Christine Smith’s Blog

“Transparency” in Government (radio interview audio)

Today, Feb. 2, 2010, I was again interviewed on Paul Molloy’s Freedom Works! radio show (heard on WTAN (TanTalk) Radio – 1340 AM in Tampa Bay, FL – as well as on KLRG – 880 AM – in Little Rock, Arkansas…with WTAN covering “more than 3,000,000 people in and around” the Tampa Bay, Florida region and KLRG heard in “Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, TN; Branson, MO; and parts of Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana.”

Topic: “Transparency” in Government.

I invite you to listen (audio approximately 20 minutes).  CLICK HERE.

Highly recommended reading: Trust Freedom, Not Statism by Jacob G. Hornberger

Highly recommended reading: Trust Freedom, Not Statism by Jacob G. Hornberger

My Campaign Website

http://www.ElectChristineSmith.com

(audio) Radio Interview - healthcare reform (with discussion of The Tenth Amendment)

 Today, Jan. 12, 2010, I was interviewed by Paul Molloy on his Freedom Works! radio show (heard on WTAN (TanTalk) Radio - 1340 AM in Tampa Bay, FL - as well as on KLRG - 880 AM - in Little Rock, Arkansas…with WTAN covering “more than 3,000,000 people in and around” the Tampa Bay, Florida region and KLRG heard in Arkansas and  “Memphis, TN; Branson, MO; and parts of Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana.”

Topic: the debate over healthcare reform (including a discussion of The Tenth Amendment).
I invite you to listen. (audio approximately 15 minutes).

“The End Does Not Justify The Means” in The Newjurist International Law Magazine

The Newjurist International Law Magazine has published my article “The End Does Not Justify The Means.”

Email Malfunction

NOTE: The “christine@christinesmith.us” email malfunctioned. Those interested in contacting me regarding my political campaign may telephone (719) 966-4788. If you have previously sent an email within the last three days to email above I will not have received it. The campaign website (and email) will be available shortly.

Photos - Christmas morning, 2009, with my father.

The Road Waiting to Be Taken

Excerpt from my article:

“Reading Friedrich A. Hayek’s Road to Serfdom, one is amazed that a book published 64 years ago could paint such an accurate picture of where the United States is headed today. Hayek’s warning of the dangers of centralized planning and his cautioning that well-intentioned planning can degrade into tyranny describes the road the United States embarked upon several decades ago and has traveled ever since. We now live in a nation where many people give only lip service to the free market and its fruits of economic and personal freedom…”

I invite you to read my article, The Road Waiting to Be Taken, published by The Future of Freedom Foundation.

Announcement of My Decision to Seek Political Office in 2010

NOTE: The “christine@christinesmith.us” email malfunctioned. Those interested in contacting me regarding my political campaign may telephone (719) 966-4788. If you have previously sent an email within the last three days to email above I will not have received it. The campaign website (and email) will be available shortly.

I share the following letter which I wrote to Colorado Libertarians with my readers.

I welcome support from libertarians nationwide. Thank you!

Colorado Libertarians:

I am seeking the Colorado State House District 60 seat in the 2010 election representing the counties Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, Pueblo, and Saguache.

As a libertarian, I cherish individual liberty. I am devoted to freedom (rejecting the control of economic and social affairs by the state). Free markets, private property, and a greater ability to keep one’s earnings built this nation and this state, and I seek to help make Colorado better by working to restore the principle of limited government. I will not compromise libertarian principles. I believe all people should be able to live their lives as they choose, as long as they harm no other. This applies to every issue - no exceptions.

Having lived in Colorado for 24 years, I understand the concerns which matter to the people in my district as well as the rest of our beautiful state, and believe libertarian principles applied to every issue will bring freedom (and its fruit of greater prosperity and well being) to our citizens.

I will campaign diligently, as the key to this election will be meeting with as many citizens in this region as possible. Many in my district are receptive to ideas of liberty to extricate themselves from the bureaucratic, big spending, intrusive control of the government. People are upset about the taxation, greater fees, infringements of their rights, and regulations they currently suffer under. I will bring the message of libertarianism and its solutions to my district by campaigning to be a voice for liberty in our State House.

Simultaneously, I want to share the Libertarian Party of Colorado with them, as I believe libertarians joining together at the state/local level is the means to gain political power to advance liberty. I am one who believes that the sharing of ideas on liberty and the libertarian philosophy is very powerful, but I also know to affect political change we need to join together as a political party in our state to accomplish that. Friends of mine have urged me to differentiate between what we libertarians joining together in our state through the LPCO can accomplish, and my disillusionment with the National Libertarian Party/Libertarian National Committee in past years. I agree, and realize that together we have an opportunity to accomplish so much for individual liberty through the LPCO, and I want to join with my fellow Colorado Libertarians to see what we can do together to make this a freer state. I realize that each state LP chapter is an autonomous entity which can be a powerful tool to work for individual liberty. (Formerly, I was a candidate for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination in 2008. During my campaign, I was gratified to receive support from many Libertarians nationwide (including receiving a landslide victory over the other LP candidates in the California primary on Super Tuesday,) and appreciated the opportunity to speak at LP conventions in eight states.)

I have spent the past three weeks speaking with others about issues in my region, and the strategy my campaign will pursue. I (and others I have spoken with) believe my campaign for this office is winnable. There are many libertarian-leaning voters here, they might not (yet) have an “L” by their name, but they desire greater freedom and liberty - and that’s what I promise to work for in the Colorado State House of Representatives.

In the month of January 2010 my campaign website will be up and running. It will be a well-made political website focusing upon my platform in regards to issues of concern in my district and my statement of principles, and will be able to accept monetary contributions to my candidate campaign committee.

I seek to now hear from all Libertarians who are interested in helping achieve this goal. I welcome your input and assistance. I want to learn from you. And, those who may be interested in volunteering - please let me know your ideas, suggestions, and availability to share your talents and abilities with my campaign. I want to listen to your ideas, and answer your questions. Throughout this campaign, I want to work together with fellow Colorado Libertarians, and I welcome hearing from you now. You may telephone me at (719) 966-4788. Thank you!

Meanwhile, to learn more about me, I invite you to my personal website: http://www.christinesmith.us
(Again, shortly I will be announcing the campaign website, but meanwhile, as an introduction to you, I share my personal website. As soon as the campaign website is functional, an announcement will be placed upon my personal website homepage linking to the campaign site.)

I begin campaigning throughout the six counties of my district in January (and could use your help in those counties!). I welcome your volunteer assistance, ideas, advice and financial support.

I look forward to working with individual Libertarians and the Libertarian Party of Colorado throughout this campaign.

I want to fight for our liberties in Colorado as a Libertarian in the State House of Representatives. Will you help?

Thank you,
Christine Smith
From personal website (brief bio, audio & video clips, articles):
I invite you to visit the “About Christine” page.

Mysterious Childhood Visions

When I was a child, I had three mysterious visions which I offer no explanation or interpretation of, but simply share as they have stayed with me all my life.

The first occurred at the age of four. I recall awaking, wide eyed and startled, as a bright feminine figure, in light, stood or hovered at the base of my bed. My immediate reaction was to think I should call out to awake my father to come, but just as that thought passed through me instantly I “heard” the lady apparition tell me not to be afraid and that there was no need to wake my father. I paused, thinking about that for a moment, and felt reassured completely. I stared at her, no audible verbal communication occurred, though I remember she was there for several minutes “speaking” since I was receiving some message telepathically, that’s how it feels in retrospect, though I do not recall what was communicated to me…the last I recall was being instructed to lie back down and close my eyes to rest. I did…but sat up again a few minutes later…and she was no longer there. The following morning I shared the experience with my father, telling him “I had seen an angel,” which was the only way I could find words to try and capture and express what I had experienced. To this day, I remember the incident most clearly, and when I speak to my father about it, he tells me I was most insistent, descriptive, and enthusiastic about what I had seen, full of zeal and wonder when I shared what had happened.

The second occurred also at the age of four. I was outside playing on the slide with another little friend, as I climbed up the ladder to the top again and sat down, I turned to the left (where the shipyard was) and instead of the usual scene, I saw a great expanse of a bright glowing light-giving city. It was brilliant! I looked all around me elsewhere and all was the same - the playground, the buildings, my friend at bottom of slide, and the basketball court farther away where my father was shooting hoops with others. Immediately I looked again, totally focusing my attention, on a most wondrous vision…it was hues of bright gold and bright white with towering buildings of beautiful architecture. Never had I seen anything like it, and the entire scene gave off a brilliant light like sunshine. I just kept staring, aware that my little playmate was calling to me to move on down the slide, but all I wanted to do was gaze at the sight before me. Then, with the persistence of my friend’s voice, I glanced down at her momentarily and then back…and it was gone. I slid down the slide and ran to the basketball court to get my father, but he was very much engaged in the basketball game and unable to come over to the slide right then. A little later, I told him in detail of what I had seen calling it “heaven”…another vision which he remembers my telling him of; he says I was “delighted” when I shared it with him.

The third occurred at about the age of ten. I had a habit of purposefully waking in the middle of the night and getting up to spend time gazing out my back bedroom window at the tall pines, dark night sky and stars when visible through the pines. I did this often, as I liked the quiet stillness of nighttime outside. On one such evening, I awoke as usual and walked to my window and leaned on the windowsill as I gazed around and upwards. I noticed a larger than usual bright light twinkling in the sky and it immediately captured my attention because it appeared to be getting closer as the light was getting larger and larger. Momentarily, it seemed as it had descended from the sky to right above the tree tops. Very quickly, it suddenly just got so large as to cover the expanse of pine tree tops and lit everything to such a degree all I could see was this enormous bright light and nothing else. That’s all I remember, because the very next thing I knew I was back in my bed, wide awake, and very much aware that I had been up at my window and watching that light - I was perplexed as to how I was now back in bed though awake and fully cognizant of having already gotten up as usual only to have witnessed the strange light and now found myself back in bed. I was hesitant to get up again, as it seemed such an unusual light and experience, but I did go back to the window and all was quiet and dark.

Merry Christmas! (photo from yesterday)

 Merry Christmas!

Had a wonderful day yesterday (Dec.10).  Had to go to the city for an appointment, and while there stocked up on all the fixings for delicious Christmas dinners and treats. 

Had to dress warmly (here in my wool coat) since temperature high was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 
While there, visited the abbey whose pasture had several beautiful large mules - white, brown, and mixed.  I was invited to feed them, given some of their feed, hiked through the snow in my boots, where I was met by their eager eyes waiting a treat. They joyfully munched on the alfalfa pellets from my gloved hands as I joyfully fed them. 

I am grateful for…

Just returned from an early morning hike through the snow - brisk and cool - a great way to begin the day! Stopped at the partially frozen creek, surrounded by tall slender aspen, and listened to the water music. The blue spruce across the way towered above me. I am grateful for so much, and so now, this Monday morning, as Thanksgiving is approaching this week, I’ll share a few thoughts on it.

Thanksgiving has always been a meaningful day, as it focuses upon the virtue of expressing gratitude. This makes Thanksgiving a day of action, not passivity, in both heart and deed…a way to live throughout the year. 

Every experience in life, and every individual we encounter, holds opportunity for truth to be taught and learned.

Whatever one is grateful for requires supporting actions showing it, protecting it, and restoring it. One shows they treasure and are grateful for something by their actions, not just their words. To be grateful is more than a feeling, it’s a way to live one’s life.

At its heart, Thanksgiving is a day of lessons learned (and continuing to be learned). Its beginnings, which we celebrate, are a testament to liberty and its bountiful rewards. (Indeed, the festivities of today are a celebration of the fruits reaped when the philosophy of libertarianism is sown. For more on this, visit my 2008 Thanksgiving piece and its links regarding William Bradford and the lesson learned of free enterprise by those early settlers- the true story which should also be taught children and everyone this time of year.)

Twenty four years ago I moved to Colorado, with my first day here being Thanksgiving Day 1985. Fortunately, some caring neighbors helped make that day festive by sharing their Thanksgiving fixings, as I was not prepared to be cooking such a meal in a kitchen yet to be filled with accessories and groceries. I remember that first day well, there was an enormous snowfall, and extreme record breaking cold temperatures. The neighbor’s hospitality was most welcome!

Now, every day, I step out onto the deck of my mountain chalet, look at the sky, the forest, the mountains, and think to myself, “This is the day which the Lord hath made…,” I “…will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24-KJV)

My life is filled with blessings, joy, and miracles…a few of which I share here: 

I am grateful for… 

the gift of each day.

my beloved father.

all my Gentle Beings throughout my life.

all my animal companions throughout my life.

the few, but precious, friendships in my life.

the natural world,

the abundance of the Earth, and its creatures.

being able to make my living doing something I love.

friends who give me the gift of trust - needing a listening caring heart - turning to me in times of distress - or seeking my advice or opinion to consider.

those whom have been patient and forgiving with me.

friends who inspire and encourage me through their passion for liberty - their uncompromising devotion, dedication and hard work.

favorite authors.

those who create art I appreciate - in music, painting, prose, film, or sculpture.

the scientific, mechanical and technological inventions and discoveries the mind of man has made.

those with integrity.

the kindness of strangers.

to live in the United States, a most unique and wonderful nation because it was founded on liberty.

our nation’s founders who recognized the rights of the individual are not bestowed by any man or government but are inherent at birth, God-given.

past associations with those whom I helped and those who helped me.

every opportunity given in which I was able to be a blessing in someone else’s life.

my parish, beautiful, built over 100 years ago, and those who make it home to the parish family.

my parish priest and his knowledge, wisdom, gentleness, understanding, and ability to teach God’s truth.

Mother Mary continually listening and teaching me to rest in God’s providence free from worry or anxiety.

God - His love - His patience and forgiveness.

In conclusion (and elaborating a bit on the above):

I have been abundantly blessed in life. I have a fine home, good food, and abundant provision of necessities as well as creature comforts such as all the things I use and enjoy each day which make life easier, comfortable and cozy… from warm fuzzy slippers- a cup of tea- a hot bubble bath–the glistening snow in bright sunshine- a quiet moonlit night- a classical music cd playing on the stereo- to so many more things which delight my senses in their goodness, beauty and simplicity.

I am grateful for my health - my ability to move freely, to go where I choose from travel, hiking, fitness, to just playing, swirling and dancing, to have the sense of smell to enjoy the delightful array of aromas and fragrances from wildflowers to delicious meals, to have eyes to see the beauty all around me and which give me the ability to read, to have the sense of hearing to hear the voices of those I love, to appreciate beautiful music, to learn from others, and to hear the sounds of all the earth from bird songs to the wind, to have the sense of touch so that the softness of a petal can be felt-the warmth of the sun upon my face and the coolness of a raindrop-to have a voice to share, question and sing, the ability to taste the many delicious flavors from savory to sweet, for all the abilities and senses health gives me.

I am grateful I learned early the value of being true to myself, strong, and independent, following my heart where it leads. I focus on developing myself emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually, developing who I am to the fullest so that I am a whole person capable of joyfully sharing with others, and strong to pursue the path of dreams and ideas God gives me. For this realization, I thank my father who raised me to be strong, to pursue whatever I felt was right and would make me happy.

I am grateful to God, the source of all these blessings.

And I reiterate the beginning of this piece: Whatever one is grateful for requires actions showing it, protecting it, and restoring it. Think about those things you are grateful for and live your life in actions to show you treasure them.

El Batallón de San Patricio : One Man’s Hero…

…as the phrase goes, is another man’s traitor.

Such was the case of the fascinating true story told in the 1998 film One Man’s Hero (starring Tom Berenger, Daniela Romo, and Joaquim de Almeida, and directed by Lance Hool) which chronicles the plight of Irish Catholic immigrants who came to America to escape dire poverty, disease and starvation in Ireland resulting from The Great Famine (a result of a blight upon the potato crop they relied upon).

Thinking that the United States of America and its promise of a better life (citizenship for them and their families if young men entered the U.S. Army) was the answer, many young men joined up as a means to provide a better life for themselves and their families.

But the U.S. government cared less of its treatment to the Irish Catholics than setting its sights on building empire.

Mexico had fought long and hard for its independence from Spain, and its citizens weren’t about to passively let the “Manifest Destiny” desire fueling the expansion of the United States in its acquisition of more and more land the Mexican government viewed as its own.

Seeing an opportunity to strike Mexico during a weak point (while Mexico was suffering from instability preoccupied in its own inner revolution, struggles and political turmoil), the U.S. took it - apparently not to just to (re)acquire or protect the land agreed to by a former treaty (unratified by Mexico) but to advance as far as possible westward (and as it turned out southward). In short, the United States government would take it as far as they could without regard to the Mexican government and people, and escalated hostilities by placing troops near the Rio Grande River which was viewed as a hostile/aggressive action against Mexican territory. The Neuces River had long been recognized as Mexico’s northern boundary prior to the independence of Texas.

The complexities of this war pertaining to Mexican sovereignty, Texan independence, its annexation, and Polk’s agenda require far greater in-depth research (which I recommend to you). Both Mexico and the United States claimed it was a war for defensive purposes. Numerous battles ensued, and this part of U.S. history is fascinating to research. There are volumes to be read on battles, economic factors, and the interactions and decisions made between and by both nations (including learning more of Santa Ana and Polk), as I share but a general broad overview here. There was opposition within the United States to the war against Mexico, with some calling it “Polk’s War,” viewing it as a war of aggression in an invasion of Mexico rather than a defense of Texas.

The St. Patrick Battalion

My focus here is on El Batallón de San Patricio, The St. Patrick Battalion, consisting primarily of Irish Catholic immigrants to the United States who deserted the U.S. Army and who joined the Mexican Army to fight the United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). They fought bravely and gallantly in several major battles.

The Irish Catholics were persecuted within the U.S. Army due to discrimination (prevalent against immigrants at the time, especially those who were Catholic). The Mexicans shared two essential qualities with the Irish: Catholicism, and a desire for freedom.

The film, One Man’s Hero, tells the story of St. Patrick’s Battalion and their leader John Riley.

It’s an interesting film and story…with numerous quotations made throughout the film regarding the spirit of man and his yearning to be free which are reminiscent of every such battle now taking place in our world. The film’s telling of the story makes for a most interesting historical drama. I think that anyone who values liberty will find this film enjoyable and appreciate it on a number of levels. I shall refrain from sharing the outcome of the San Patricios’ mission, since if you’re not familiar with the story, the film will adequately illustrate how the U.S. government dealt with the “problem.”

The San Patricios are honored as heroes each month in Mexico (here’s an online photo with some details of the St. Patrick Battalion Memorial plaque in Mexico), as well as special commemorative ceremonies on September 12 and on St. Patrick’s Day.

As I viewed the film, I couldn’t help but consider the sad fact that the U.S. government has made imperialism its policy for so long (perverting and ignoring the founder’s intentions and warnings); that despite persecution and suffering the spirit of man is strong against injustice and doesn’t surrender to tyranny; and that a government cannot continually mistreat and abuse its soldiers without repercussions.

I recommend the film One Man’s Hero (its Amazon page), as well recommend Americans delve deeper regarding this part of our history which has been so long neglected.

November Evocations of Christmas - sharing this day with my regular readers

What a fine Sunday today has been. Bright sunshine and glistening snow - what a beautiful combination! I awoke to over two feet more new snow (this is the third snowstorm this season, the others brought about three feet each time).

After a mug of delicious strongly brewed tea (with orange & chocolate added), had a little breakfast, and began my day.

Spent morning hours in prayer and reading (Catholic theology).

My road was snowed in till around noon (when the neighbor man I hired to plow the road came).

Today’s snow was a delight! I spent time shoveling the deck and walkway, as well as bringing in firewood in the morning, and then later brought in much more with the help of my father. The tall pine boughs are covered in snow and the sky has been a beautiful blue with white puffy clouds. Didn’t see much wildlife today, only a few tracks in the deep snow. (Just recently, I watched a flock of 8-12 wild turkeys walk down my road, single file, treating me to a turkey parade! I also saw a lynx in the snow the other day, and a coyote. And, of course, frequently I see deer, rabbits, (bear, before they hibernate, which they’ve likely just recently begun), fox, chipmunks and squirrels, and many types of birds.)

Christmas piano music from one of my favorite solo piano cds has been playing.

Just added a couple more logs to the fire going in the woodstove (got that started early this morning, it’s now comfy cozy warm).

Am cooking two pumpkin pies right now. I’m detecting the pumpkin pie spice aroma with its cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg and mace. Popcorn aroma has filled the home, too. (Left the computer for a moment to have a little of that popcorn, sprinkled it with cheese and popcorn salt - so good!) Next, I plan to cook some chocolate brownies.

After a hot bath (with one or more of my favorite essential oils), I’ll then prepare dinner.

With a good dinner, Father and I will watch a film together.

Everything about today has evoked Christmas.

As my Father often says, “Every day is Christmas in our home.”

Regarding the Humanae Vitae teachings

Faith is integral to the way I live my life in every area.  Amazingly to me, I now feel a deep understanding inside (beyond mere mental understanding) of matters which perplexed or confused me before.

I can give you a direct example of where my eyes have been opened. It is in my understanding of the Humanae Vitae teachings found in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI in 1968.

Although all my life I have always regarded life as beginning at conception, I couldn’t understand how (artificial) contraception would contradict God’s will. It seems so apparent to me now. But for much of my life, I couldn’t grasp it.

Though I don’t have to consider contraception now since I am single (and believe sex to be a sacrament reserved for marriage), it’s still a matter I’ve given thought to understand. Now, I see it as directly a matter of trusting God. Just as I trust God to provide for me in life, so I would not exclude His will from a matter as sacred as to determine whether or when a new life should be brought forth. Likewise, very importantly and completely interrelated to that, I would want to keep nothing (not even temporarily) of myself artificially from my husband.

Unlike many other females, I don’t spend any time thinking about my “biological clock”; I simply trust and gratefully accept that which naturally happens in my life as God’s will for me. Whether I have a child, or if I never do, is in God’s hands, it’s not a matter I will try to artificially control one way or the other. If I were to marry, I would trust God’s omnipotence and omniscience to determine whether I would become pregnant or not. The blessing of being entrusted with giving birth to the child of the man God would have given me would be a great honor and responsibility - I trust God to determine whether that experience is meant for me or not. God would know what is right for us. Whoever I would be and the man would be when brought together in matrimony, (paraphrasing what the wedding vows say whether we’ve come together in sickness, health, prosperity, difficulties, fertility or not, or any other life circumstance), we would come under God’s hands and intentions to love one another as we are and to help each other grow. My focus in marriage would be caring for and being a helpmate to the man in the authentic love God would have him receive.

I’m busy and happy living my life, doing the work God has put before me and blessed me with. I trust God’s guidance and His timing if such a relationship were ever to happen. If it did, I would want nothing to come between myself and the man God would have given me and given me to, for marriage is “by appointment of Jesus Christ, a sacred sign and symbol of his indissoluble union with his Church…” (The Manual of The Holy Catholic Church,  Rev. James J. McGovern, D.D., “The Sacred Bonds of Matrimony”).

Sex, as physically pleasurable and enjoyable as it is, is a gift meant to emanate from a spiritual union of two individuals. It represents God’s spiritual union with us. It is a sacred communication, joining, and sharing…a physical expression of the joyful spiritual union of two individuals giving themselves first to God, then to one another. It’s beautiful. Sexual desire is natural.  Its sharing with another individual is a gift from God for both. As such, I believe sexual union to be only for marriage.

I find this Scripture beautiful: “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” (Mark 10: 6-8, KJV)

Trusting God, and the teachings of His will which He has entrusted and given us through The Holy Catholic Church, takes devotion, humility, strength, courage and steadfastness; it requires forsaking mere intellectual arguments that exclude the reality of a spiritual life; it means putting total faith, trust, and love of God in one’s heart and then following your heart (and asking for guidance from God when questions or temptations arise) realizing that “Temptation is necessary to us to make us realise that we are nothing in ourselves.” - The Cure D’Ars - St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney, sermon “We Are Nothing In Ourselves.”

Let us, as Catholics, trust God in all matters - without compromise.  Let’s not look to ourselves to try and figure out what is right; let us trust in His will in every area of our life as we“…walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)