women are "strong and invincible," but at the same time are the victims of an implacable patriarchal conspiracy. These self-contradictory beliefs induce a stress-producing condition known as cognitive dissonance. To relieve the discomfort, the girls are instructed to immerse themselves in the radical ideology.

The next stage of the disease is marked by a loss of sense of humor, self-centeredness, and a decreasing ability to perceive reality accurately. Some adherents refuse to use lip-stick or brush their hair, believing such actions contribute to their "objectification." (Read the rest here)

External Article: 9/11 - The Trigger
By Beowulf

The Official Story

Let's Go Back To The Beginning And Try To Make Sense Of This Dept.

I'm not going to go into too much technical detail on why it's all a lie. There are too many well researched sites by professional smart guys for that.

Instead, let's step back for an overview and put some puzzle pieces together. I'm going to avoid the tremendous loss of life and grief this continues to cause, and instead focus on the side-work and why 9/11 was just a murderous trigger
for something far bigger than some guys in a cave that "hate our freedoms".

(Click here to read the rest of this article) (Click back button to return to The Price of Liberty)

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