Christine Smith's Blog

Christmas Greeting from Father and me

Christmas Greeting from father and me – Click here.

Peace

“Peace” is a word often heard, especially during the Christmas season. It is said, written, sung, and prayed – but is it lived? How does one who believes in love, and in bringing peace to every situation, maintain peace within when the world around them is filled with just the opposite?

Are you living in freedom relating to others or by obligation?

Truth is the prerequisite to peace. If an individual, a group of persons, or an activity is not about truth, it will trouble you to the degree you voluntarily choose to interact with it.

Peace is of God. Let peace and its joy and contentment be born in you this Christmas. Love yourself, and you will love others. Remaining peaceful allows you to share peace with others.

Here are some things I’ve learned about maintaining and nurturing peace within. I invite you to view my latest video “Peace” (10 minutes length) : CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AT YOUTUBE.

I Don’t Play Games

“Play the game” say many in regards to the personal, social, business and political arenas.

Some have expressed much anger because I don’t play the game in politics, but the most interesting phenomena is that of those who consider themselves good persons who espouse the value of honesty and truth, but who will simultaneously advocate deceit in order to get something they want.

I invite you to view my 8-minute video as I’d like to share examples of where people rationalize “playing the game”- and my choice to do just the opposite in all areas of my life and where it’s led me.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY VIDEO, “I Don’t Play Games,” ON YOUTUBE.

Is it love? A Rebuttal of Pat Robertson (Relationships, Marriage, Alzheimer’s disease)

What does it mean to love another individual – be it your spouse, relative or close friend? Is it dependent on what they give you?

Pat Robertson addressed such a question recently as it related to what one does when their spouse is suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. I feel his reply expressed more about his lack of understanding of love than anything else. He stated his opinion; I share mine about that situation and any other where a loved one is suffering, and I share what I believe love between individuals is and is not, my beliefs about marriage, and about relationships with relatives or friends whom we say we love.

I invite you to view my 8-minute video on YouTube: Is it love? A Rebuttal of Pat Robertson (Relationships, Marriage, Alzheimer’s disease)

Use it or Lose it!

Your physical, sexual, emotional, mental and spiritual happiness and healthiness depends on it. If you say ‘no’ to natural desires, I think you begin to die right then. Life is to be lived!

Neglect any part of your being, and your entire life suffers.

Repression and inhibition is unnatural and unhealthy and will certainly make you unhappy. Be true to your whole self.

Most of my friends/acquaintances care about freedom in their life, but you must not neglect personal freedom and focus only on political/societal freedom. Freedom begins with you!

I invite you to view my latest video ( 7 minutes length) :

Use it or Lose it! CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AT YOUTUBE

Recent interview with me (audio):Becoming a libertarian anarchist-a discussion for libertarian minarchists

Here is the link to the audio archive of the recent radio show with me.

Topic summary : Becoming a libertarian anarchist – a discussion for libertarian minarchists. I invite you to listen. A great interview which was broadcast live (blogtalkradio) July 13, 2011 with host Joe Cristiano of Liberty Talk Radio (and audience questions).

Listen here.

Easter 2011, Gratitude, Love, Grace, Freedom

Spiritually, this time is a commemoration and a celebration of the ultimate freedom, given to us by grace.

Jesus died in His love for us, and taught us to love one another. All that we do in life, all that we teach through our interactions with others, if out of love, will bring beauty and joy. I share a few thoughts below with you this Easter 2011.

For me, this is a blessed time, both being Good Friday and Easter this Sunday, and a time in my life when my endeavoring to love others is paramount, my devotion to freedom and to sharing its truth at a height, and my joy overflowing. I am abundantly blessed, and for all in my life, from my loving father, my home in the mountains, to all the abundance I have been given, I thank God the Father, his Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mother Mary for an example of virtue I treasure.

An Easter Message (I wrote March 23, 2008) which I wish to share again with my friends is below – it includes a link to a beautiful piece written by Jacob G. Hornberger from 1999. This is followed by what I believe, The Catholic Apostles Creed, and a few favorite scriptures from the book of John.
A Blessed Easter to my friends.  — Christine Smith

Think about it–everything we espouse as libertarians–comes down to essentially respecting the free will, the sovereignty, of the individual…of individual rights. To me, that is at the heart of what love is.

On this Easter, a time of reflection and contemplation for me, I simply want to share a belief I hold and endeavor to live/practice as it is fundamental to how I wish to relate to others and fundamental to my adherence to libertarian principles. I believe we should live teaching only love through all we do, for love is what we are.

We, as libertarians, as individuals, come from many different backgrounds including the religious or spiritual beliefs we may hold or perhaps once held…we are diverse…but the common denominator we all share is our commitment to advancing liberty.  There are often many a practical, logical, pragmatic and therefore powerful argument for each libertarian solution we offer to share with others – and it is they I focus upon most often – but for me, and a few others I’ve had the blessing of meeting, there is also a deep commitment to liberty based upon the ethical, the spiritual, and the moral.  It’s not often something we necessarily have oft the opportunity to share, but today I decided I wanted to share a few personal beliefs.

To me, nothing is more loving to my brothers and sisters than wanting to achieve and working for liberty.  Using their free will, each individual chooses for themselves how they wish to live, with the only qualification that it not initiate force (harm) against another.  Think about it–everything we espouse as libertarians–comes down to essentially respecting the free will, the sovereignty, of the individual…of individual rights.  To me, that is at the heart of what love is.  Love is not conditional; it is not about control; it is neither hungry for power or greedy.  Love, too, is strong, bold and courageous.  Love, for me, is the fundamental basis of my libertarianism.  Libertarian principles illumine what is otherwise a very dark arena – politics.  It is such principles this nation was founded upon, and to which we must fight to return.

Sure, I’m proficient (and always learning) at sharing the many aspects (statistics, facts) we have as libertarians at our disposal to support our principles and solutions, but, again, on this Easter morning I would like to share another aspect, a personal aspect of my beliefs, with you…and I would like to do so by simply directing you to a beautiful piece entitled “Freedom is the Key to Life’s Short Journey,” a piece written by Jacob Hornberger in 1999…when I first read it, I felt such a rapport with it – for it expresses precisely the thoughts, pondering, and beliefs I hold.  Thus, I share it with you:

Freedom is the Key to Life’s Short Journey
by Jacob G. Hornberger, May 1999

Peace,
Christine Smith

What I Believe:
The Catholic Apostles Creed

biblical selections from the Book of John, King James Version:

John Chapter 3:16-21:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John Chapter 6
37-38: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
47-48: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.
51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John Chapter 7
37-38: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John Chapter 10
27-30: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

John Chapter 11
25-27: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

John Chapter 12
26: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
46: I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John Chapter 14
1-4: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John Chapter 15
11-14: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John Chapter 16
33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Prayer

Only when I cease to be in prayer, do I experience the feelings and thoughts I reject as untrue in life. In prayer, unceasing, the continuity thereof, I find myself in joy, contentment, peace, happiness…and only then I am able to share such with others.

Praying the Rosary is one of the most fruitful blessings and spiritual practices for my life.

The deep meditative time I’ve spent on each Mystery has brought peace and understanding into areas of myself I needed help with to become stronger in understanding and in action. Those who have never prayed in this manner, but are thoughtful and seeking, will likely not understand my comments upon it, as you will view it only from a detached sense. But I can speak for myself, my life has been manifold enhanced by it.

It is for me one of the “forms” of prayer which has benefited me…thus I share my experience with you. But let me broaden my comment here, to speak of prayer, no matter the form it takes.

There is indeed a spiritual battle, a spiritual hunger and thirst resulting from the spiritual void in the world of man…being in this world, but not of it, requires contemplative prayer/meditation (of whatever faith or belief may resonate with you). For me, deep study and contemplation often upon the Mysteries of the Rosary has been most fruitful, strengthening, reassuring, encouraging and incredibly helpful in all manner of my life.

God is love. Love is of God.

It is not a matter of defining and limiting, but opening to this truth which brings swells of contentment and a peace not otherwise experienced.

At times prayer is in words, but it transforms into something beyond words as one meditates upon the teaching being given to one’s heart. Prayer of words begins the process, and the Holy Spirit takes over, and lessons and messages flow into my heart – sometimes still to my amazement. Then, at other times, prayer is not of words or even emanating from them necessarily from an earlier time, but is a spontaneous happening – a communication heard, received, and then only then, do I respond (my mind then putting words into affect). At such times, I sometimes refrain from words as well, for they are of my mind, and experience only occurs.

Prayer, then, isn’t merely a practice, but perhaps more so a training for an experience far beyond that which our minds grasp. It is at all times when light overcomes our own darkness within. It whisks us from time, from space, from all the mind and society would have distract us, and brings us the ultimate truth. It is not experience of emotionalism or pleading, but of humbly receiving that which you never knew before or needed to be reminded of as only God can reveal…your heart must be willing.

In my life, it is not an obligation or duty to perform, but a blessing, a delight, and a revelation of how much I do not know and need to evolve. When it is a prayer for another, it is my joining, only joining, with that which God would have for them as well – knowledge of Him, of grace, of Love. And my fervent desire, is that I maintain such love for all, and in all I do. (Though I fail at this-making mistakes whenever I at all let any degree of fear (lack of love) affect me-my endeavor is to identify such and return to truth, to love, to become stronger so as not to fall or lapse into fear-induced feelings at all.)

For me, I seek for my life to be a prayer.

I wish you well.

My Christmas Video Message For You

It’s Christmas Day. I had just returned from outside from walking around in the brisk coolness and bright sunshine, made a fire in the woodstove, and then sat down in front of my webcam with a cup of peppermint tea to record this video for my friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

Our Lady of Sorrow

Consider the perspective of a loving mother, who has born a child, and following its birth tended to its needs so the child grows into a strong, healthy, wise young adult. And then for that mother to see her child become a blessing to others, showing compassion, teaching wisdom and knowledge of God, always giving and never harming another. Then consider the experience of seeing one’s child tortured and murdered.

Then ponder such a mother who maintains her faith, her belief in her child’s mission, and steadfastly proclaims her child’s message to the world in concern they may learn of such a love that would die so that others may live. Despite the pain, she knows her child’s mission was one of pure love. She embarks to share of her child’s love with others, only to find many in the world scoffing, ridiculing, and rejecting.

This is the state our Blessed Mother has accepted. The sorrow she suffered made an enduring impression on her heart which leads her to know just the consolation we need. She demonstrates what we must evince but which we often find most difficult: courage in the face of darkness. As spirit inhabiting body, our minds often obscure understanding of the Mysteries. Ironically to our mind’s understanding, the human condition of suffering, can open us to awareness frequently beyond what we would have otherwise grasped. In suffering, thinking subsides, and experience can be fully realized. I believe joy in God’s peace and grace can also bring such experiential awareness. Both conditions touch us deep as nothing else can.

In Mother Mary we find no opposition to God’s will, although she underwent the most grievous of pains. Rather than rebel or resent (as we often do), she utilized deep sorrow to become the greatest intercessor we have. No matter what befalls us in life, she is here to guide, comfort, console, and lead us to her Son.

When our reasoning fails, she offers solace. When afflictions disturb us, she offers peace. When we’ve confused and imprisoned our mind with false concepts, she shows us freedom. Never a judgment. For in her sorrow on Earth when she was in physical body, she suffered and saw suffering. She renounced everything that would promise relief from the world, trusting entirely in Our Lord.

Sorrow is not to be run from, resented, judged, questioned, or denied, for such reactions of the mind lead only to more pain.

Whatever befalls us, temptations and all manner of trials, it is ours to experience. With Our Blessed Mother’s guidance and example, we, too, can evince courage. We need not, we must not, become embittered, angry, or cynical. We need only observe, experience, and trust, casting out fear by replacing it with God’s love.

Despite the evil in this world, Mary stands calling us to her Son. Through Mary, we can come to experience, not judge, and learn through utter acceptance and trust in God’s will for our lives so we, too, can become one in our abilities to console and teach others, and then we become a beacon showing the path.

That choice must be made now. You must’nt wait till you are under the stress of sorrow. For in the midst of sorrow we may be unable to choose correctly as the temptation to falter in faith can be immense, make the choice now to recognize sorrow not as an enemy but a part of life. Choose now to trust entirely in Our Lord.

Synergy – Behind every good man… A look at John and Abigail Adams

“Behind every good man is a good woman,” a saying which can just as easily be reversed. Not to say, there aren’t good men and women who are single, of course, but the truth remains, having a solid beautiful relationship with one whose core values you share strengthens, encourages, and helps one to remain on the correct path whatever struggles and mistakes may be made. What a blessing to have another who, in their love, for you will help you, encourage you, and share a perspective with you perhaps no other could or will. Such was the case with John and Abigail Adams.

Our society has many more prominent men of note historically who are recognized as having significant impact upon this nation than it does woman. Some of that, certainly, is due to tradition and the society at the time, but these men did courageously advance this nation by establishing its founding principles, and for me, it is always good to learn of a man who achieved much good who was accompanied by a too extraordinary female.

This is why I’ve been most pleased to learn in the past couple years so much more about John and Abigail Adams, reading and viewing documentaries, film, and their writings, etc.

And, today, I want to recommend the PBS series “American Experience” episode “John & Abigail Adams: American Experience” which I just viewed a few nights ago.

A superb two hours, based heavily upon the correspondence between the two, expressing just what an extraordinary female to John Adams Abigail was. If ever there was a couple evincing the phrase “Behind every good man…” they are. And for a time when females weren’t looked to for political input, hers was astute.

John Adams alone would be a good man, but with his wife Abigail, he soared despite enduring much troubles (including his own personal weaknesses of character demonstrated in personality, actions, and his own self-doubt and other feelings of inadequacy) into achieving for us, as a nation, greatness from which all benefited. The strength his work required was buttressed by the love of his wife. Her strength helped his…and vice-versa.

That, to me, is the beauty of relationship. To help bring out the best in another, to encourage their talents and abilities, to focus on what they can do and the good of who they are…so that they, in their free will and conscious choice, can become all and accomplish all they set their sights upon. Teaching and learning from one another simultaneously – creating a synergy for themselves and consequently blessings others beyond what the two could do separately is a magnificent manifestation of what it means for the two to become one. Even in trying to achieve liberty, whatever the immediate appearances of the state of things, in the trying I believe much good is happening.

Male and female strengths and abilities differ…discernment, strategy, awareness, and so much more are different in us. To come together, in love, for a purpose is stronger than what one can do alone. This truth is demonstrated both in couples like the Adams, as well as friends and family. We as men and women are different, and we need and benefit from each other.

Even if you’re familiar with their letters, and the history, and may have viewed other films regarding his work and their marriage, I recommend this 2-hour PBS episode – it was done very well! Informative!
So, I recommend this film about this remarkable couple to you. Here is its Amazon page, John & Abigail Adams: American Experience.

(p.s. I also invite you to read a blog piece I wrote Jan. 28, 2009 about John Adams and the 7-part HBO miniseries which was another excellent story of them.)

PEACE

I deeply appreciate this quote from St. Austin. It makes me all the more seek development love of all and God and what that entails in humility, giving, and zeal for being apart of furthering what is right and true. It is the peace I want to maintain and develop no matter the circumstances in life. When it is not present, I become aware it is because I have mistakenly strayed from trust and faith and thus loving actions.

“Peace is the serenity of the soul, the tranquillity of the mind, the simplicity of the heart, the bond of love, and the union of charity.” – St. Austin (from The Manual of The Holy Catholic Church – Embracing Light from the Altar, James J. McGovern, D.D. (Copr. 1906 by James J. McGovern, Copr. 1920 by Joseph R. Gay)

Film Recommendation “Five Minutes of Heaven,” and Thoughts on Righteous Indignation vs. Anger

Last night I viewed the film “Five Minutes of Heaven,” a powerful story of mistakes, immaturity and maturation, anger, vengeance, and forgiveness. Developed from the true event of the 1975 killing of Jim Griffin by Alistair Little in Northern Ireland, the story revolves around the fictionalized what-if of the killer meeting the witness (the brother of the deceased who was 11 at the time of the shooting) 33 years later.

The sadness and tragedy of the violent unrest between Catholic and Protestant in Northern Ireland is communicated well through this  incident, with its years of affect between those involved becoming the fictional continuation.

I found this well-made film and the fictional story which evolved from that tragedy to be thought provoking and engaging. I recommend it. Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt do a fine job.

The film illustrated well the peril and misery of accepting anger as justified, which in my opinion, always leads to more misery, harm, and sadness.

Again, I highly recommend the film “Five Minutes of heaven,” – it is a most interesting story and character study.  (Link to its Amazon page)

On a personal note, I distinguish between righteous indignation (and thus a devotion and commitment to justice or as close to justice as is humanly possible, which at times may never occur in certain human situations) and anger (which is allowing oneself to be controlled by emotionalism). I believe anger is never justified, as it is a feeling from the emotion of fear and leads to serious mistakes of conduct and behavior which though may seem justified at the time, can later in more rational and ethical examination, be seen for the mistake it was. Righteous indignation, on the other hand, is that intense call to action to stop an evil and to in whatever capacity we have to bring light into an area of darkness, to alleviate suffering, to expose what is wrong or corrupt, and to put a stop to it. It does not entail resorting to evil to fight evil because it is based in the strength of love.

Fear brings anger, hatred, and attack and rationalization of attack; love brings a strength to realize that revenge is never the answer regardless of the provocation. In fact, I believe those motivated and inspired from a spiritual basis of love are far more effective at achieving whatever justice is humanly possible than those who succumb to the baser feelings.

Allowing anger within leads us to the wild uncontrolled imaginations of our mind, but allowing love to make our decisions leads us to see what justice (if any) can be found without becoming that which we say we reject. Therein lies the difference between self-defense, for example, and offensive violence…or between stopping a person from harming another again and revenge which seeks to punish rather than halt more evil behavior. Evil does not justify evil.

Neither does relinquishing anger mean one must try to reconcile with the one who has wronged another, it simply means one does not seek to exact punishment, but when needed seeks only to prevent oneself or another from being harmed by the other again.

Resolution within and its inner peace is obtained when one relinquishes the feeling of revenge, which brings me to recommend a previous article I wrote addressing that common question of whether the end ever justifies the means?

In the many issues facing society, a common rationalization for committing wrong, immoral, unjust or unethical acts is that if the greater good is served the relative harm necessary to gain such a supposed good is justified. In essence, people say doing bad can result in good, thus they assert bad becomes good. This has become commonly accepted in politics (as well as within people’s personal and business lives).

Consider issues such as immigration, taxation, abortion, capital punishment, torture, and the use of military force. All present a multitude of possible scenarios and situations in which the use of force is argued or disputed. Must we, then, live our lives in a state of flux, constantly having to analyze each and every situation to determine what is ethical? Are there times when commission of a wrong act is the best choice because the result may be better for the majority? Is morality relative? Can an immoral or unethical act sometimes be the right thing to do if the outcome is deemed favorable?

I believe the final result of an action cannot and must not be the determiner of right or wrong, and I explore this point in my previous blog article “The End Does Not Justify The Means” which I invite you to read. 

Getting Your “Fair Share”?

Charity begins where?

Many of us have heard that charity begins in the heart. From a conscious choice within to express goodwill toward another, an individual then lets that decision to be charitable be implemented with the tool of their mind. Action follows.

This, of course, can occur from individual to individual, individual to a group or cause, or from like minded individuals joining together to express charity toward others. It’s always a free will choice to give one’s time, talents, possessions or money to assist another who has need of something you possess.

Contrast that with the rarely challenged and highly government propagandized notion that to be charitable is synonymous with government taking your money (taxes) and distributing it to people who they say need it more than you. To accept this is to 1. Agree that the money you earn isn’t yours at all, but that your work and its income belongs to the collective, a collective to which you have an obligation – enforced by the threat of fines and/or incarceration. 2. Agree that you are incompetent to determine for yourself if and to whom is worthy for you to give your resources to.

I seriously doubt too many people would voice agreement to either point one or two. And, yet, many of these same people will actually defend and support the multitude of government programs, which they pay heavily for, simply because it’s got a good sounding ring to it. But government programs are as far away from true charity as it comes. They are, in my opinion, based on threat, exploitation, greed, power, and control – the antithesis of true charity, even hurting the very ones they proclaim to care for. Add to this that if a private charity operated with the bureaucratic waste and unaccountability that government often does, it being exposed, wouldn’t last for long since few people want to throw away their money to enrich another who simply claims the money is going toward a good cause – most of us want to know the money we give goes predominantly to the cause.

Your fair share

 A few weeks ago, I received a letter (“Presorted First-class postage & fees paid”) which I assumed was the census, but upon its opening, I found it was yet another piece of federal government propaganda notifying me that I would soon be receiving the census and instructing me to “mail it in promptly” because my response was ‘important” so my “community” would get its “fair share” since that “fair share” includes “government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need.”

Postage was spent to send a preliminary letter letting me know to be ready for the census.

The U.S. Census Bureau has undertaken one of the largest propaganda machines I’ve seen with their “Road Tour” whose intent is “to motivate America’s growing and increasingly diverse population” to mail the census back by appearing at “local parades and festivals to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four”, TV and radio ads, a census sponsored race car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, and PSAs, saying on their website that “The advertising campaign represents the most extensive and diverse outreach campaign in U.S. history, with advertisements appearing in 28 languages,” and that “For every percentage point increase in the 2010 Census mail-back participation rate, the Census Bureau saves about $85 million in follow-up costs with households that failed to return their forms.”

Yet somehow I don’t believe “costs” are much of a concern- what with all their personal visits of census workers, even sometimes to deliver the census rather than sending it by mail. And most importantly, the census has become something far beyond a simple headcount as called for in the Constitution.

Fact is, I “need” nor want none of what the federal government wants me to excitedly and eagerly take from other people, I need only to be left alone with my full share which is everything I earn, to give or keep as I so choose. I’m one who investigates charitable causes, examining their overhead costs with their actual charitable work, and am selective in who and what I support based on my values. I have to trust an organization before I give. I “share” my resources with those I choose to help. The federal government fails to meet my requirements as a trusted entity, and unlike any other organization which must earn a contributor’s trust – it doesn’t ask for money, it demands and takes it by force.

The whole idea of getting a “fair share” is repulsive and despicable because it condones the immoral government sanctioned/imposed socialism and the legalized theft it relies upon. None are of are owed anything from our fellow countrymen, and yet our nation has devolved into acceptance of all manner of taxpayer funded “entitlements” as a way of life.

People wouldn’t be fighting over getting back those dollars if it weren’t taken from them to begin with. Government gives us nothing because it creates nothing – it merely takes what we earn and says they in government know better than we how to spend our earnings.

All I want is for the money the federal government has taken to be given back to the individuals from which it came. Not returned through a “program” but as real money to individuals whose money was forcibly taken from them. All I “need” is to be able to keep all I earn to do with as I please – including providing for my own retirement as well as health insurance free from all government intrusion. What I also need is a state government who will step up and refuse to be subservient to the federal government’s regulations and stipulations which take away the rights and liberties of their citizens; a state government that places individual liberty above any collective want.

The lion’s share

And, with tax time upon us, I marvel sadly at the pathetic people who appear to happily compliment the government for all its help provided taxpayers in getting their taxes paid on time. They speak as if they’d be grateful if, in being robbed, the robber kindly offered to assist them by opening their wallet for them.

Even many of those citizens who complain about doing their taxes will defend that very tyranny when they encounter the libertarian idea of ending the income tax.

Obviously, government propaganda has worked enormously well; decades of indoctrination has made a people forget the origins of this country and the principles upon which it was founded.

Instead of challenging the wasteful, immoral, evil, and certainly unconstitutional ways the money taken from them is used for, many instead concern themselves with getting the so called “fair share” for their state and community from the federal government, while the monstrous federal government smugly takes the lion’s share for itself.

The only source of charity

Many seek to feel good without choosing to do good. There’s a big difference between abiding or complying with what you’re legally forced to do in this society, and making a conscience decision to take a particular action, of your own free will, to benefit another. Without choice, there is no virtue. There is nothing particularly virtuous, and certainly nothing charitable, in simply obeying the laws.

True charity is a voluntary giving, it comes not from the actions you are forced to comply with (whether you agree with them or not). It neither begins nor can ever come from any government agency or program because the funding was taken forcibly thereby eliminating all free choice to love or not. The only “share” you’re ethically entitled to is that which you earn or that which is voluntarily given you.

I began this blog with a question: Charity begins where?

The answer is, of course, in your heart. Some say “at home.” Same thing. It begins with the free will choice of an individual to help another. It is void of all coercion. In fact, it’s such a strong force it comes to the rescue of all people and all causes, often with relief, provision, and even abundance. There is no scarcity, only a government which manipulates with fear (including the fear of scarcity) to deceive the people into accepting they need government to provide “charity” for their every need.

Despite the fact so much of our money is taken from us by government, we’re still a most generous, compassionate charitable nation. Even when the effects of government intrusion into our economic lives is at its worst, with the repercussions being suffered nationwide, we’re still a charitable people. We give to our friends and family in times of their need, to our favorite charities, our churches, and even to worldwide relief in times of disaster. We open our hearts first, then our wallets. And when we’re on the receiving end, be it someone volunteering their time or a tangible item or a monetary gift to help us, we experience gratitude because we realize that person or organization didn’t have to help – they weren’t forced to help – they helped because they wanted to.

That being the case, just think what we could do to help others if we were able to keep the money currently taken from us by government – if we kept all or most of what we earned. Imagine the increase in contributions for every cause you care about. The homeless and the ill…the struggling, hurting, alone or hungry…to the arts and education and environment…no matter the cause, there’d be no more talk of trying to get back a “fair share” from the federal government because the money would have been kept with those who earned it. Those who choose to give could give so much more from their earnings, resulting in no artificial limit – because there’s no limit to the capacity to love within the human heart – the only source of charity.

“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.”