Monday, July 23, 2012

How to stop a massacre: Surveillance video reveals simple, low-cost solution that works everywhere

Sunday, July 22, 2012
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com
For original post click here.

(NaturalNews) In the aftermath of the Aurora, Colorado Batman movie theater shooting, a surveillance video has surfaced that shows the simple, obvious answer to the question on everybody's mind: How do we stop a massacre?

The answer is revealed in the stunning short video shown below. This remarkable solution:

• Requires no police.
• Costs the taxpayers no money.
• Requires no up-front paperwork.
• Protects innocent lives.
• Is deployed in as little as FIVE seconds.
• Works everywhere.
• Deters violent crime.
• Makes bad guys flee immediately.
• Is easy to learn.
• Functions at the local level.
• Does not require control or intervention by the United Nations or any government entity.

Watch the video at:
http://youtu.be/KjH3ZMUks1o 
 
 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Samuel Adams

"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can."

   "The said constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."

"Were the talents and virtues which heaven has bestowed on men given merely to make them more obedient drudges, to be sacrificed to the follies and ambition of a few? Or, were not the noble gifts so equally dispensed with a divine purpose and law, that they should as nearly as possible be equally exerted, and the blessings of Providence be equally enjoyed by all?"

 
"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."

"It is always dangerous to the liberties of the people to have an army stationed among them, over which they have no control ... The Militia is composed of free Citizens. There is therefore no danger of their making use of their Power to the destruction of their own Rights, or suffering others to invade them."

"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"

Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Texas Rally for Freedom

(4 embedded videos today)

We drove down that morning after about 4 hours of sleep!  We met with others at the Capitol grounds and marched with the Combat Vets for Ron Paul down Congress Ave!






































Tom Woods, Author & Teacher


(or click here)

Jack Hunter - The Southern Avenger

(or click here)

Oh, and we had a Jimmie Vaughn concert, too! (one hour):

(or click here)

Jimmie's encore: Down With Big Brother!

(or click here)

We were hot and tired, can you tell??

Friday, May 18, 2012

prepping....

Follow this link for the whole article: http://lewrockwell.com/rep3/beginning-prepper.html

First Things First: Key Questions Facing the Beginning Prepper

by Norse Prepper
What am I preparing for? Will I bug in or bug out? How will I defend myself, family and home? What will I eat? How will I heat my home? How will I keep clean? How will I produce light and electricity? How will I get information and communicate with the outside world? What skills do I have and items can I use to barter? How will I fight off boredom? These are but the tip of the iceberg of questions needing to be answered for when life as we know it comes to an end. When talking to and dealing with anyone new to prepping, please remember that they are entering a large and complex world where their decisions on what to do next could mean the difference between life and death. Help them to make a list of priorities and offer them advice on what the list should contain. This article is just a primer, but is more than what 99% of people have done to prepare themselves and their families for what is coming.
Also, please let me say thank you to Mac, the contributors and people who comment on the SHTFplan web site for helping me and my family prepare. You truly are today's patriots. God bless.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Texas State Rep. District 2 debate/forum report

Well, we were very appreciative of TAMU-Commerce hosting this event Tuesday evening.  I was sorry to see such a small crowd, and many were from Hopkins county (which is new to the district).  I passed out my card and asked to be notified sooner of any similar events in the future.  It was the first of its kind.  Hosted by the African American Leadership Conference  and Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.

I went into this with an open mind.  I didn't know much about George Alexander, having only seen him in one forum and met him very briefly once.  We helped get Dan Flynn elected when he first went to Austin and had supported him for many years.  I am always willing to take a hard look at those public servants who represent us.

 Mr. Alexander is not a polished politician.  That's refreshing. 

Mr. Flynn defended himself saying he wasn't a career politician, then asked us in his closing if we really wanted to send someone inexperienced to Austin?  Wasn't he inexperienced when he went a decade ago? 

Mr. Alexander did point out that Texas government spending has risen over 50% since Mr. Flynn took office.  AND we do have debt, our economic picture isn't as rosy as they would like us to believe.  I learned much of this when Debra Medina was running for Governor in 2009-10. 

Mr. Alexander admitted he didn't know everything and wouldn't pretend to.  He's a concerned citizen running for office to represent us. He has long time roots in the district.

Mr. Flynn listed his awards and recognitions from different organizations and his voting score with Empower Texans. (a side note that I think is funny...Flynn touts the Empower Texans score and Sen. Deuell discounts it.  I think we need to look at various issues and see how he's voted.  Also realizing that sometimes they support a bill knowing it will fail in the Senate and vice versa, so they can look good.  A lot of games are played in Austin.  It can be difficult to know what's really happening.  To get a fresh "outsider's view" check out http://davidsimpson.com/  he was the freshman in the last session who really stood up for the people.  You can sign up for his email list.  He told us about getting called into the "principal's office" over his anti-TSA bill.)

Mr. Alexander mentioned  Mr. Flynn's record on some legislation  (for the TTC, against more transparency in the budget, against removiing the confidentiality of toll contracts, against managing control of our Texas environment, for the nursing home "granny tax" )  Some of these I was familiar with and others I was not. 

Mr. Alexander said that according to campaign finance reports Mr. Flynn has raised most of his money from special interests outside the district (around 1 Million in the last 10 years).  I confirmed this here:  http://www.followthemoney.org

The panel of journalists asked some really good questions.  I think it was all moderated very fairly. 

(GEUS videoed the forum held in Greenville on Monday night.  It might be available on the public access channel.)

To see more on each candidate:

http://www.alexanderforhouse.com/

http://www.daflynn.com/Endorsements.htm

I came across this website with lots of info.  Project Vote Smart  http://votesmart.org

I hope this helps as you go to the polls starting Monday.

For Liberty and Justice for all,

Debbie McKee

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Hunt County - Rails to Trails

Letter to the Greenville Herald Banner:

Why should I care about the Rails to Trails issue?
It doesn’t come through my property. I live on the other end of the county.  Well, if we don’t stand up for our neighbor’s freedom and God given rights who will stand up for ours when it’s our turn?


 I’ve heard people extolling the benefits of public access trails, but I wonder if those people have considered some of these issues.

1.      The land was deeded to the Railroad companies for a specific purpose.  When no longer needed by the railroad company the rights, ownership and control was supposed to revert BACK to the landowner whose property the rail line came through.  This is written in the original deeds.

2.      Rail Banking Act of 1983.  Just because the Federal government creates a scheme to give others the use of property taken by fraud doesn’t mean it’s lawful or legitimate.  Theft is still theft no matter who does it or how a “law” or “act” gets passed.  The railroad companies got to “write off” the “donation” of the land to the non-profit organizations to “use” until maybe the railroad companies wanted it back for future projects….

3.      Funding for projects such as these comes from our gasoline/hwy tax money.  10% is diverted for projects like this.  I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have my gas tax burden lowered by 10% to use to pay for my gasoline and other necessities.  Or the money should be used for the highways, the original intent of the tax.

4.      The money is divvied out through agencies such as Texas Parks and Wildlife and TXDOT.  One stipulation is that if the project is opposed by the local political subdivision (the county commissioners’ court in this case, or a city council) the project will be denied funding.  So, there is something the county commissioners CAN do.  They like to say this is a federal issue and there is nothing they can do.  That just isn’t so.   

5.      Stopping this funding is the necessary first step to protecting the property of Hunt Co. residents and saving ALL of us money. 

6.      This is a cash cow for some powerfully connected folks and they will not be happy about the county opposing the project.

7.      So, let’s see which side our county commissioners take – will they protect the little guys or the powerfully connected who stand to lose millions? 

8.      Are the commissioners prepared to be personally liable if they do nothing to stop this and the property owners sue to regain proper control and ownership of their land? 


Don’t be swayed by the “possible economic benefits”, enriching our lives, promoting healthy lifestyles, etc.  This is land that BELONGS to your neighbors.  What right do you or anyone else have to hike, bike, or anything else on it without their permission?  What would you want your neighbor to do if you were in their position?  Come to your aid?  Stand up for your rights?  I hope so.  Let’s look out for each other. 

Debbie McKee

     Campbell, Texas

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Are you Outraged?


(Letter to the Greenville Herald Banner - posted 
Friday, April 27th, 2012)


                                   
Did you attend the GOP county convention Saturday morning to rubber stamp a cherry picked slate of delegates? 

Or did you go thinking you could actually participate in the process?

I have news for you, until we replace those currently in power you will not be permitted to participate in the process.  That is unless you convince them you think just like they do. 

There were newcomers who wanted to get involved, they were told to show up and work and maybe you can go next time.  I'm here to tell you that I doubt very many people in this county have worked as hard as I have for the last 5 years to promote the things that Republicans (and Independents and conservative Democrats) should support.  And it hasn't worked for me.  In fact, in 2010 I was told by one of the most powerful few, that if I wanted to participate I would have to take over the party!  I just want people to get involved and do the right thing!

We were also told (once again) that we aren't ideologically pure enough.  We must think lock-step with the inner core group that controls the party. 

There is no “open door” for Republicans in Hunt County.  For over four years they have attempted to keep Republicans who adhere to the Constitution and the philosophy of Life, Liberty and Property out of the debate.  What do they fear?

 I want openness, easy access to information, the rules followed and any Republican voter allowed to participate.  I want those who have left in disgust to come back.  I want our county party to be effective and vibrant.  Imagine what we could accomplish if they had embraced the new folks over the last 4 – 5 years instead of shutting us out, vilifying us and running us off?  Folks with passion and a true desire to make a better world for their children and grandchildren.  Folks who can see where we are headed and how we’ve gotten into this mess.  Folks who think outside the canned “conservative” talk radio and network news box.

The sad thing is that the party has become the RINOs they ousted 20 years ago!    They are now the “moderates” who endorse the liberal incumbents and support the establishment candidates, following orders from on high.  We are the real conservatives who believe our candidates and elected public servants should adhere to the Constitution and their oath of office.  

The local party could have power for good, if it would use it.  I don't mean power to control an ineffective, joke of an organization.  I mean power to change the status quo, clean things up, and make this county, state and country a better place for our children and grandchildren. 

It is to their shame that they have refused to do that.  

If you want to get more involved, actually be able to participate in the future, help clean up the party and hold our public servants accountable please contact me:

Debbie McKee   
 netxlc@gmail.com   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This letter was published in the Greenville Herald Banner newspaper on Friday, April 27th, 2012

Monday, April 23, 2012

This is a must watch video

  Please take the time to watch this 2 minute speech, US Marine Major (Retired) Christopher Miller gave at the GOP Congressional District 3 convention.
embedded:








The man knows of what he speaks.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Upcoming county conventions - letter to the editor

Dear Editor:

Many of the folks in Hunt County probably have no idea of the importance of events taking place this coming Saturday, April 21st. The local Republican and Democrat parties will hold conventions. The Republicans at Greenville Middle School Auditorium at 3611 Texas Street: Precinct conventions at 8:30 and the county convention will follow at 10 am. I was unable to find the details on the Democrat party convention on their website and couldn't reach the county chair at the time of this writing.

You must be registered to vote to be eligible to participate. Out of town college students can participate in the Republican convention where they reside as long as they bring their voter registration card (or print out of the voter roll from their home county) and fill out a registration card to change their registration to Hunt county or prove they have registered in any Texas county (by print out or receipt) and will be eligible to vote in the upcoming May 29th primary. This has just been clarified by the state Republican party counsel. I don't know about the Democrat party rules on this issue.

If you think things are going just fine in our county/state/country stay home and sleep in. If you want to influence the direction, the players, the gate keepers, the agenda, the system you must get involved - come join us.

If you understand that politicians are grown from the local party and want a say in our future - come join us.

If you understand that corruption in government is tolerated because corruption in the parties is tolerated - come join us.

If you think parties and politicians should play by the rules - come join us.

Help us hold the party accountable so the party can then in turn help us hold our elected public servants accountable.

Our future and that of our children and grandchildren is at stake!!!

Debbie McKee

Monday, March 5, 2012

A guest post

My daughter wrote the post below and I thought I'd share it. Great job, honey! When I first read about this event a few years ago it really opened my eyes. Reading War is a Racket by Major General Smedley Butler is another eye-opener (click this link to read it online).
~Debbie

***********************************************
I am going to talk about The Bonus Army, otherwise known as "Bonus Marchers". This incident started in early 1932, and ended in July of '32. I know that this is not a very happy tale, but I think that we would do well to look into the past and see how our government treated our Veterans and their families. After the initial atrocities, the Vets were sent down to the Florida Keys in 1935 to work on the "Overseas Highway Project" (click here) - just in time for a really bad hurricane- a lot of them died.
This is the first article that I read on the subject, 5 or so years ago. If you look at nothing else here, please read it! click here (I don't remember how I knew about the marchers in the first place.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click here to watch a 52second (silent) News Reel, of the marchers coming into Washington DC.
Click here to watch a short "talky" News Reel with an interview blip from an eye witness reporter.

This next one is a collection of photos set to Al Jolson's "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?"
embedded video:


And this last video "The World War I Bonus Army And My Dad" was neat. Click here to watch.

"Bonus Marchers" and police battle in Washington, DC.
By an unknown Associated Press photographer, July 1932

National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please go "Google"/search or YouTube Bonus Marchers or Bonus Army. (did you know in 2009 there were 106,558 homeless veterans? click here for charts or here for an article Just imagine how many more there are today, as the US economy so much worse now. Sad- really sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can you really blame these men for making their voices heard? Can you imagine the despair they felt? In 2010 alone, 950 solders/veterans tried to commit suicide per-month, and 18 a day actually are "successful".
I quote from an ArmyTimes article: "Troubling new data show there are an average of 950 suicide attempts each month by veterans who are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Affairs Department. Seven percent of the attempts are successful, and 11 percent of those who don’t succeed on the first attempt try again within nine months. The numbers, which come at a time when VA is strengthening its suicide prevention programs, show about 18 veteran suicides a day, about five by veterans who are receiving VA care...the VA’s suicide hotline has been receiving about 10,000 calls a month from current and former service members..." click here for the rest of the story....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Needless to say, this subject is very hard for me to think about, I feel weak and like I have a stifling 100# weight on my chest....it makes me so sad. I don't really know what to do about it, except to try and raise public awareness. I know that simply throwing money at a problem does not help much. And you can imagine that I don't think much of Douglas MacArthur,
George Patton, Dwight Eisenhower or President Hoover.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Adrienne McKee (my blog can be found here)
PS: Thank you Mom for helping me research my data! Love you!

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

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Property rights battle! Stand with the landowner in Paris, Texas this Friday!


Should a privately owned foreign company be allowed to seize land from Texas landowners to use for their private profit?

This is a landmark case, it could decide whether or not companies such as TransCanada can exercise the "right of eminent domain" in Texas.

Join us Friday at noon if you can (hearing starts at 1:30 pm) at the Lamar county courthouse 119 North Main to stand with the landowner. We MUST NOT be outnumbered by union workers hired by TransCanada to show up in force! They did that in Houston and Austin for the hearings. Bused in lots of them to try to shut us out...... This hearing concerns the temporary restraining order the landowner filed against TransCanada. It was standing room only last Friday, so come early to get a seat!

Do you own land? Or know others who do? Take a stand for ALL of us and our children....

Debbie McKee (a notice below with link to sign a petition and an article from the Star-Telegram at the bottom of the email)

from IndyTexans:
Thanks to many of you who moved so quickly to support Julia Trigg Crawford and family. Their efforts to maintain a temporary restraining order on TransCanada's trenching of their property in NE Texas for the Keystone XL pipeline, without any federal nor state approval, is still in place. BUT the hearing continues this Friday in Paris.

CONTINUATION HEARING on Temporary Restraining Order: THIS coming Friday, Feb. 24, Paris, Texas, 1:30 pm. There will be no protest, but we hope some of you can help fill the courtroom of Lamar County Courthouse, 119 North Main- Paris, Texas. We will listen and hope that the court does the right thing.

No matter where you live in Texas, please click on this link to sign the petition calling for state of Texas public hearings on eminent domain abuse and then Facebook it to your Texas friends and family -- or just forward this entire email to them with a note asking them to sign.

Note: A legal defense fund is getting established for the Crawford family. Watch for those details as their full case comes to trial in April.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 17th post:
http://netxconnect.blogspot.com/2012/02/protesting-transcanadakeystone-pipeline.html

Friday, February 17, 2012

Protesting the TransCanada/Keystone Pipeline & Eminent Domain in Paris, Texas

A group of us were in Paris, Texas to protest the fraudulent use of eminent domain to take privately owned land for the profit of a private company. TransCanada and the Keystone pipeline. Come with us on April 19th for the pre-trial hearing!!! We are going to court folks!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!! We had a great mix of Independents, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Occupy Dallas, Tea Party, etc. etc.... We MUST come together to fight these things!!! (Sorry about the wind noise in the video. It was cold and windy!)

Part one: link
embedded:


Part two: link
embedded:


Texas becomes a battleground in Keystone XL pipeline controversy
Posted: 02/22/2012 1:37 PM

AUSTIN -- The politically volatile Keystone XL pipeline is becoming embroiled in a widening controversy in Texas as supporters tout the promise of jobs and other economic benefits while increasingly vocal opponents say the project would trample property rights and endanger water supplies in East Texas.

Although President Barack Obama rejected the application by TransCanada, the pipeline company says it plans to resubmit its proposal to transport heavy crude oil from Canada to refineries in Texas. The project holds $2 billion of economic potential for Texas, more than for any other state, according to a survey commissioned by TransCanada.

Its high-profile supporters include Gov. Rick Perry and Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, all Republicans. Perry made the pipeline an element of his failed presidential bid by blasting Obama's rejection of the application, accusing the president of squandering the chance to create jobs.

"There is not a politician in Texas in their right mind -- I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican -- that doesn't know the importance of this to all of Texas," said Bill McCoy, president of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. At least two Port Arthur refineries, Motiva Enterprises and Valero, would be on the receiving end of the 1,661-mile pipeline.

Opposition campaign

But landowners, environmentalists and property rights advocates have begun stepping forward in an impassioned campaign against the 376 miles of pipeline that would stretch through 18 counties in East Texas.

Opponents accuse TransCanada of using bullying tactics to seize land rights for the project and say a spill could pollute vital water resources in drought-ridden Texas.

Sign-wielding protesters gathered outside a court hearing in Paris on Friday to support Julia Trigg Crawford in her efforts to block TransCanada from digging on a 600-acre farm that has been in her family since 1948.

Crawford, who manages the farm, says the pipeline threatens Bois d'Arc Creek, which flows through the Northeast Texas property, as well as Native American archaeological remains.

"My hope is that our state leaders will see that their landowners are being bullied," Crawford told the Star-Telegram earlier in the week.

The opposition campaign has also re-energized a property rights coalition that flexed its muscle during the last decade to upend one of Perry's most ambitious projects, the Trans-Texas Corridor.

The project was originally envisioned as a $145 billion-plus supernetwork of tollways, rails and utility lines. It dissolved after it was attacked as a land grab that would encroach on thousands of private acres. The involvement of a foreign contractor, Spain-based Cintra, further angered opponents.

"We certainly have shades of the corridor fight resurrecting themselves," said Wharton businesswoman Debra Medina, who ran against Perry in the 2010 gubernatorial race and is a leading opponent of the Keystone project.

"You've got a foreign company. You've got a private property battle. If I know Texans like I think I do, I think the landowners will win," Medina said.

The project would complement an existing TransCanada pipeline in the United States, doubling the system's total capacity to 1.1 million barrels of crude a day into U.S. markets, the company said. The 1,661-mile, 36-inch, $7 billion pipeline would start in Alberta, Canada, and stretch through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Obama turned down the application over concerns about the route's potential impact on the environmentally sensitive Nebraska Sandhills, but he left the door open for a new application. Republicans accused the president of turning his back on a project that supporters say would create more than 100,000 jobs.

Shawn Howard, a TransCanada spokesman, said the company plans to resubmit the application to reroute the pipeline away from the sand hills, but the rest of the route, including the Texas portion, would remain the same.

Waco economist Ray Perryman, in a TransCanada-sponsored study that critics dispute, says the pipeline would create at least 50,000 jobs in Texas, by far the most of any pipeline state. Perryman also predicts $41 million in state government revenue and $7.6 million for local governments during construction.

Water worries

But many of those in or near the proposed route say the uncertainties and potential hazards outweigh the positives. In Reklaw, population 266, Mayor Harlan Crawford says fighting the pipeline has become his principal mission in a job otherwise filled with the predictable litany of small-town complaints, such as stray dogs and water problems.

The community, which Crawford, 77, describes as "just a blink in the road," was founded in 1890. Settlers wanted the name Walker but, learning that it was taken, opted for the backward spelling. Many current inhabitants are aging retirees.

After learning that the pipeline would run near the town, residents joined forces with Gallatin, another small farming community, to form the equivalent of a regional compact that would give them more power to challenge the pipeline. One big concern for the alliance is the potential contamination of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, which lies underneath 60 counties.

"This is some nasty stuff, and we look to get it stopped," Crawford said.

Others say TransCanada representatives also applied not-so-subtle pressure when they began acquiring access to property to build the pipeline.

"They were pushy and would intimidate you and said you had to sign this thing," said Eleanor Fairchild, who lives near Winnsboro in Wood County. Like others, she said, she "got into the fight" out of concern over possible water contamination.

"We can live without oil," she said, "but we cannot live without water."

Michael Bishop, a retired Marine who owns 20 acres in Nacogdoches County, hired an attorney to fight the project after learning that the route would cut through his orchard and garden.

"It's going to totally disrupt my life as I know it," he said. "Is it fair for a foreign-owned company to come over here and take land for their private use and their personal gain?"

Eminent domain

As with the Trans-Texas Corridor, the pipeline dispute seems certain to reopen a legislative debate over eminent domain powers, which governmental entities and so-called common carriers such as utilities and pipelines use to acquire land for public projects after compensating the owner.

TransCanada has used eminent domain to acquire a number of tracts, but critics of the company are challenging that authority, citing a 2011 Texas Supreme Court decision that makes it harder for pipelines to meet the definition of a common carrier.

Entities with eminent domain powers typically first seek to negotiate with a landowner. If they can't agree, the entity sues to take the land. The courts also appoint a three-member commission to set a price.

Howard, the TransCanada spokesman, called eminent domain proceedings "an absolute last resort" for the company and said "we do everything we can" to reach a voluntary agreement instead of going to court. He also said the company uses the property as a right of way for the pipeline and does not take ownership.

The company has obtained 99 percent of the easements needed to build the pipeline in Texas, with only 19 tracts outstanding, he said.

Medina, who now heads We Texans, a conservative advocacy group, says she has documented at least 89 lawsuits in which property owners were taken to court. She also said others have been forced to negotiate because they couldn't afford a legal battle.

Dave Montgomery,

512-476-4294

Twitter: @daveymontgomery

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

3 new quotes


"O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe." ~Langston Hughes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a
knowledge of our own ignorance"

~Benjamin Franklin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down" - Frederick Douglass