and I found this. What a coincidence!
27 April, 2009
The Foundations of a Free Society
Dr. Nathaniel Branden recently emailed a link to this talk he gave back in 1995, pointing out that recent events make it timely. He is, as usual, absolutely right.
For thousands of years, to turn to an ethical dimension, people have been taught that self-interest is evil. And for thousands of years they have been taught that the essence of virtue is self-sacrifice. To a large extent that is a doctrine of control and manipulation. “Selfish” is what we call people when they are doing what they want to do, rather than what we want them to do.
The world is changing. Imagine, for example, that a speaker was addressing a room full of women, only women, and he said, “Ladies, the essence of morality is realizing that you are here to serve. Your needs are not what is important. Think only of those you serve; nothing is more beautiful than self-sacrifice.” Well, in the modern world, such a speaker would rightly be hooted off the stage. Question: What happens if the same speech is made to a mixed audience? Why is what’s wrong with it different if men are also in the audience? We need to rethink our whole ethical framework. We need to rethink and realize that it is the natural right of an organism, not only to defend and to sustain its own life, but to fulfill its own needs, to pursue its own values, bound by the moral obligation not to violate the rights of others by coercion or fraud, not to willingly participate in a coercive society.
You owe it to yourself to read the whole thing. It’s not very long, but it is very timely.
Hail to the Chief
I hope this report is correct.
Spying an AK-47 automatic rifle aimed at Phillips’ back – and with standing orders from President Obama to shoot to kill the pirates if necessary – snipers perched on the fantail of the guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge opened fire from some 85 feet away when three of the pirates’ heads came into view, Gortney said.
If those standing orders really came from The One, then bully. Let’s have fewer Apology Tours and more of this, Mr. President.
Meanwhile, why aren’t the crews of every ship sailing near Somali waters being armed to the teeth? For about twenty grand in machine guns and ammo per ship they could make any AK-toting fishermen consider a new line of work, and at a respectful distance.
Update:
The authorization was not as specific as being reported, but I’m with Jonah.
Another Update, (and bumped):
There’s an email going around purporting to have SEAL origins. As snopes points out, it’s mostly false. I mean, good grief. I just lived through eight years of Bush Derangement Syndrome. I don’t want any Obama Derangement Syndrome. There’s plenty that America’s least-prepared, least-qualified and so far worst President has done and will do to merit criticism. But let’s stick to the real stuff and be thankful that, at least some of the time, He has done the right thing.
Domestic Dependence
It’s a good thing He isn’t a Republican else we’d be hearing nothing but Telemprompter jokes.
Letter from a Soldier
How the soldiers see themselves.
We are not your sons and daughters, whom you must protect and defend. We are your sword and your shield. We are men and women who volunteer to place our lives on the line so you do not have to. We do not decide when or where we will be sent. We go. You are our advocates, not our parents.
Perspective
Consider the good news about Swine Flu.
Being able to fret about just one serious communicable disease is a luxury beyond price.
