I begin with two apologies ,,, first, I have not answered your email earlier because I was finishing a job in Papua New Guinea at a gold mine which had very limited and severly rationed internet and telephone access i.e. no personal use … but more on that later … secondly, I reread my email to you in which I chastised you for turning into your mother … upon reflection … it was a very clumsy and ill conceived attempt at familiar humour … indeed, I’ve always admired you for being quite your own woman …
now to the question … do you still believe in the Declaration of Independence? … as always, you answer a question with another bloody question! … the reasons for my asking are as simple as they are complex … alas, I think, as well as intimately feel, that Jefferson’s dream is finally dissolving and the great experiment that was your American Revolution has come quite undone … and I hasten to add … this is not about Republicans vs Democrats … a plaquing pox on both their houses and the damage they have collectively wrought upon the Republic … as Lincoln so famously said ” a house divided cannot stand” and thus, I despair … no civilisation great or small can so cravenly ignore the fundamental laws of economic prudence and survive … no kingdom nor republic … no monarch nor president … can project power, let alone be powerful whilst debasing the currency of the realm … I remind you that the final, the absolute final, capitulation of the British Empire came in June of 1956 during the Suez crisis … with all its imperial bluster and arrogance it declared to the world through the United Nations that the British army along with their French allies would move on Nassar’s Egypt and secure again for AngloFrench commercial interests the Suez canal … one, just one, phone call from the White House stopped the British and French utterly … and not 6 weeks later, both the British and French left North Africa never again to project national power on the world stage … and Eisenhower accomplished this without any threat of military action … can you guess, my dear Kathleen, what was said during that phone call that finally brought the mighty Britannia to her quivering knees and the always arrogant “Froggies” to their humiliation? … the American president simply but forcefully told the British prime minister that America would instantly sell all the British bonds that the Federal Reserve held at that time thus destroying forever the value of the British pound … one wonders if there exists a direct phone link between Bejing and Washington … not that it matters … the Chinese definitly prefer to excercise their overwhelming power face-to-face … its an “Art of War” thing …
after careful, deliberate and extensive research, I can see no turning back for your once great nation … whilst it will remain forever true that the American experiment was the greatest expression of the ideals of the English Enlightenment … no civilisation in human history has ever reversed its descent into the excesses of political corruption, secular greed and the moral dissipation of the industrious classes … trust and believe me when I say … I take no pleasure in this … quite the opposite … I’ve always been the first to admire the American spirit … its dreams and aspirations that when turned to action repulsed the evil of facism … placed man on the moon … and shone the beacon of freedom and hope to the world … indeed, I’m truly frightened by the prospect of the totalitarian regime of China dominating the world stage …
but by this time you must be asking … perhaps,in a somewhat bored, bemused manner … “so what”? … and … “my God, he’s just as boring 10 years on as he was when he truly bored me”! … and therefore, I reply in the spirit of Godot … in times of calamity, chaos and confusion great fortunes are made … thus, take all that you have and invest in 3 things … silver bullion (and take delivery of the physical silver), XXXX Mines (an American silver miner traded on the NYSE) and potash (the XXXXX Corp also traded on the NYSE) … if you express any interest in continuing our etheral conversations … I will explain these investments without, hopefully, the laborious lecturing tone … suffice to say, these are my current investment choices … and I have most (90%) of my wealth and hence, my retirement vested in them … in other words, I’m long on commodities and short America … yes, even the Titanic took 2 hours to sink … but sink it did … and so with depressing predictability will the great American experiment … and the vacuum will leave chaos and deprivation in its wake before the ocean of history swallows up the dream of the Declaration … unbearable as it is … imagine 300 million yelping Americans deprived of their God given “entitlements” … – no where mentioned in the Constitution – … you have been advised … be prudent … be careful … and say nothing even to the most dearest friends … act with the sense of survival and you will be rewarded with your freedom …
and as for love in the time of cholera … wisdom is in found in reflection … love is forever … laughing in memories is never better than laughing together …

and thus,

I am and I remain
your fomer lover, on the far side of the world

I started not to add to your burden by “answering” what you said, but that is so very “us” and so very La Vida Whiskey that I feel compelled to hold forth.

No, friends, we not only do not object to how you abuse your bodies or what other personal decisions you make that do not harm others in demonstrable, legitimately scientific ways, we are always in favor of individuals making their own choices and bearing the responsibility for them. This is known as the American Way of Life and the Pioneer Spirit and becoming rational, self-reliant adults.

Every time another activity becomes either mandatory or forbidden we become weaker as individuals and as citizens. Every time we submit to having our own judgement and authority overriden, we lose more of our ability to function. Our ability to think for ourselves is diminished. Part of being competent adults and effective good citizens is the willingness to think for ourselves and to take the consequences of our actions. If I wanted to be a mindless robot that believes in serfdom I would be a liberal. I’m not even in favor of an unwilling feudal society if I get to be a Baroness in my own right. I’m in favor of laissez faire, taking my lumps when I deserve them, and succeeding through my own skills, drive, initiative, and assets which I earned my very own little self.

We really need to recruit the Latin expert, but since my Latin books are still packed, what I mean is probably sic semper tyrannus. For sure I can go morituri te salutamus if given no other choice. Mandatory seat belts and booster seats are one thing; suspending freedom of speech and assembly are another.

Sorry, must run, got a three-sided fascinating forum going on around me! L

YOU WROTE: “I agree 100%. Governments should not be in the business of legislating morality or personal choices. Gays should be free to marry, people should be free to smoke (as long as I don’t have to breath their smoke), I should be free to use marijuana (or any other non-addictive, non life threatening substance for that matter) without the gov’t gestapos breaking down my door, taking my possessions and throwing me in jail for a decade.”

I’VE GOT A SLIGHT PROBLEM HERE, BABE. IT’S FINE WITH ME IF SOMEONE CHOOSES TO USE “RECREATIONAL” DRUGS, AND I REALLY DON’T THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD JAIL THEM FOR IT OR CONFISCATE THEIR GOODS. I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING COULD BE ENOUGH FUN TO RISK BEING TOSSED IN THE POKEY FOR, SO THEIR “DETERRENT” WORKS WITH ME. ALTHOUGH I PROBABLY WOULDN’T ANYWAY BECAUSE MY MIND IS MY MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION AND I DON’T WANT TO ALTER THAT SORT OF REALITY. (OTHER REALITIES, SOMETIMES!) I HAVEN’T EVEN GOT AN OBJECTION TO ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES SO LONG AS THE PERSON INVOLVED BEARS ALL THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS OR HER BEHAVIOR.

MY PROBLEM IS…YOU ARE ONLY WILLING TO TOLERATE MY BEHAVIOR IF IT DOES NOT IMPINGE UPON YOUR WORLD IN ANY WAY, WHICH IS NOT VERY PRACTICAL. I BELIEVE PASSIONATELY IN FREE SPEECH, BUT I AM OFFENDED PERSONALLY WHEN I GO OUT TO DINNER AND HEAR THE YOUNGER GENERATION SPEWING VILE LANGUAGE THAT “POLLUTES” MY AIR. YOU WILL, DOUBTLESS, RIPOSTE THAT SECOND-HAND SMOKE WILL MAKE YOU ILL, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND. IT STINKS, I GIVE YOU THAT. IN FACT, WHEN I DON’T SMOKE I CAN SMELL WHERE THE STOCK BOY SNUCK A CIGARETTE IN THE BACK OF AN ENORMOUS SAM’S OR COSTCO WHEN I HIT THE FRONT DOOR! I CAN’T SMELL IT WHEN I DO SMOKE.

HERE’S ANOTHER THOUGHT: IF SECOND-HAND SMOKE IS SO DEADLY, WHY NOT ENCOURAGE THE TROOPS TO SMOKE? THEY COULD SIT THERE AND BLOW SMOKE ACROSS THE TRENCHES! “TAKE THAT, YOU VILE REPRESSORS OF FREEDOM!” UM. THAT DOESN’T WORK. AFGHANIS AND IRAQUIS SMOKE A LOT MORE THAN WE DO…

I THINK BOTH SIDES NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE. WE SMOKERS AGREED INSTANTLY THAT THERE COULD BE PLACES WE DIDN’T SMOKE. IT WOULD BE ONLY COURTEOUS IF THE NICOTINE NAZIS RETURNED THE COURTESY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WRITING, AND I WON’T INVITE YOU TO VISIT! WE DO RUN IONIC BREEZES AND AIR THE HOUSE DAILY, HEAT OR COLD NOTWITHSTANDING (SURE TO ENDEAR ME TO THE GREENS), BUT ALL FOUR OF US AND ASIA’S GIRLFRIEND SMOKE. AT LEAST THE SMOKE IS SPREAD OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED ACRES…

SMILE, SUGAR. THE US HAS MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN SMOKING.

REGARDS,

LINDA

YOU WROTE: “Wow – fantastic – I fully agree – time to get the lead – sorry – gov`t out. By the way you should take a look at mandatory vaccination – there is another killer.”

FUNNIEST THING YOU SHOULD SAY THAT. I WROTE ONE JUST YESTERDAY, AND DECIDED I SOUNDED TOO MUCH LIKE THE BIGGEST NUT ON THE ‘NET THAT I READ! I CONCUR FULLY, WHETHER WE’RE TALKING ABOUT INFANT VACCINATIONS, ASSAULTING PRE-TEEN GIRLS WITH PAPILLOMA (DID I SPELL THAT RIGHT?) VIRUS, OR MANDATORY SHOTS FOR THE FLU. I DON’T BELIEVE MUCH IN MANDATORY ANYTHING, EXCEPT BREATHING AND LAISSEZ FAIRE. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEATHS DO OCCUR WHEN INJECTING YOUNGSTERS, ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THAT SOME PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT UNVACCINATED CHILDREN GIVING THEIR KIDS SOMETHING. I DON’T THINK YOUNG GIRLS NEED TO BE “PROTECTED” AGAINST SOCIAL DISEASES WITH INSUFFICIENTLY-TESTED VACCINES, AND I WOULD GET VERY NERVOUS, INDEED, IF TOLD I WOULD TAKE THE SHOT OR GO TO A “CONTAINMENT CENTER.” WHO IS TO SAY WHAT IS IN THE NEEDLE, THE LADY OR THE TIGER? THERE HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE CONTAMINATIONS BEFORE, PHARMACEUTICALS THAT TURNED OUT TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS WORSE THAN WHAT THEY PURPORTED TO CURE, AND THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORISTS GETTING CREATIVE…RELENZA HAS LEAD TO SUICIDE IN TEENS, WHICH MAKES IT PROBABLE THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH HORMONES. AS DR. ROGER WILLIAMS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAID, “WE ARE ALL BIOCHEMICALLY UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.” PERHAPS IT CAN MAKE SOME ADULTS SUICIDAL, TOO. PERHAPS IT HAS OTHER SIDE-EFFECTS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DISCOVERED YET. I HAVE NEVER HAD A FLU SHOT IN MY LIFE AND DON’T WANT ONE. MDC AND I ARE VIRTUALLY NEVER ILL BUT WE DID MANAGE TO BE “COTCHED” BY THE SWINE FLU! WE WERE ON VACATION FOR A WEEK IN AN AREA THAT HAD 100 CASES…WE WERE OVER THE WORST OF IT IN TWO DAYS, ALTHOUGH WE FELT AS THOUGH WE HAD BEEN TROMPED BY WHOEVER WON THE SUPER BOWL LAST YEAR AND SLEPT A LOT FOR A PRETTY LENGTHY TIME THEREAFTER. THAT WAS THE 4TH TIME HE HAD EVER BEEN ILL, AND MY SECOND TIME IN THE LAST 18 YEARS! I DON’T HOLD WITH PUTTING SUBSTANCES IN MY BODY THAT DON’T BELONG THERE. I’M FOR BUILDING UP OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS, SOMETHING I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO WRITE ABOUT IF ASKED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TERRIFIC COMPLIMENTS! I PARTICULARLY LIKE REQUESTS TO WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING. A QUICK FOLLOW UP: ONE PROPOSAL IS TO BAN ALL TOBACCO USE DURING BASIC TRAINING AND TO FORBID INSTRUCTORS TO “USE” IN THE PRESENCE OF STUDENTS. AS THOUGH BASIC CAN’T BE ROUGH ENOUGH, IMAGINE HAVING TO DEAL WITH A DRILL SERGEANT WHO IS SNARLING BECAUSE HE WANTS A SMOKE!

REGARDS,

LINDA

DEAR ERNIE:

I CRY EVERY TIME I READ THE LETTER COLONEL TRAVIS WROTE. WOW. WEREN’T YOU AMAZED BY HOW TINY THE ALAMO IS? IMAGINE BEING SHUT UP IN THERE WITH SO FEW SOLDIERS, SURROUNDED BY SANTA ANNA….

FUNNY STORY. MY BEST FRIEND LIVES IN SAT, AND SHE WAS TASKED A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH ESCORTING THE COACHES WIVES FOR A MAJOR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. ONE OF THEM ASKED, “WHY DID THEY PUT THE ALAMO DOWNTOWN?!” CHARLOTTE JUST BLINKED. I WOULD HAVE REPLIED SWEETLY, “BECAUSE THE TOURISTS LIKE IT HERE; IT’S SO CONVENIENT TO THE RIVER WALK!”

NEXT TIME, Y’ALL COME TO SEE US, YOU HEAH?! SHUCKS, YOU WERE A HOP, SKIP, AND A JUMP AWAY, ONLY 175 MILES! SERIOUSLY, THAT’S HOW WE THINK OF IT ‘ROUND HERE, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE TEXANS PRIDE OURSELVES ON IT IS OUR HOSPITALITY. THANKS FOR ANOTHER LETTER. IF Y’ALL COULD SEE MY FACE LIGHT UP WHEN I SEE I HAVE MAIL…AND SUCH GREAT MAIL, TOO! YESTERDAY I GOT ONE ASKING ANXIOUSLY IF MDC AND I ARE ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE HADN’T BEEN A NEW LBT RECENTLY. I EXPLAINED THAT GARY HAS MANY MORE TALENTED CONTRIBUTORS, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH ROOM, AND I TEND TO WRITE AT LEAST AN ARTICLE A DAY!

HUGS TO ALL OF YOU, LINDA

“Folks, it’s just too late. Until we all tell them to just go to hell, it will continue. NOW, IF YOU’LL JUST TELL US HOW! I FEEL LIKE THE OVER RUN FORT IN THE MOVIE STARSHIP TROOPERS. WITH LUCK, GARY WILL HAVE ROOM FOR AN ARTICLE I WROTE YESTERDAY ON…CHICKEN MESS! NOW THE FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE TRYING TO DESTROY THE POULTRY INDUSTRY BY CLAIMING THAT THE NATURAL BY-PRODUCT OF PRODUCING CHICKENS (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE BEST NATURAL FERTILIZER AVAILABLE IN THE US) IS DESTROYING THE SACRED WATERSHED AND MENACING LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

I will wear a seat belt only when the benefits outweigh the dangers (they’re proven killers which have never saved a single life. Go ahead- prove me wrong!) though when I’m flying my piper it is necessary to be strapped to the thing lest turbulence unseat me… likewise when driving on ice and the risk of rollover increases, but in town where a t-bone is likely- forget it.” YOU’RE MY KIND OF GUY, ONLY BRAVER THAN I. MY PET PEEVE IS THOSE MISERABLE AIR BAGS WHICH ARE A REAL MENACE TO 5’2″ LADIES, AND I REALLY DON’T THINK I NEED A FACE FULL OF EXPANDED PARACHUTE IN MY FACE IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT…EVENTUALLY YOU’LL SEE (I HOPE) MY THOUGHTS, WHICH I PENNED HERE YESTERDAY JUST FOR YOU, ON THOSE DISASTROUS “ANTI-WHIPLASH” DEVICES WHICH CAUSE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE WE CAN’T SEE AROUND OR OVER THEM, AND THE LUNACY OF REMOVING ASBESTOS FROM BRAKE LININGS ON THE BIZARRE THEORY THAT IT IS BETTER TO INCINERATE PASSENGERS THAN TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS FOR THOSE FEW WHO WORKED 30 YEARS IN ASBESTOS MINES OR PLANTS.

As for flying, if I can’t have my 45ACP at least accessible, I won’t go commercial anymore. HAPPY SIGH. YEAH. THE DERANGED AND ZEALOTS (FREQUENTLY BUT NOT ALWAYS THE SAME) DO NOT SHOOT UP NURSING HOMES AND CAFETERIAS IN STATES WHERE THE CITIZENS ARE ARMED. The bureaurats and armed thugs (but I repeat myself…) have made it unacceptable.

Three little words- Go to Hell. Until Americans re-learn them, the communists win.
Best-
Ernie”
THANKS FOR WRITING AGAIN, ERNIE, AND WEIGH IN ANY TIME. I LIKE TALKING TO YOU! CORDIALLY, LINDA