A Memorial Day Reflection...

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Sternhauser' date='31 May 2010 - 12:03 AM' timestamp='1275274982' post='2121009']

If an "anarchist" is someone who believes there should be no leaders, then no, I am not an anarchist. But a [i]leader[/i] does not stand behind you, pointing a gun at you and [i]telling[/i] you what to do. He stands in front of you and [i]inspires[/i] you to do something. If I were against the construction of a common assent to leadership, or governmental construct, I couldn't be a Catholic, because the Vatican is both those things, and more.

I am not at all opposed to any group of people getting together to form an institution whereby the rights to life, liberty and property will be directly protected through the use of violence, if necessary. I am opposed to them doing it by collecting money at gunpoint or the threat of gunpoint. (Taxation.) I am opposed to them enforcing statutes which do not, either in their intent or their real effect, protect the life, liberty and property of individuals from actual violations of those rights. There is an armed, private police force in San Francisco that has the power to arrest people, and they work among State police. Their services are paid for by storeowners. The great thing about them is that they do not go around "enforcing statutes." They do nothing but protect life, liberty and property, and are funded voluntarily. Kudos to them.

The days of "raising a hue and a cry," when citizens responded to a felony with whatever weapons they had, were days that were far less crime-ridden, and far less violent overall. These days, people don't rely on their neighbors for help so much. They call some stranger: a State-funded cop who is 8 minutes away. A sad situation.


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[Sternhauser]

[quote name='Semper Catholic' date='30 May 2010 - 11:02 PM' timestamp='1275278570' post='2121038']
Memorial Day is not about America, it is not about Religion, it is not about the "State"

It is about remembering the Veterans who sacrificed so that we could be free, regardless of our religion, or any affiliations.

It is idiotic that anyone could write an article about Memorial day and not even mention the entire reason behind dog gone thing.
[/quote]

It is about remembering war [i]dead[/i], not veterans.

And it has to do much with America and the State, if people think even 5% of soldiers in American history died while protecting American freedom. No hate. Just reality.

~Sternhauser