FAASS

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Mon, 26 Nov 2001 13:00:00 GMT
Among Strong Men

My soul is like a young doe-eyed maid

With lips
Still bruised from last night's passion.

But my Master makes me live
Like a humble servant

When any king would trade his throne
For the splendor my eye can see.

Call it many things -
Give your desires polite names
If you must;

Mask the primal instinct from your reality

If you cannot bear that sacred edge
That will hone your ken
Against the Sun and earth.

Among strong men in the Tavern
I can speak a truth

No one will laugh at:
My heart is like a wild alley cat in heat.

In every possible way I conspire
To know freedom and love.

Forget about the common reason, Hafiz,
For it only enslaves.

There is something holy deep inside you
That is so ardent and awake,

That needs to lie down naked
Next to God.

(The Subject Tonight Is Love, versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)

From The Libertarian Enterprise. Click for a larger version suitable for printing (56k):

The Libertarian Enterprise has a new issue, "Turkeys Up!" Articles I liked:

  • Letter from Kent Van Cleave - Mr. Van Cleave announces his "cookie-cutter" marketing campaign, welcome.to/HomelandSecurity, that I linked to last week.
  • Letter from Jeff Colonnesi - a response to Keith Shugart's piece last week. Mr. Colonnesi thinks the ABM system won't be used to stop people from getting into space. Instead it will be used to force them to land at government-approved locations where their cargo can be taxed.
    No, sorry, getting "private" individuals into space on their own will not let a significant portion of society escape governments. It will merely provide the needed bridge to carry governments to the stars. If we want to get out from under government, we are going to have to do it here, on earth, before we allow it to spread and contaminate the stars.
  • Letter from E.J. Totty - another response to Keith Shugart's piece. Mr. Totty offers his vision of American liberty.
    I see things this way: If our government were to see to it that every form of competition were protected to the extent that no business was protected above any other, then the competition would produce so much capital that the US would virtually control the rest of the known universe, by virtue of the fact that its might would exist in the name of those who were willing to protect it, rather than just in the name of a military force amassed for just that purpose. Think: Switzerland west.
  • Save America - Enforce the Bill of Rights L. Neil Smith - L. Neil once again rings loudly the bell of Bill or Rights Enforcement. Thank you, sir!
    During the Lincoln, Wilson, and second Roosevelt Administrations, the Bill of Rights was openly violated and even set aside, using an ongoing war as a handy excuse. As a result, the size and power of government grew at the expense of individual liberties which, for the most part, were never given back even when the war was over. Similar violations have been committed in the name of the War on Drugs.

    However no legal provision exists for the suspension of the Bill of Rights, in time of war or any other emergency. Any government employee, elected or appointed, from policeman to President, who violates it, no matter what justification he offers, is a criminal.
  • Arm the Afghan Women by Wendy McElroy - The women of Afghanistan have a history of armed resistance. Ms. McElroy encourages them to remain armed. Bravo!
    Western forces cannot and should not patrol the streets of Afghanistan to prevent violence against women. If these women are to resume the Western advantages of having careers, freedom of speech and representation in government, they must also assume the responsibility of self-defense.
  • The Greatest Blessing: Why do we Prosper, While Others Fail? It's Not the Topsoil by Vin Suprynowicz - I reviewed the Sierra Times printing of this story last Friday. If you haven't read it yet, now is a good time.

Dave Winer's DaveNet - A Web Thanksgiving - I missed this on Thanksgiving day. Dave has a lot to be thankful for. So do I, actually, but I've temporarily forgotten it.

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