Category Archives: Freedom

In Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, the delegates to the Second Continental Congress ratified a declaration of the delegates called the Declaration of Independence.

The purpose of this declaration was to set forth the grievances the colonies had against the king and crown in their governance of the colonies. Among other things, the delegates notified the king that they wanted to dissolve the political bonds that connected the colonies to England and to become a free and independent nation. This missive was sent to the king. Naturally, he wasnt going to yield to its demands.

The crown already had several garrisons of troopsstationed in the colonies. The kings reaction to the declaration was to send more troops to enforce his authority.

The American colonist was a stoic individual: part frontiersman, part farmer and part tradesman. He grew up taming a wilderness and making it into his home. A bunch of British in white wigs and fancy pants were not going to hijack his home. The colonies were a rich plum for the king and his Loyalists.They did not want to see this income producing land slip through their fingers.

The dynamics of the situation kept moving the sides towards armed confrontation. That day finally came on April 19,1775.

The British troops and members of the Massachusetts militia converged upon each other at a bridgecrossing a small creek in Concord, Massachusetts. It is not known who fired the first shot. It was fired and the war for American independence began. In the beginning, the Colonial Army had no leadership, no money and no cannons.

George Washington was a surveyor and planter from Virginia. He was an officer in the Virginia militia and had served under the British in the French and Indian War. At that time the Commonwealth of Virginia extended to the frontier, the Ohio Valley. The Continental Congress hired him as the commander of the Colonial forces. Almost immediately, Commander Washington began turning his rag tag Army into soldiers.

Commander Washington knew and under stood the British tactics and discipline of battle. He also knew thetactics of the Indian nations. He was able to combine the best features of each into an American combat form: guerilla warfare.

Being people from the land, the Colonial soldier was easily able to adapt to Washingtons style. Attacking from behind rock walls, trees and buildings, the Colonials took out the officers leading the British battle march and caused disarray among their troops. With their discipline compromised, the Colonials could rout the British battle formations.

Myth has George Washington sleeping in many places during his tenure of command. The myths may be more fact than fiction, since the British had a price on his head, and labeled him a traitor. Washington had to avoid capture at all costs. He had to frequently change his location to prevent the opportunity for the British to capture him.

The methods of battle introduced by Washington unnerved the British command so much so that eventually Lord Cornwallis moved the British operations south to the Yorktown Peninsula. This move would eventually prove fatal for the British. The crown had not endeared themselves to the other European Heads during this time. As a result, some of the crowns of Europe had given token support to Washington and his Colonials. The French in particular gave naval support off the Yorktown peninsula. The Colonial land operations gradually pushed the British towards the sea. At some point, Lord Cornwallis realized the futility of the British cause and loaded his troops aboard ships bound for England.

The land battles in the Colonies was over. Of course the British would come back for a second bite at the apple in 1812. A stronger and more organized United States of America would turn them back again.

The diplomatic war for independence would take place in Paris, France. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay would help authoring the 1783 Treaty of Paris. That treaty, which was ratified by the British Parliament, recognized the United States of American as a free and independent nation. There were many clauses in the Treaty dealing with many issues separating the U.S from England. But, the long and short of it is, the UnitedStates of America is a free and independent nation.

The ratification of that treaty was one of the smartest things the British Parliament would ever do. While there was some animosity at first, in later years the two nations would be staunch allies. We got their fat out of the fire a few times.

The days of George Washington and Ben Franklin are long gone. But, they have left us a priceless legacy. We are a free people with the right of self determination. But, we must remember, the loss of our freedom is only a generation away. We must be vigilant and ready to protect what we have.

Richard A. Pender is the senior vice commander of American Legion Post 459 in North Brunswick. He writes the occasional column for Newspaper Media Group. He can be reached at rapender@netzero.net.

Continue reading here:

Opinion: The birth of our nation - we must protect the freedom we have - centraljersey.com

Regarding a letter to the editor that you ran on June 9, 2020: I, too have relatives who served in WWII, including a cousin who was killed in France. Yes, they were fighting for our flag and our freedom. But, many black men served, too, and how much freedom did they get?

It wasn't until 1964 that the Civil Rights Act was passed and that certainly didn't solve all the problems. My relatives came back to the Kittitas Valley and lived a good life of peace, freedom, and opportunity. Most black men went back to the Jim Crow South, or to the North where discrimination was still rampant in many places. Why wouldn't they and their offspring and their offspring's offspring doubt that the flag meant freedom for them? Our salute to the flag says, "With freedom and justice for all." Why shouldn't they protest to make the flag salute ring true?

Colin Kaepernick should be admired for putting his money where his mouth is. He sacrificed a lot to kneel that day. As for the small percentage of blacks who make millions of dollars, they make that because the American people are willing to pay for it. And because they do, does that mean all the rest of black citizens should just keep quiet and not protest anything?

As to the marriage vows, I've been married for 63 years (to the same man, by the way). I am living my life in the way that is best for me and doesn't do harm to anyone else. Everyone should have the freedom to do that without condemnation from people who choose to live a different way. Maybe I don't understand the Bible because I don't hold it upside down!

My ancestor's helped build America, too, and I don't perceive trying to make it a better place as tearing it down.

Read more here:

Letter: The flag has not represented freedom and justice for all - Daily Record-News

Sign Up Today and Support Local Journalism

Enjoy more articles from Madison's Most Trusted Information Source. Subscribers can log in for unlimited digital access

A Japanese man (Ryo Kase, right) meets a coffee shop owner (Moon So-ri, left) while searching for a woman in South Korea in "Hill of Freedom."

Mori (Ryo Kase) is a Japanese man who walks around a town in South Korea carrying a book about time. The barista at the coffee shop he frequents keeps telling him, Tell me about it later.

Thats a droll joke, because there is no later, or earlier, in Hong Sang-soos Hill of Freedom. In telling Moris adventures, Hong has chosen to jumble up the chronology of the scenes in the film. So we see Mori go to bed with the friendly coffee server (Moon So-ri), and then later, she casually flirts with him over a slice of chocolate cake as if they had just met.

Hill of Freedom was filmed in 2014, but Hong has released so many films lately that its finally now making it to America. The UW Cinematheque is screening the film as part of a Virtual Cinema series, and is giving away a limited number of free screening links to viewers who email HILL to info@cinema.wisc.edu.

Mori has come to South Korea with a purpose. Hes trying to reunite with a Japanese woman Kwon (Seo Young-hwa), with whom he previously had a relationship, or at least a deep friendship. He has an address but no phone number for her, so his plan is to show up, uninvited and unannounced, in her town and try to track her down.

Bad plan. Hill of Freedom follows Mori as he fruitlessly wanders the streets trying to find Kwon, who he keeps just missing. While hes wandering around, he has that romance with the coffee shop owner (the shop is called Hill of Freedom) and chats with the pushy nephew of the owner of the B&B hes staying at.

See more here:

Time isn't on the side of a frustrated lover in 'Hill of Freedom' - Madison.com

This weeks four-legged friends are at Red Desert Humane Society. Stop by and meet them today!

Freedom

Hi there! Im Freedom, a two-year-old female cat. I have a lot of personality! I have a spunky attitude which makes me a lot of fun. I would prefer a home with no dogs, but I might not mind another cat. Female. If youre looking for a sweet and lively cat to fill your days with more joy, Im your girl!

Sassy

Advertisement - Story continues below...

Hey! Im Sassy, a two-year-old female cat. Contrary to my name, Im a sweetheart. Im very friendly and I love both giving and receiving love and attention. I even give love bites! And since Im so sweet, I get along well with other cats. I really cant wait to meet you!

Al

Hello! Im Al, a one-year-old male cat. Im a little shy, but Im a very sweet boy. I just need a bit of time to warm up and well be the best of friends! Im not sure how I feel about dogs yet, but I like other cats and get along with them quite well. Im already excited to make myself at home with my new family!

Adorable & Adoptable Pets of the Week is made possible by our great sponsors at Mountainaire Animal Clinic, your go-to place for all of your pet health, care and accessory needs.

*Did our post help you find your best friend?Let the Mountainaire staff know and receive a FREE office visit with your adoption!

Paid Advertisement This post was paid for by the business or individual represented above. We reserve the right to remove any comments. If youd like to advertise your business in a future promotion similar to this, call our Advertising Team at 307-922-0700 or send us a message.

Here is the original post:

Adorable & AdoptablePets of the Week: Freedom, Sassy, & Al - SweetwaterNOW.com

I

snt America weary? It seems most of us are overcome from news regarding heartbreaking stories of racism and a virus, both of which seem to not be easy to cure.

Doesnt Christmas 2019 seem as if it were a 100 years ago? Today I wish I could return to the holidays to feel a family hug, or hear the carols sung in church, or be exhausted from baking cookies instead of handling this type of fatigue. It is funny how we genuinely dont appreciate things until they become unattainable.

We are all weary from COVID-19 and witnessing heart-wrenching acts of bigotry and violence. America is one big ole mess of illness and emotion. As I type, I notice my American flag waving in the breeze out my office window. The brightness of the red, white, and blue seems as if it is trying desperately to lift my spirits and remind me of what she has been through while flying for years over my country.

She has survived some nastiness in her day. She watched as folks died when fevers, viruses, and other illnesses swept her land. She held herself low when Presidents were assassinated, and soldiers fell at her feet while proudly hoisting her. She witnessed slavery come to her shores and waved triumphantly when it sailed away. She was tattered and split when civil war spilled the blood of her people over her grounds. She has viewed her citizens economy flourish and fall. Yet, she still flies eloquently above our land, reminding us, she has seen it all. She seems to never get weary from waving back and forth, seeking to breathe hope and spirit again into her America.

There is something about our country that pulls us from our days of darkness and encourages us not to succumb to the evil that attempts to penetrate our soil. The cure for America is always our freedom.

Freedom to pursue cures for the sick and vaccines for the future. Freedom to cast our votes and eyes upon new leadership. Freedom to rebuild with the power of our own hands, and freedom to worship so that we understand we must love all Gods people. We have the freedom to walk our streets in protest, to wave our banners, and to espouse our beliefs. We must maintain our freedom of the press to keep us informed, and finally, we have the freedom to change.

We can unify our land if our flag reminds us that we are one color through Gods eyes and hers. Because we are Americans, we can shape who we are by listening, serving, and are willing to reconstruct our thoughts, hearts, and actions. We have worked hard before, we know sacrifice, and we will come up with solutions to make our old glory become a glorious new symbol for us all.

Our citizens are weary, but we are the problem-solvers of the world. We need to get our self-indulgent, spoiled silly selves off the couch, get to work, and quit complaining. From every corner of this land, from that old sea to shining sea, we need to rise as one nation, under God, as it was intended.

We must never believe that we are Republican or Democrat before we are American. We must understand that our flag represents equality for every American. If we allow ourselves to continue the polarization of our United States, we might as well take the flag down, fold it up, and put it away. At that point, America, as we know it, will be gone. This is the time to gather ourselves in our weariness and win the battle over division, intolerance, and injustice.

We can be better, achieve more, and have another Christmas with hugs and cookies. However, each American citizen should provide a monumental effort to put our lives in order and care enough for each other to do the Godly right things to ensure that occurs.

My mind returns to history and the soldiers of all colors who fought and died valiantly to defend our freedom. My ears still ring with the words of Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address. My heart continues to weep for those whose remains rest on other shores instead of their homeland. They gave all they could to keep us safe and allow liberty and equality to prosper. We must do the same, so their sacrifices are not in vain. Even though we are tired, we must rise to become the embodiment of what living under the waving American flag means. It means our freedom.

That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth. President Abraham Lincoln

Read this article:

Freedom is the cure for America's condition today - LaGrange Daily News - LaGrange Daily News

Britain's history of slavery and colonialism has become a national talking point following the Black Lives Matter protests and the toppling of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol.

Truro was once a bustling port and destination for slave ships. It was in the city that one African slave found freedom and nationwide fame after he was unceremoniously dumped in nearby Falmouth by a British admiral.

The story of Joseph Antonio Emidy has now become a modern legend thanks to a successful play and a commemoration at Truro Cathedral.

Slavery took him from Guinea to Brazil, to Portugal and the Lisbon Opera, before being abandoned in Falmouth and becoming Cornwalls top violinist and the leader of Truro Philharmonic Society.

Emidy was born in West Africa in 1775 and spent his early years in slavery in Brazil after being captured on the Guinea Coast as a child by the Portuguese.

It is believed his slave master taught him how to play the fiddle, which changed his life.

His talents led to him being taken to Portugal, where he was soon playing violin with the Lisbon Opera Orchestra. But his freedom was short-lived when British Admiral Sir Edward Pellew heard Emidy play, he was so impressed he had him kidnapped to play aboard his ship, the Indefatigable, and kept him in slavery for seven years before dumping him in Falmouth.

However, Emidy made the most of his new situation, settling in the port and making a living by teaching, performing and composing. He eventually became the leader of Truro Philharmonic Orchestra after marrying a Falmouth girl and starting a family.

During his 30 years in Cornwall he was by far the best known composer, violinist and teacher in the region. It is known that some of his music was taken to London by Cornish-born anti-slavery activist James Silk Buckingham and given a hearing by music critics.

However, while many were impressed by the work, Buckingham was advised that Emidy should remain outside capitals music circles because of his colour and background.

Londons loss and racism was Cornwalls gain, and as well as work in Truro and Falmouth, he had connections with Helston, Lostwithiel and Bodmin.

His advertisement in the West Briton of December 1820 gives some indication of the nature of his work in an area where travel was not easy. It read: Violin, Tenor, Bass-Viol, Guitar, and Spanish Guitar taught, balls and assemblies attended, harps tuned and piano-fortes buffed, regulated and tuned.

Music historian Jon Rose said: Various artefacts, including concert advertisements, press reviews and his gravestone in Truro, attest to the existence of Joseph Emidy but not a note from his scores has ever been discovered.

While his music symphonies and concertos may have perished, his genes live on.

His grandchildren emigrated to the USA, where their children and childrens children were involved in The Howes Great London Circus and Sangers English Menagerie of Trained Animals.

Many of his descendants have become musicians, including acclaimed free jazzer and champion of Indian rights, Mixashawn Rozie.

Joseph died in 1835 and is buried in Kenwyn churchyard in Truro.

His obituary in the West Briton read: His talents as a musician were of the first order and he was enthusiastically devoted to the science.

"His talents may be said to have ranked under the first order while his enthusiastic devotedness to the science has rarely been exceeded.

"As an orchestral composer his sinfonias may be mentioned as evincing not only deep musical research, but also those flights of genius which induce regret that his talents were not called into action in a more genial sphere than that in which he has moved.

However, the legend of Emidy appears to be immortal. In 2008 Cornish theatre company BishBashBosh Productions toured excellent play The Tin Violin about his life.

Written by celebrated Cornish playwright Alan M Kent, the play starred Mbuguah Goro and was a hit with audiences in the region.

It returned in a revised version in 2012, this time starring Oraine Johnson as Emidy and directed by Cornish actor Dean Nolan.

Music expert Gareth Henderson has said of Emidys music: It must be that somewhere Emidys music exists. He distributed music around the musical societies, some of it was sent to London to the great impresario Johann Salomon. It must have been distributed.

People may have some stuff in their attic, there might be some loft of a town hall or assembly hall that has got some music in there and it could be that they have got some music of Emidys. It could be in the Westcountry.

"He would have played and written a great deal. There are lots of reports of a new symposia by Mr Emidy, so where the hell is it?

Emidy could, says Mr Henderson, have established himself in London, but he had perhaps become too attached to Cornwall to want to uproot himself.

There is something about the independent spirit of Cornwall that must have absorbed him. Somebody of Emidys versatility he played for the sailors on the ship and he had lived in Brazil must have been a captivating and fascinating person in whose company to be."

TuroLive is an exciting new digital title from Reach PLC dedicated to providing up-to-the minute coverage of the latest events and news from the Duchy's capital. A spin off of CornwallLive, its your companion to life in Cornwall's city, bringing you the best Truro has to offer.

Whether you live in the city, commute in for work or visit occasionally, youll find out everything you need to know about your area. Were a one-stop shop for the best in Truro, and were always here to help you decide where to go to spend your hard-earned cash, showcase the best bars and restaurants, help you entertain the kids and let you know about the latest exciting events.

Were a hub for everything Truro. Our team of journalists live in the city and are always on hand to provide new angles and fresh perspectives, and we want to hear from you.

If you have any feedback, tips or suggestions - or simply want to make your opinion heard- please send us a DM and well get back to you ASAP. In short, were here to start conversations, get you talking and connect you to the people and issues in the best place to live in the UK. Get involved in the conversation.

Like our TruroLive Facebook page by clicking here clicking here

Follow us on Twitter by clicking here clicking here

We also have a dedicated Truro Live newsletter that lets you receive the latest news direct to your email inbox. You can sign up for it here.

Mr Henderson added: He found a security in the Westcountry, a group of friends and a livelihood, and he didnt want to upset that, so he was never tempted away to the bright lights of London.

The life and work of the African violinist was permanently commemorated in Truro Cathedral in 2015. Emidy was the subject of a new architectural boss which was carved with a violin and a map of Africa by Peter Boex, of Wendron.

The Joseph Emidy boss, in the ceiling of St Marys Aisle, was officially dedicated during an evensong at the cathedral. The service featured Truro Cathedral Choir and music performed on the kora, a stringed instrument from West Africa.

Almost 200 years since his death, the legend of the remarkable Joseph Emidy refuses to die.

Excerpt from:

The African slave who found freedom and fame in Cornwall - Cornwall Live

New wellness video series available online to help women relieve stress & anxiety.

COVID-19 left millions stressed and uncertain of their futures. The police killing of George Floyd left America battling heightened racial tensions. And quarantine lockdown disrupted normal routines to tackle stress, leaving many ill-equipped to combat anxiety, sadness & frustration from the confines of their homes. Freedom At The Mat, a New York City-based, class experience for women only, partners with ANEW Network to offer support during these trying times and beyond. ANEW is a digitally native media platform that offers lifestyle programming for contemporary women of color to engage, share, and be entertained by content reflecting the fullness of their lives.

Since 2017, Freedom At The Mats in-person classes have attracted women ages 25-54 desiring wellness beyond physical aspects. Through the strategic combination of mental, physical, and spiritual practices into under 10-minute mindfulness, journaling & affirmation sessions & under 30-minute full-length integrated wellness videos including yoga asana, Freedom At The Mat Online makes self-care more readily accessible to women globally. Classes are themed, and include a thought-provoking reading, mindfulness, journal prompt, yoga asana and a verbal affirmation.

Wellness is critically important now more than ever to women of color, especially with how COVID-19 hit the African American community. COVID-19 coupled with racial tensions have left many feeling as if they have no outlet. Adding Freedom At The Mat to our programming roster is our way of inviting women of all ages, ethnicities, shapes and beliefs to integrate wellness into their lives from the comfort of their homes, with a trusted and relatable teacher Olivia, says ANEW President and Founder Lynne McDaniel.

Wellness is more than physical. It involves mind, body & spirit. We proclaim the mat as a symbolic destination for women to ground themselves, reconnect with their inner divine and life purpose. Were humbled and excited to be a vehicle to transform more womens lives through our ANEW Network relationship and YouTube, says Olivia Scott, Creator of Freedom At The Mat.

Scott is a 25-year marketing executive - including Carols Daughter CMO, NYU Adjunct Marketing Professor, and Founder of Omerge Alliances marketing consultancy, which leads wellness initiatives for clients such as ESSENCE Wellness House, BRWL and others. Yoga was a saving grace for Scott while climbing the corporate ladder, and she is now dedicated to making wellness more accessible to women as they seek life balance and calm.

Freedom At The Mat in-person classes are 75 minutes and featured at various womens conferences, churches, retreats, workplaces and nonprofit organizations. Virtual classes via Zoom are held on Sundays at 3 pm EST and with partners Dream Center Harlem & Project Peaceful Warriors.

Learn more at freedomathemat.com.

Freedom At The MatFreedom At The Mat is for women who need a moment. Live, virtual and pre-recorded classes are designed to comprehensively integrate multiple wellness modalities to maximize time and deliver self-care opportunities to time-starved women.

Original post:

Wellness Experience Freedom at the Mat Launches Online with ANEW Digital Network to Help Women Combat Stress & Anxiety - PR.com

Journal-Courier staff, dbauer@myjournalcourier.com

To the editor:

Terrorists are hiding in protest marches.

Protesters have their freedom of speech to march peacefully. Protesters dont steal, kill, loot or burn buildings down in their marches.

Terrorists kill, loot and burn buildings for their plans to destroy the republic of the United States of America.

These are people who hate the United States and U.S. President Donald Trump. They want to destroy our freedoms and the U.S. Constitution.

President Trump is right to use military to stop the killing. Looting, destroying, stealing is out of control.

The Democrat governors in the United States are standing down for the dirty political reasons for President Trump to lose the presidential election.

This is Bible prophecy being fulfilled and Jesus is knocking on the doors of the United States to return soon. Only Gods remnant will survive until Jesus returns.

George Culley

Pinckneyville

See more here:

Letter to the editor: Looting, killing are not freedom of speech - Jacksonville Journal-Courier

Contrary to the line from the Kris Kristofferson classic, Me and Bobby McGee, freedom isnt just another word for nothing left to lose.

Instead, freedom is the primary value worth fighting for, because without freedom in all of its various forms, every other value is impossible. It is for this reason that I am such an advocate of freedom, and why I participate in and promote the largest annual gathering of free minds each year, FreedomFest, throughout my various publications.

This year, freedom has faced an acute and grave threat via the government lockdown and shelter-in-place orders. And while one can argue whether or not the virus mitigation orders that were imposed by government were warranted, nobody can argue that these orders havent had a pernicious effect on our economy.

Moreover, its quite evident that the pandemic has been a boom to one actor in our collective drama big government.

The pandemic of COVID-19 coronavirus threatens a world-wide wave of sickness, but its the healthiest thing to happen to government power in a very long time, writes J.D. Tuccille, contributing editor for Reason.com. As it leaves government with a rosy glow, however, our freedom will end up more haggard than ever.

Some of that government intervention includes more than $6 trillion in various spending bills, and that number is likely to continue to get bigger and bigger before the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Then theres the Federal Reserve, which just today confirmed what the market bulls wanted to hear, i.e., that it would continue to keep the money spigot wide open by continuing to keep interest rates at zero, not just for the rest of 2020, but also through 2022.

Heres the money quote from the Feds policy statement released just today:

The ongoing public health crisis will weigh heavily on economic activity, employment, and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term. In light of these developments, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals.

Translation: The Feds got your back, baby.

Given the boom in big government, which is being facilitated by its handmaiden, the Federal Reserve, you can bet that one big unintended (or perhaps very much intended) consequence of it all will be a bigger government and a small individual citizen.

Thats unfortunate, too, because despite the widespread stay-at-home orders that were imposed by so many states, the worst of the economic damage is starting to subside.

We saw that in the May jobs report, which came in at an estimate-crushing 2.5 million new jobs created vs. expectations for job losses of 7.7 million. Thats a 10 million job swing! Yet even here, politicians from both sides of the aisle are claiming credit for the job gains by saying that it was the Paycheck Protection Program that allowed companies to rehire workers.

Heres a personal maxim that I recommend you keep in mind: Always be skeptical of people who run out to claim responsibility for something that others actually do. A corollary to this maxim is to always be skeptical of those who claim to have all the answers to complex problems.

Another way to think about it is like this: In the name of public health, the government shut down the economy. Then, the government stepped in to save the day with massive stimulus stimulus that represents a growing and pernicious debt that is owed by each citizen. Now, the government is claiming victory and taking credit for a rescue from the clutches of depression.

So, I ask you, can you not see something afoul in this?

Finally, I will say that, in keeping true with my aforementioned maxims, I do not claim to have the answers to the complex problem of combating a global pandemic. I also understand human fallibility and that inevitably, government, scientists, medical professionals and citizens are going to get some things right and others wrong.

Yet, what we also need to keep firmly in the forefront of our minds is that freedom is the best disinfectant for any viral plague be that a literal viral plague, as in the case of COVID-19, or a philosophical plague consisting of pell-mell bad Keynesian economic stimulus and the imposition of draconian lockdowns on the rights of citizens to engage freely in the commerce of their choice.

So, you see, freedoms not just another word for nothing left to lose its the only word that matters. It also is the best disinfectant to bad ideas.

*********************************************************************

Remembering a Personal Hero

Mans proper stature is not one of mediocrity, failure, frustration, or defeat, but one of achievement, strength, and nobility. In short, man can and ought to be a hero.

Mike Mentzer

Its not often that someone or something you discover in your teen years continues to be a constant source of pride, pleasure and discovery well into your fifties. Yet, thats precisely what the work and life of the late and great Mike Mentzer has done for me. Mentzer was a brilliant man and a pioneer in the sport of bodybuilding. He was someone who used a honed sense of reason and an independent mind to help countless aspiring bodybuilders discover the most rational way to build lasting muscle mass.

Me with my copy of the highly recommended, High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way.

Sadly, Mentzer died nine years ago today (June 10, 2011) of heart complications. He was just 49 years old. And in a sad and strange twist of fate, Mikes younger brother, Ray Mentzer, who was also a personal hero, died just two days later.

Though both men have been gone since 2011, their legacy of applying reason, science, principles of logic, and a heroic worldview to their lives and work will always be a source of inspiration to me, and to the countless fans of their work around the world. So, heres to a heroic sense of life may it live on in the best within us all.

Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote that youd like me to share with your fellow readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my newsletters, seminars or anything else. Click here to ask Jim.

In the name of the best within us,

Jim Woods

Read more here:

Freedom is the Best Disinfectant - Stock Investor

Almost 30 years ago, I sat with my parents in front of the television and watched one of the last mass actions that marked the end of state socialism in Europe: the toppling of the statue of Enver Hoxha, the historic leader of the Albanian Communist party. Transfixed by the live images of tens of thousands of people taking turns to pull ropes, I saw the gigantic bronze figure of a man whose portrait still adorned my school walls tilt slightly left and then right, before losing its balance and collapsing to the ground. The statue was dragged into the main square of the capitalTirana, followed by chants of Freedom, Democracy, and The police are with us.

The police were indeed with the protesters, but not out of sympathy for their cause. TheCommunistparty,at that point still in power,had given them orders not to intervene. During the preceding weeks of protest, high-ranking officials had realised that a system that had lost legitimacy in the eyes of the majority could no longer demand their compliance. Foreign news channels celebrated the birth of freedom in what they called the last dictatorship of Europe.

I recalled these events as I listened to Priti Patels remarks about the thuggery of the criminal minority who rolled the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston into Bristols harbour. I smiled at Keir Starmers sharp words lamenting the lawlessness of these actions and condemning them as completely wrong. They reminded me of state propaganda on Albanian television, how protesters were branded as hooligans, their actions labelled as vandalism.

If the differences between these two moments were the characters of these memorialised individuals, or the respective merits of their views,Edward Colston and Cecil Rhodes should have gone long before Enver Hoxha.Revisionist histories of British colonialism like to emphasise howit gave railroadsto its dependent territories.Socialism, while its legacy has been contested,gave Albaniaroads,railways,electricity,universal suffrage,free healthcare and mass literacy.When, as a primary school student, I was first taught to sympathise with anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was still considered a terrorist by many liberal states.

Patel and Starmer both declared themselves in agreement with the aims of the protests but objected to their methods: the sheer vandalism of hooligans, as Patel crisply put it.When victims of oppression descend on the streets rather than waiting patiently to vote in elections, when they take direct action to destroy statues rather than waiting on authorities to decide, they are drawing attention not to past injustices but to its continuing legacy in the present. They are telling us that we need civil disobedience because civic reciprocity is broken.

But there are also risks involved with allowing the question of statues and monuments to dominate public debate. On the evening we watched Hoxhas statue fall from its plinth, my family enthusiastically declared in front of the TV: We are free! Fast forward 30 years, and they regret their words. Albania now has political pluralism and free markets, but life expectancy and standards of literacy have declined. Young people leave in droves to find work elsewhere, while social inequality is rising. Toppling statues marked a break with the past, but made it more difficult to learn from it.

Conversations about the symbols of historic injustice make sense if they are framed as debates not about the legacy of the past, but about how that legacy still shapes the present. While colonialism is formally over, neocolonial relations pervade the current global order, from the balance of power in international institutions and trade negotiations to interference in the affairs of former colonies.

Britainmay no longer engage intheslave trade, butitstill exploits labour from the global periphery.Itmay no longer extract resources and ship them through the likes of the East India Company, but todays most powerful corporations followmuch the same model.The countries that were previously considered uncivilised are now merely developing. What used to be called colonial exploitation hasbecome migration management.Former colonial dominions are now termed failed states.

The removal of the symbols of colonial violence risks becoming a pyrrhic victory if its aims are reduced to a campaign for rectifying historical injustices. Focusing only on whether statues should stay or go obscures how unjust histories are still borne by current structures. The struggle is broader than toppling offensive monuments and removing problematic traces of the past. Decolonising the curriculum in schools and universities, revisiting how history is taught and how migrants are asked to learn it when they take naturalisation tests in host states (often their former colonial masters) are equally important components of that struggle. If we scratch the surface, we may discover that since capitalism has historically relied on colonial structures to survive, it may be difficult to demand the end of one without demanding the end of the other.

That wider struggleis one thatfew political parties are prepared to endorse. Discussing historic symbols of violence is more straightforward than acknowledging that colonial injustice continues in the present. It becomes easier to reduce this truth to a set of platitudes about what culture is made of, and how memory must be preserved. It is easier to claim victory by simply displacing a block of stone. With the removal of statues, the past no longer haunts.

In Albania, toppling the statues has only served to give the illusion of freedom, to clean up the mess only on the surface. Statues were removed, schools and roads were renamed, Marxist books were burned. The elimination of cultural markers buried the responsibilities of hundreds of thousands of citizens on whose complicity a system relied to survive. It was simpler to condemn our history, to pretend we had all been oppressed. Concentrations of power, nepotism and violence persisted, and in a newly capitalist society they found fertile ground. But there was no alternative. By declaring ourselves victims of history, we made it impossible to be agents. And since humans had already settled accountswith their past, it became fashionable to say that, in the future, only a God could save us.

Lea Ypi is a professor in political theory in the government department at the London School of Economics

Link:

By tearing down our statues, Albanians stopped learning from the past - The Guardian