Letter of Liberty News Edition (11-29-2013)

Here is the Friday Edition of the news.

Doug Newman tells militarists to fight and then talk about PTSD (n.b.: he is not advocating joining the military, but rather he is arguing against neocon warmongers).

Justin Raimondo explores the steamy relationship between sex and the NSA.

Scott Lazarowitz gives some holiday weekend reading.

Sheldon Richman on why government is the problem.

Paul Rosenberg talks on Bitcoin and the "purity police."

Ron Paul writes on how salvation from interventionism for America might come from an unlikely place.

Matt McCaffrey and Carmen Dorobat writes on inflation, shortages, and social democracy in Venezuela.

Frank Keating, a Reagan Republican, makes the Republican case for immigration reform.

Felicity Arbuthnot on the secret history of America's chemical weapons

Dawood Ahmed shows how the drone apologists are as deadly as the drones themselves.

Edward Curtin reveals James W. Douglass's famous book JFK and the Unspeakable (which is loved very well in libertarian circles and which I will read in the future).

Brian Bender and Neil Swidey explore Robert F. Kennedy's perception of conspiracy in the JFK assassination.

Medea Benjamin analyzes the tragic and harrowing effects of the American government's drone policy.

Dan Delzell explains why the sin of unbelief (regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ) "robs you blind."

Famed Christian pastor Timothy Keller waxes poetic about the joys of sex in marriage.

Robert Wenzel refutes the anti-freedom nonsense parroted by Pope Francis (which is the result of confusing the free market with crony capitalism).

Robert P. Murphy argues that the critics of Black Friday, however noble their intentions, are blowing things out of proportion.

James Corbett argues that Jeremy Scahill's acclaimed documentary Dirty Wars might not be telling the whole story.

Paul Joseph Watson responds to Jeremy Scahill's accusation of Alex Jones as an idiot.

Doug French on how "ballot box charity" is hurtful

If you are a gun owner and want to improve your shooting skills (without firing a shot), here are some tips.

Daisy Luther gives her snow storm warning.

Mark Sisson gives his recipe for bacon pancakes.

Charles Hugh Smith on the lie of free lunch (and free debt)

Joseph Mercola gives his tips on combatting depression.

Thanksgiving Day Reading

Dear readers of Letter of Liberty:

It's Thanksgiving Day! This is the day where we get to thank the Lord God for his bountiful blessings through abundant food, songs, and other things.

So instead of writing original content, I will decide to give a few resources for Thanksgiving Day reading (and I will update them through the day if I have the time):

"The Great Thanksgiving Hoax" by Richard J. Maybury, Mises Daily, November 20, 1999
"Property and the First Thanksgiving" by Gary Galles, Mises Daily, November 25, 2004
"Thanksgiving Proclamation" by George Washington (October 3, 1789)
"Thanksgiving, Socialism, and the Free Market" by Jacob G. Hornberger, The Future of Freedom Foundation, November 22, 2012
"The Pilgrims' Real Thanksgiving Lesson"by Benjamin Powell, LVMIC Daily, November 28, 2013
"Nationalize Everything—Even Thanksgiving" by Tom DiLorenzo, LewRockwell.com, November 28, 2013
"What If Thanksgiving Exposes the Government?" by Andrew P. Napolitano, LewRockwell.com, November 28, 2013
"On Being Thankful for Our Collective Insanity" by Butler Shaffer, LewRockwell.com, November 28, 2013
"Our First Thanksgiving" by Sartell Prentice, Jr., The Freeman, November 01, 1959
"Of Thanks and Mercy" by James Carroll, Boston.com, November 25, 2003
"Thanksgiving Day: The True History" by Fred Foldovary, Foldovary.com, Date Unknown
"The True Meaning of Thanksgiving: The Birth of Private Enterprise in America" by Richard Ebeling, In Defense of Capitalism and Human Progress, November 23, 2009
Chuck Muth's News & Views - Thanksgiving 2003
"Thanksgiving Edition" by Phil Girardi, Antiwar.com, November 28, 2013

Godfrey Bloom: The State Is A Thief

Godfrey Bloom, member of the UK Independent Party, quotes the great political philosopher, economist, and libertarian Murray Rothbard in his speech, where that philosopher says that the state is a gang of thieves. It is interesting to hear his words, and it is a testament to the growing influence of libertarianism around the world.

I'm Back!

Dear friends and readers of Letter of Liberty:

Do you wonder why I suddenly stopped blogging for a while? And do you wonder why I just came back randomly?

Well, this post is here to answer that.

I stopped blogging for a while in order to prepare for some important event called the National Bible Bee, a program which involves children memorizing Scripture passages and studying a certain book of the Bible in order to prepare for a national event hosted by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation. Me and my family participated in this event since 2010, and we have found it to be enjoyable and helpful in our studies of God's Word. Their vision is summed up in these words: "The vision for the Bible Bee is to encourage parents as they disciple their children through in-depth study of the Word of God, Scripture memorization, and prayer." I encourage other people to participate in this mission with their entire families, because not only is this a way to steep oneself into the Word of God through Bible study and Scripture memorization, but also it is a means by which one meets like-minded Christian children.

And now I am back. My purpose of this blog is the same: to advance libertarianism as compatible with Christianity. But I will also deal with theological issues, which I haven't done much on this blog. I will try to deal with stuff such as the essentials of Christianity, Christian doctrine, evangelism, the Gospel, and all that stuff, alongside libertarianism and the philosophy of liberty. And I might even write some stuff on pop culture, music, movies and all other stuff too.

Due to my schedule and schoolwork, I might be a little slow in certain areas of blogging. And this Thanksgiving week will be a bit complicated, so you probably might not see me do much blogging. But when I get the time, I will do what I can to blog. 

Letter of Liberty News Edition (10-08-2013)

Here's Tuesday's News Edition.

Pat Buchanan on the major conflict of our times

C. Jay Engel comments on the authority to coerce.

Ron Paul: An opening to Iran?

Kelly Vlahos on bitter 9/11 justice

Doug Newman writes on the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" madness.

Audrey Kline shows that gun prohibition actually increases the demand for guns.

Butler Shaffer on the statists' smearing anarcho-capitalists

Walter Williams on racial tradeoffs

Laurence Vance takes Christian anti-capitalism to the woodshed.

Thomas Sowell on ridiculous, inarticulate Republicans

The world can thank the Nazis for the invention of sarin.

Alexander Salter explodes the mercantilist myths.

The era of the dollar is ending.

Police officers are a third more likely to murder than concealed carry permit holders.

There are twelve nations now currently holding U.S. debt, with China leading the pack.

Joseph Mercola gives some tips on safe and unsafe sugar substitutes.

Alex Greig reports on newly remastered COLOR photos of the Civil War.

Bruce Schneier on why the NSA's attacks on the Internet should be made public

The Guardian reports on the U.S. and U.K. governments' attack on Tor.

Doug Bandow: Shut down the welfare-warfare state.

Dominick Armenanto on the stupidity of minimum-wage laws

Joseph Margulies asks why the Left isn't more irritated of the U.S. government's treatment of Ahmed Warsame.

Michael Shank and Elizabeth Beavers attack the further militarization of the police.

Cathy Reisenwitz on why shutting down Silk Road did not make us more safe.

Nathan Smith writes a two part article on bringing back the Gilded Age. Part One and Part Two

Mark Thornton gives his tips on how to read Ludwig von Mises.

Anthony Gregory on why America's prison system is its worst national disgrace

An Opening to Iran?

"An Opening to Iran?"

by

Ron Paul

Texas Straight Talk 10-08-2013

Reprinted from LewRockwell.com

Last week, for the first time since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the US president spoke with his Iranian counterpart. Their 15 minute telephone call was reported to open the door to further high-level discussions. This is a very important event.

I have been saying for years that we should just talk to the Iranians. After all, we talked to the Soviets when they actually had thousands of nuclear missiles pointed at us! The Iranians have none, according to our own intelligence services. I even suggested a few years ago that we should “offer friendship” to them. Unfortunately, so many so-called experts have a stake in keeping tensions high and pushing us to war. They did not want to hear what I was saying. It seems, though, this is beginning to change now with these recent events.

The phone call was one of the most important moves away from war and conflict in a long time. Taken with the Obama administration’s decision to hold off on bombing Syria, we should be encouraged.

It is also probably a good sign that this phone call has infuriated the neoconservatives at home, the pro-war faction in Israel, and the hard-liners in Iran. Now that a process of negotiation has begun, the chance of war has been significantly reduced. The US is very unlikely to bomb Iran while it is talking with them, and Israel is also unlikely to start a war while the US is at the negotiating table with the Iranian leadership.

But we should also remain very cautious. Obama’s war on Syria was only stopped because the American people finally stood up and said “enough.” The message was received loud and clear and it shocked the neocons pushing war. They were used to being in charge of foreign policy.

In a recent CNN poll, more than 75% of Americans favored negotiations with Iran. This is very good news, but those pushing for war will not give up that easily. Believe it or not, some Members of Congress have recently introduced legislation to authorize war on Iran – even as these first steps toward a peaceful resolution of our differences begin to bear fruit!

So no, they will not give up that easily. There are many in the president’s own Cabinet who do not want to see US/Iranian relations improve. Even the president himself seems unable to avoid provocative statements — such as his claim that the Iranians are only willing to talk because the sanctions have been so successful in bringing them to the table. That is a false and unnecessary boast, and if he continues in such a way he will destroy what progress has been made.

But we are in the majority now. There are more than three-quarters of us who do not want war on Iran. It is essential that we keep the pressure on the Administration to ignore the war demands in both political parties and among the so-called foreign policy experts. There will be much more war propaganda coming our way as the warmongers get more desperate. Americans must see this propaganda for what it is. They should educate themselves and become familiar with alternative news sources to gain the tools to counter the propaganda. We do have a better chance at peace, but this is no time to let down our guard!

A Perspective on Christians and Politics

Today on the Reformed Libertarian, I published a piece entitled "Christians and Politics: A Perspective." In that piece, I discuss what role the Christian has in participating in politics, what the Christian should think about politics, and the risks it poses.