We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.
Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]
|
Memorial Day Today is Memorial Day, which although it is an American holiday, is relevant to anyone anywhere who has had friends or relatives serve their country and perhaps make the ultimate sacrifice.
The father of a woman friend personalizes it for me: he served with the Marines and went ashore on Iwo Jima. He was there when the flag went up. Some days later he was wounded and evacuated. He fortunately lived through the war despite serving in such terrible battles for otherwise someone very close to me would not have been born.
It is difficult to honor such people enough. They were the ordinary men who did extraordinary things when called upon to do so.
|
Who Are We? The Samizdata people are a bunch of sinister and heavily armed globalist illuminati who seek to infect the entire world with the values of personal liberty and several property. Amongst our many crimes is a sense of humour and the intermittent use of British spelling.
We are also a varied group made up of social individualists, classical liberals, whigs, libertarians, extropians, futurists, ‘Porcupines’, Karl Popper fetishists, recovering neo-conservatives, crazed Ayn Rand worshipers, over-caffeinated Virginia Postrel devotees, witty Frédéric Bastiat wannabes, cypherpunks, minarchists, kritarchists and wild-eyed anarcho-capitalists from Britain, North America, Australia and Europe.
|
Indeed. Curious how the worst times can bring out the best in people (and vice versa).
All those who served should be thanked for their service.
Particlarly those service men (and women) who saved the world from National Socialism – and from the insane cult that had gripped the Empire of Japan (less well known – but a utterly vile set of beliefs, the classic “armed doctrine” seeking endless conquest). And those who faught totalitarian Marxism in the various conflicts after World War II (Korea, Vietnam, and so on).
Dale, well said.
This article(Link) (H/T Instapundit) is also very good on Iraq, and what it says about American forces is entirely correct. I count myself honoured to have members of the US military as relations (Army, Air Force). They are good people.
As a libertarian minarchist, I regard self-defence as one of the few legitimate functions of a state, and believe that self defence cannot always rule out the pre-emptive use of force, given sufficient evidence and the imminence of a threat (which of course is why we argue a lot about things such as Iraq).
Indeed. In honouring such people today or on 11 November, we are rejoicing in the fact of our own existence.
Iraq was noble cause (although I opposed sending in the military to overthrow Saddam – I never denied it was a noble aim) and, for the most part, the war was faught with courage and honour.
However, I have not changed my opinion that the objective was not with the lives (and yes – the money) it was likely to cost.. Nor do I put any trust in the government in Iraq (elected though it is).
But I would be happy to be proved wrong – I would be happy to see a prosperious and peaceful Iraq, and friend and ally of the West.
That is the difference between me and the Rothbardians – they would not be happy to be proved wrong (not happy at all).