Nice one Jetster. Really nice and melodic. But you are story telling.

I don't mean it as a negative accusation, I mean it with admiration. You truly are gifted bro. As you self-identify as a newb, your words betray you. And I know what you mean.

It's not the first time young man. It actually got way more confusing with Ed and Elaine Brown where half the movement was calling the US Marshalls and telling them "please just give us a chance to handle this before it goes Waco".

Yeah young bro, this stuff just does get pretty wild and it's up to people like us to kind of.....just be ourselves bra.

Yeah, I'm serious. Listen, you are doing fine. You are New R3VOlUTION. You young people are making up a whole new set of rules. I know us elders seem and sound iconographic but we all went through our period of figuring out where we stop and the world begins or vice-versa. And it's not static.

Look at one of our ideological (and beloved) counterparts, Cindy Sheehan. She lost her beloved son, the cost she has paid in revilement from her own "establishment" is so severe that we, WE of all people remain among her best and most consistant friends.

Jet bro, this is not a game to get into to make popularity. I think Ernie would agree, this is not a game to get into to make friends. This is not a social club, this is not a picnic.

The editors of FP have not published my two most recent submissions, I'm not sure why, I'm not sure I care, I don't mind a bit of editorial scrutiny and I tell you in truth, if Ed or Renee came to me with chains and ropes in hand, I would submit to them because these are people whom I trust with my life and beyond. I tell you in truth that if Ed Vallejo told me to walk into fire because he needed me to, that's what I would do.

If this happens, I will naturally have some questions as I walk into a fire. Such as "am I doing this for Ed for for some other team?" but this will be a tactical nuance. Ed and I have rode into battle together before and the sheer joy we have is indescribable.

Jet, I invite you to continue. Ordinarly we do not make such things public and we should soon make this more private but I feel strongly that you are one of us.

I like how you included the Revolution logo in there. Nice touch.

OK here we go. This is a gift to strengthen you an all people.

http://www.dataspheric.com/BearDance.mp3

LUCKY RED, LUCKY RED, LUCKY RED, PING LUCKY RED,

KID, take down the mp3 on my last link, it's meant for you too. Serious kid, record it, it's yours now. It's one of the last things we have.

Interesting how a night's sleep can change perspective. My good-humor truck is full of gas this morning. But I also woke up with Jet on my mind. Perhaps because he is going through an existential crisis, perhaps because he is a bed-hog but the first thing I though of when I awoke was "Jeepers Fleepers Jet, get off my mind you 300 pound teenager".

Just kidding. Let's be serious.

Jet, I read in your piece an apology for being friends with Ernie and it's a mistake many of us have made.

Wait that didn't come out right. I guess you can see why I'm not the most popular counselor. Just listen to Bear Dance. Everybody listen to that song and copy it down, it won't be there for long.

What began as "My intention was to engage in social intercourse with other readers of Freedom’s Phoenix about a topic that I felt was very poignant." developed into "I know at times I am a caustic and confrontational asshole, and I am not known as someone who suffers fools lightly.  I also have the dubious ability to “press just the right button” when I feel the situation calls for it." and then culminated (in my mind) with "a megalomaniac attention-whore that preaches hatred "...

Follow that with "But I guess it’s to each their own as long as it doesn’t affect me.  I would never tell anyone how to live their lives as they see fit as long as it doesn’t affect me, and I pray that I live to see the day that everyone regains the right to be left alone" and I truly wonder where the title of the article came from.

Jet, my Brother - if you don't want to be 'affected' by the words or actions of others, you had better find you a far-away cave to take up residence in - and leave your computer and TV behind! 

And this journalism thing will just give you ulcers.  If you let it.

BTW - just what is your definition of 'Freedom Fighter'?  My definition of 'Freedom' (be it practical or not) is to believe whatever it is that I believe, right or wrong.  Period.  Does that give me the right to ACT as I please?  HELL NO!  Freedom, like other abstract concepts (you can't carry a 'bucket of Freeedom') ARE IN THE MIND.  We are free to think as we wish, but not to act as we wish.  Why do I say that?  Because we are not alone, silly.  There are others around us, and in order for us to be left alone by them, we in turn have to leave others alone.

Make no mistake, THIS IS MY OPINION.  This is how I feel, and how I conduct myself.  Were it the predominant sentiment on this planet, I wouldn't be where I am now.  I'd probably be at a 9-to-5 job somewhere, just back after a wonderful summer vacation with the family to some wonderful place in America, and back at my wonderful paid-off home, planning the cabin up north I'd be building...

Great article on the Psychology of Intent. :)

Reminds me of two great quotes: 

 Stacey Charter:

“There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:

This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me…or leave me. Accept me or walk away! Do not try to make me feel less a person, just because I don’t fit your idea of who I should be and don’t try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision. When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good or bad – you will be amazed the opportunities that life presents you.”

Thank you all for all the thoughtful and honest feedback. 

This piece was extremely difficult to write, and I've rewritten it almost in its entirety a few times.  I stuck with it because I felt the overall theme was an important albeit an uncomfortable one.

I also related multiple levels of emotion because it is a complicated issue as well.  

However, the feedback is encouraging and I will continue fighting this fight.   

Thanks again.....

Since when are libertarians so PC (you're not the first libertarian I've heard talking about 'hate speech' lately)?  You're upset because of the words and beliefs of Chris and the reverend?  They didn't aggress against anyone, just spoke and thought thoughts you don't care for?  What do you think a fundamentalist Baptist preacher believes? 

I appreciate your point FreeDomMonkey but I believe you missed my point. I said that his actions could possibly affect the freedom movement itself.  My opinion regarding what he says is immaterial. 

While acting as an active advocate for liberty, he is also actively spewing his particular brand of hatred to whomever will listen to him, including to those who are quite obviously enemies to the freedom movement.  

 I understand what you're saying, but that's the risk you take when you deal with humans.  

But be that as it may, hang in there. 

 hee hee...your 'word is your bond'...what kind of bond is that?? Jail Bond?? James Bond?? Gold Bond Lotion, (you know..for your not-so 'private time') or a bond as in debt security. Certainly you don't mean the latter, that would imply you know something about integrity or honesty...LOL

I like that: "My Word Is My Bond"...it sound so very...original!!

Keep up the good werk, jettster!!

Jet you are a gentleman and a scholar, I believe as you do that the R3ovlution has no place for hate and pettiness.   This is exactly the kind of thing the opponent wants us to do:  fight amongst ourselves.  Then they place themselves as the referee.   They win no matter what.  We must learn to rise above, all of us, myself included.   That way we are able to focus our energy at the true cause of all the negativity in the world.   

I marvel at the width, breath and depth of talent that, I am constantly surrounded, by in the R3volution.  I have such wonderful friendships, which I am so grateful to have.  It saddens me, when I my friends, have tension about each other.   We have such larger pictures to paint.  When we expend energy in fighting with each other, we are doing exactly what the opponent wants us to do.  I am not directing this comment to anyone, however when the shoe fits, wear it!

I would like to share with you a quote from the 12 and 12:  A hallmark of 12 step recovery programs is the offer of anonymity to participants, but the principle goes much deeper than just not revealing last names.

In order to keep the focus on principles rather than personalities, personal anonymity should be maintained at all levels of participation in 12 step fellowship -- in meetings, in 12th step work, and even in sponsorship. Anonymity is maintained not so much for the protection of the individual as for the protection of the program.

Tradition 12
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.

Gentlemen and ladies, we are in a spiritual war make no bones about it.  For us to succeed we must surely stand together, else we shall all hang separately!