Comments on: Historical Note–French Revolution

By: Allen Tran

Allen Tran — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:52:55 +0000

I’m no expert on Thoreau, but I really liked that quote. Often times I’m overwhelmed by all that happens around us. Every day theres a new violation of rights, a new political scandal, a new bailout, or hawkish talk of a new war in some far off land.

Sometimes i want to fight it, but realize that the best I can do is to not participate, to not give these people any credence, and to the best of my ability, to not give them any of my money to pay for it too.

That quote really spoke to me. I’d just be happy if there was a significant movement in one place to secede from this awful country. Maybe that would help the house of cards come tumbling down like it did in the USSR.

By: Stephen Neitzke

Stephen Neitzke — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:50:50 +0000

Michael – I’ve just re-read Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”. It’s one of my early admirations. I still think its sentiments should guide all ordinary Americans — at least, those of us in the choir. Ultimately, however, posting its excerpts can not approach the problem that “Historical Note–French Revolution” addresses. That problem is how ordinary Americans, forced by the tyranny of this anti-Constitutional American govt to give up, in ignorance, what little happiness and pride they have, will deal with the knowledge that the only govt they’ve ever known has been sucking the life-blood out of ordinary Americans from its 1790 beginnings.

Thoreau is a train-stop on that journey. But he is not the journey. And arguing the niceties of his thinking won’t make the nut. There were many great French thinkers who argued niceties going into the French Revolution. They didn’t make the nut, either.

“Historical Note” is not about us in the choir. It’s about the human wreckage that this anti-Constitutonal American govt has scattered from wall to wall down on the floor. It’s not about how pretty we will sing. It’s about how ugly they will be — in the knowlege of what and why.

It’s about how quick-stumbly the killing gets when it’s driven by the great emotions packed into vengence, justice, and the loss of liberty.

The French had no experiental knowlege of liberty. But they knew they didn’t have it. And they knew who was responsible for keeping it from them.

Those of us in the choir won’t be the killers. Those whose brothers, fathers, and grandfathers gave up life to defend the Constitution mocked by the predator elites will be the killers. Those who gave up liberty to feed the predator elites their forcibly-taken economic, social, and political power will be the killers. Those whose lives were chewed to pieces by the hydra-headed criminal of Federal Reserve and the personal income tax on wages will be the killers.

It’s about zero-justification for keeping the American predator elites — any of them. They should all turn coat and take up the causes of the American poor and middle classes — before they lose their heads.

By: Michael Boldin

Michael Boldin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:30:17 +0000

Makes me think of one of my favorite lines from Civil Disobedience:

“It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders. “

By: Stephen Neitzke

Stephen Neitzke — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:23:46 +0000

Bravo, Michael. Thoreau can still teach us that waiting for the govt means nothing changes. By the way, we handled this same corporations-loaded fascist govt in the early 1900s. Thoreau can teach us how to look at the history of the citizen corrections of a hundred years ago — corruption-crushing direct democracy in 23 state constitutions – and how the predator elites have talked us down. We don’t have an either-or deal here. It’s not violence or nothing. But if we wait for this fascist govt to change, nothing is what we’ll get. Go Thoreau.

By: Michael Boldin

Michael Boldin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:57:45 +0000

Speaking of Thoreau, a copy of Civil Disobedience might be the best $5 I've ever spent.

By: Spoonerite

Spoonerite — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:10:33 +0000

Yes Dave. Nonviolence is absolutely the way to go. But either way, I don’t think government in this country (as we know it today) is going to last much longer. Either they’re going to ramp up the tyranny pretty hard just to keep power or they’re going to fall apart.

By: Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:52:30 +0000

I would definitely prefer a non-violent resistance to the tyranny of the US government – but, I do fear that they would rather incite a revolution instead. It’s what they do best…smash heads.

I hope that people will follow the actions and advice of people like Ghandi, Thoreau, King..