PLANET FROM THE EXOTIC ROAD: WE MUST NOT LET REACTIONARY RESPONSE TO BOSTON BOMBINGS OBSCURE THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013) — Hello, all. Thank you for a lively respite. THE PLANET is on the road, in an exotic location (think kayak in the Cook Islands to get an idea). We saw something amazing today, sitting in the sunny breeze, everything right with the world.
We take this day to count our blessings. Too many of them are of a personal and poignant nature, and THE PLANET keeps those close to heart. There are many of them, though, that are breathtaking, such as getting up in the morning and be able to move, to walk, to see, to hear, to feel, or seeing a sunrise on a day you know will be most productive and the sun set on an evening wherein you can look back with the satisfaction of accomplishment and the pleasure of company.
Tomorrow, we shall resume posting more in a vein typical (for us, that is) and bringing you points of interest on topics both obvious and obscure. Speaking of which, we have nothing more to add on the bombings in Boston, except to, again, urge calm, common sense, and a sense of community that keeps our perspective.
Any Compromise on Freedom Means “They’ Win
There can be no compromise on freedom, local, regional, and national security issues notwithstanding. The simple fact is that no one will be able to protect everyone from everything, although, like the pursuit of perfection, that, sadly, will not dissuade authorities and officials from installing more video camera, more checkpoints, and more harvesting of Big Data that most likely will end in a perverse, “republican” form of a national security state. That guarantees that the tiny percentage of idiots, once again, wins. We still have the time, the commitment, and the national will to see that it doesn’t happen here.
THE PLANET bases this conclusion of an objective and unemotional reading of the scattered tea leaves in the wake of the Boston bombings. Admittedly, it is difficult to take the wide view and the distant view on such a tragedy that hits so close to home, literally in an area that we know as well as any. However, everyone, but especially We The People, must be vocal about any reactionary attempt to limit our freedom.
The finish line area at the Boston Marathon was probably the most photographed piece of real estate in the nation at the time the bombings hit. The clues are piling up. It will likely be only a matter of time before the bomber or bombers are caught. The full weight of justice shall be brought to bear in that case, and we can, if we choose as a nation, move on and perhaps move back in another direction — back to a fuller embrace of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness within the only medium that makes this possible: FREEDOM!
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“What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A laugh? A breath? A froth of fleeting joy? Who buys a moment’s mirth to wail a week or sells eternity to get a toy?” — William Shakespeare
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TTO ALL.
This is why Mass SHOULD have the death penalty!
Scott,
Because the crimes are federal crimes, the bombers are subject to federal law and therefore subject to the death penalty.
Good thank you I knew that but didn’t think of it it was a reactionary emotional response. They shot one dead already I hope the other one meets the same fate. These guys are horrible people. Why no call to ban pressure cookers???
Because pressure cookers don’t kill over 30 thousand people a year, Scott.
How about alcohol that’s up over 80 thousand.
I take it from Scott’s response regarding alcohol that he would like to see these gun regulations:
1. You have to be 21 to buy a gun and show valid ID.
2. You cannot have a loaded gun in your car.
3. You cannot have a gun in public.
4. The number of bullets you can have will be limited.
5. If one commits a crime with a gun, the dealer who sold that gun to the perpetrator can be held liable.
6. The police can pull people over and test them to see if they are over the limit for guns or bullets. If they are, off to jail you go.
Pressure cookers and guns are all lumped in under homocides. Top 15 causes of death.
1. Diseases of the heart
28.5
2. Malignant tumors 22.8
3. Cerebrovascular diseases 6.7
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 5.1
5. Accidents (unintentional injuries) 4.4
6. Diabetes mellitus 3.0
7. Influenza and pneumonia 2.7
8. Alzheimer’s disease 2.4
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis 1.7
10. Septicemia (blood poisoning) 1.4
11. Suicide 1.3
12. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 1.1
13. Primary hypertension and hypertensive renal disease 0.8
14. Parkinson’s disease (tied) 0.7
15. Homicide (tied) 0.7
Unfortunately, we’re at a point of the downward spiral where more government is the only result possible. The more government people have, the more dependent they feel, and the more government they demand, until you need an anthropologist or philosopher to determine if they are homo sapiens any more. We’re going to see a massive increase of government surveillance and restrictions, which “9 out of 10 Americans” (or “12 out 10 Massachusetts residents”) will support. The only ones enjoying freedom, briefly if evilly, will be the terrorists.
As I understand pressure cooker bombs they must be assembled within a very short period of time prior to being detonated…the images of the two suspects walking calmly through the crowds carrying the bombs leads me to believe they are experienced as they show no sense of urgency to get their bombs planted.
These guys are amateurs they’re walking calmly because they are stupid and obviously nuts. So sick of kids being killed by morons with mommy issues. I hope the cops utilize their AR’s during the next confrontation without hesitation.
They got one of them… looking for suspect #2…
They got one of them… looking for suspect #2…
Couple of punks my heart goes out to the law enforcement people tracking this scum down and to the family of the cop who lost his life. There is nothing worse than senseless violence and it should not be tolerated by society. Violence should be met with violence of greater force it’s the only thing these low intelligent criminals understand and thank you to the senators who voted against gun control. We won! every letter I wrote and time spent exercising my rights as a law abiding citizen was not wasted. America is great and we will prevail against evil.
Well said, Scott!
Thank you I was a little heated when I wrote that I was hoping it wouldn’t sound too nuts.
Scott,
These terrorists did not use guns to carry out their attacks. You’re mixing apples and oranges.
Hey Relax they are armed and considered extremely dangerous they had a shoot out with police already. Take the guns away and people will find other ways to cause mayhem, death and destruction the only difference is more innocent people will die. This scenario only proves that.
Scott, your premise “Violence should be met with violence of greater force” is the exact mindset that leads to terrorism.
No it’s not, terrorism is what these two are doing putting them out of their mystery as a law abiding citizen is patriotic. Any violent person who comes into your home with bad intentions for whatever reason only understands one language.
Really? Because the police went after them with the full intention of taking them into custody, not using violence of greater force. And the police are using the mininum force necessary to stop them, which is what civilized people do.
Ban the large capacity ASSault pressure cookers like the deadly 22 qt mirror-matic. Nobody needs to can more than a few quarts at a time.
Also ban the easily concealed “saturday night special” 6-qt version.
For those whishing just to use these weapons of mayhem for cooking/preserving food, get them while you still CAN (pun intended)
What those terrorists did has nothing to do with gun control. Politicizing those events is pretty dispicable.
You are despicable blaming law abiding Citizens exercising their Constitutional rights to protect themselves, for “terrorists” actions too.
P.S. I am well stocked with pressure canners, gaskets, jars , and lids. Just in case buying these will be regulated/banned.
P.P.S. Obama et. al. is VERY despicable for Politicizing tragedies to upsurp our God given RIGHTS. He and Foul mouthed Joe should be impeached for violating their oath of office
For the record I’m not a politician and wasn’t politicizing anything just simply stating that that I believe in our rights to defend ourselves and exercising those rights so that I am not at the mercy of violent criminals and the tyrants that tend to get elected into public office. Now imagine yourself in your home in the area police had a shootout with these deranged lunatics and you’re told sit in the middle of the room helpless waiting to die. Any mind set that thinks that is OK threatens our way of life and is pathetic. If you think the two are separate you’re as deranged as the “bombers”.
What’s troublesome about your attitude is that it’s imbued with the macho fantasy of always being hyper-vigilant, always being ready for a confrontation. It’s like you have this movie running in your head where you’re the hero of your own life, and you’re always on the look out for bad guys. A least Charles Bronson had a good reason in Death Wish.
Fortunately, these incidents are exceedingly rare. Indeed, this is the first time a City has ever been locked down. There’s no real need for anyone to be armed to the teeth. That’s why we pay for the police. If you want to have a handgun for personal protection, then that’s fine, but this notion that you’re going to ever be involved in a shoot-out with the bad guys is macho nonsense.
makes no sense Scott, I saw your letter to the editior also. High powered rifles and high capacity magazines have nothing to do with the 2nd ammendment. The Supreme Court has already ruled on that man…alot of times I agree with you but in this regard your off base in my opinion.
I never blamed anyone for those things you mentioned. Not sure where you get off lying like that. Or perhaps you just cannot understand English. I also see that you are living in paranoid fear that the gov’t is going to take your toys away. I choose not to live in fear like that.
I’m not concerned, the gov’t is not going to take anything away the senate has already spoken and so hasn’t the supreme court. No worries. If you want to live a life of complacency that is your choice if faced with evil you can beg and urinate yourself that is good gov’t advice right there free of charge.
Hear, hear. The government is not taking anyone’s toys away. And, what these supporters fail to understand is that their local chief of police knows exactly who has a gun license. The names are already stored in a database at the local level.
So, the gun nuts live in fear of a national gun registry, but they have no issue with a local one.
Kraker.
This IS AMERICA.
Get a clue
Funny, Blind, in a satiric way. Ban ban ban. Restrict freedom. Clamp down. The absolute wrong thing to do. I though America would safeguard freedom. I was wrong.
@ The Kraken look to the center for disease control your gun related deaths are inflated. Lumped in those deaths is suicide, accidental death, people killed by law enforcement then homicide which only accounts for just under fifteen thousand. Alcohol accounts for 80 thousand I don’t know how many of those are dui related but one thing is for sure it’s a major problem and people do blame establishments for serving them booze. High capacity assault beer containers are sold everywhere. But should I give up my right to a cold beer after work or a glass of wine over dinner with my wife because so many others are abusing it?
Here is a clip from a news source
“Watertown resident Liz Yusem said she wasn’t letting her children, ages 7 and 9, watch TV because she was worried the sounds and sights of the manhunt in their neighborhood would terrify them. Already, she said her daughter had expressed fear that bad guys were coming for them. “It’s too scary for young children,” she said.”
If you don’t see anything wrong with that there is no hope for you. No woman and child should have to be in fear like that for their lives. And no maniac should be allowed to run around terrorizing a community feeling safe that they will face no resistance from the good people of said community. That is a problem.
Scott, you are putting words in people’s mouths again. Who here said there was nothing wrong with that? Where do you come up with this stuff? I guess from the same mindset that advocates escalating violence, inventing gov’t plots to take away people’s guns, and thinking giving everyone guns will prevent violence.
And nothing is stopping those folks from having a gun to protect themselves, but it won’t quell those children’s fears one bit.
Go to a Country were my rights are not ifriged!!!!!!
Those are MY righjts!
You truly are blind, aren’t you? And your insult is a true indication of your low grade mentality.
Gee, I am an American,
YOU INSULT AMERICANS, PISS ANT!!!
My mentALITY ?
Well I was highest in Science, in Math too, my high school.
I got an award from RIP ( Bausch Lomb Award) , could have went there , free!!!
Now I have a pHD, and teach, about 20 years now.
KRaker
“Really? Because the police went after them with the full intention of taking them into custody, not using violence of greater force. And the police are using the mininum force necessary to stop them, which is what civilized people do.”
WOW, yeah really that’s why the one guy is full of so many bullet holes the trauma center lost count. The police have a procedure and law to follow as well they can’t shoot first and ask questions later it’s a luxury criminals enjoy. We have a little more leeway when protecting our homes and family. get a clue man this is my last response on this subject.
Scott, obviously you have no idea what your own comments even mean. The terrorists killled 3 people and injured over 120. The police have killed one terrorist. The terrorists used explosives against the police. The police used guns. That is not greater force, that is the minimum force needed to get the job done. The police did it the right way.
Why don’t you get a clue, especially when it comes to the English language?
The police cant just go around blowing stuff up I think their automatic AR’s and thousands of officers is great enough force. Imagine if the car jack victim was packing this whole thing could be over. I’m well versed in the English language. I didn’t even correct your grammatical errors when I cut and pasted your comment.
If the carjack victim was packing it’s just as likely he’d be dead and the terrorist would have his gun.
I don’t care about grammatical/spelling errors on blogs, but to not understand the points behind some pretty simple statements shows a lack of comprehension. But of course, you didn’t understand that, did you? If you were well versed in English, you would have.
Typical Republican, a terrible terrorist attack happens and you can’t help but bring up gun control.
Calling me a republican is the most offensive thing you said now to date.
So why , [REDACTED] should we no to able to DEFEND OURSELVES???
COMMENT [REDACTED] ??????
Why do you need to resort to name calling to defend your position?
Again, you’re right to own a gun, and it’s a limited right, is not as important as a person’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
No one needs to be armed to the teeth to exercise their Second Amendment Rights. Given your attitude, it’s highly unlikely that you’s qualify for an FID card, let alone an LTC.
So it seems, much nebulous……
See above………
Wow, you can’t even spell a swear word correctly.
If you reread my posts, if you can read, you’ll see I never said anything like that.
If I could. read your posts, I would have to translate your errors in spellings.
Got that ?
Errors in spellings, grammar, and technicalities are to be avoided, of course, but in debate of this sort, informal as it is, they are bound to occur. To rake someone for that suggests that you are admitting the solidity of their arguments, however technically imperfect they may be written.
We must insist that all comments refrain from gutter words as personal insults. PLEASE RESPECT THIS!
Really? From CDC:
All firearm deaths
•Number of deaths: 31,672
•Deaths per 100,000 population: 10.3
But of course you are missing the whole point. Anything that is designed only to kill, and kills that many people, needs some type of sensible regulation (2nd ammendment: “A well regulated militia”). No one wants to take away your right to own firearms such as shotguns, handguns, etc. and to protect yourself. But to do NOTHING, which is what the NRA wants (don’t want those profits to go down), cannot be the right answer. And when the NRA says the gov’t is going to take away everyone’s guns they are lying through their teeth. I just can’t believe people believe that BS. Living in MA, with all the gun regulations we have (and you still have your guns!) why can’t you see that?
Keyword in your post “all firearms deaths” those aren’t just homicides you’re so convinced you’re right you cant even read the hard data when it’s in front of you. Look man I wish you the best no hard feelings we have a different opinion. And I apologize if anything I said came of insulting. It’s a heated debate. If I could give up a gun and bring all those kids back from newton I would in a heart beat but that’s not the answer. Criminals don’t follow laws and will find a way to kill and hurt other people to full fill their selfish needs no matter what.
Scott, no apology necessary. I have thick skin and can take it. Freedom of speech. I love debating people and may have gotten carried away. I probably came off as condescending and I should not have done that.
I’ve had my say (probably too much) and am dropping this debate. I enjoy your posts here and will continue to do so.
UUUUMM
BBSSShit
“Relax” please a macho attitude are you serious? No one wants that. Can you imagine how terrible killing another person would be? I can’t nor would I want to. No one can be ready at all times and you’re right it is unlikely, uncommon and rare. What isn’t rare are random attacks and sexual assaults on woman in their homes and other places. The police can’t save everyone either.
Women are usually attacked by people they know. Like I said, if you want a handgun or a shotgun for personal protection, then that’s fine. But this notion that you need to arm yourself to the teeth to stop the tyrannical government, or to prepare for doomsday, or to guard against something that is almost surely not to happen to you is just ridiculous.
And, one’s right to life, to be safe, is more important than your right to own a gun.
Relax, I often don’t agree with your points of view, but on this subject I think you are right on.
We can disagree without being disagreeable.
Does ones right to life include the unborn? Why don’t we enforce the gun laws on the books? I see in the news all the time criminals caught with illegal firearms get off with a slap on the wrist. You can take away the right to bear arms and the black market will still be there. The war on drugs and prohibition worked out great. If someone want to kill people they will find a way…pipe bombs…pressure cookers….zip guns. You say things that will “almost” surely never happen to that I say those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.
Relax that is where you’re wrong of course life is precious taking away guns does nothing to make sure people stay alive. Looks like the police are having a hard time with two nobodies if you think the govt could overpower all of America that loves freedom and has an active role in goby and communities you’re sadly mistaken. Plus all your opinions are just that the senate voted out the extreme unconstitutional gun control measures and the Supreme Court rarely sees a case again so hopefully the hysteria can stop and violence will hopefully continue to decline.
Sorry for typos I switched to a “smart phone” only problem is its inferior to me. *gov’t
Scott’s on a roll Kraken, give it up.
My points were made, time to move on.
Your points are of the far left.
Consider that?
They are of a reacactionary idiocy.
See ya,
Fool
TT
BJ
Please refrain from name calling. It doesn’t help anyone or anything, especially your argument.
I wish you all a good weekend. I think we can all agree that unnecessary random violence is terrible and my heart goes out to all effected I hope a speedy recovery for those injured and those mourning the fallen and justice to the offenders who carried these senseless acts out.
Nice cap to this heated discussion. It was a good one, except when it reverted to invective.
INVECTIVE nice Dan always a teacher.