Our New Blog Address is.............

http://thefranklinfreepaper.tumblr.com/

THE SKINNY

The United States is certainly the birthplace of modern democracy.

The Royal Navy is the vector that caused it to spread internationally.

Dear Despots,

You are not doing well. History is not rewarding might over right. In fact, the numbers are really against you. In 1776 representative democracy was given its first opportunity to govern a modern nation. Today, three-quarters of the world's governments are representative democracies.

And the record on your side, since then..............

Louis XVI..........off with HIS head!

Napoleon............dead and alone on an island in Nowhere

the Czar.............Anastasia screamed in vain

the Kaiser..........retired

Hitler..................a big mess but gone in the end

Franco................yes, he's finally dead

Idi Amin............gone begging to

Ghaddhafi..........who finally gave up

Ceauşescu...............shot with the wife on Christmas day

Stalin..................the most successful of the lot but the Commies eventually fell under......

Gorbachev.........who retired to California

Noriega.............got him to surrender with heavy metal music!

Saddam.............got to see him hit the end of the rope! Love the Internet!

Taliban.............persistent and tough. We should kill them sans merci.

Kim(s)..............this is what happens when the Mafia takes over your country

So China, Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan,

and all you little petty tyrants of every race and land;

you all take heed and listen well,

tyranny buys a trip to Hell.

At the end of a rope or shot by firing squad,

your last hope is forgiveness from God .

L Lawless

Anytime we want to..................................

We can change everything in our government. Just forget all about political parties and vote for the guy all the way at the bottom of the ticket. Who cares if they are Socialist, Commies or Peruvian Nationalists? They will still be better than the endless parade of doppelgangers passed off as leaders, no less, by our "political parties", which are really just clubs for rich men and women.

Vote for the guy with the LOWEST campaign spending!

Vote for the guy that has a REAL job!

Vote for leaders, not issues or "parties".

Our loyalty is to the USA, not to any political party. Seems to me the best thing Americans can do right now is take the Government away from the Republicans AND the Democrats. Form a big-ass coalition in Congress, with a coalition Cabinet. Run the place like Italy for awhile. That oughtta knock some sense into our esteemed politicians.

~ R. Poure ~
~ New York ~

Judgment and Wisdom

Life is a series of successes and failures of varying degrees. Both are the experiences that build character. Both are the experiences that contribute to Wisdom. Judging a soul by the successful experiences is flattering and complementary. Judging a soul by the depth of failure and subsequent rise is far more telling as to character. Indeed, it gives definition to perseverance at odds, that the only true failure is inaction in the face of adversity.

~ R. Poure ~
~New York~

God's Religion

I strongly suspect He doesn't have one. It seems pretty obvious by now that assuming the existence of Deity there can assuredly be only One. Otherwise we would certainly see instances of the interaction of Gods in our world. Perhaps there once was more than One, giving truth to the old legends common to all cultures. Whether Deity exists is never the point anyway. Rather, how we believe in Deity is always the point. So assuming the existence of a single deity then one should presume a single religion, right? Which, as we well know the case to be, is far from the truth. So the truth of the matter then, aside from religion being a feeble human attempt to define the indefinable, is that each and every religion is as valid as the next, provided they observe the golden rule and do no harm. To do otherwise makes them not a religion but, instead, a terrorist or criminal group that human society should purge from its midst.

It is hard not to think of Iran in this context. Furthermore, in that country, politicians are using Islam as a tool in their purely expeditious grab for more power and notoriety. A noble faith has been perverted by men of low distinction and character. Such is the danger of religion when it is granted political power. RELIGION HAS NO PLACE IN THE POLITICAL COUNCILS OF THE WORLD. Faith and deliverance is between the individual and the Deity. Let each man be his own Prophet or his own follower. And remember: God has no religion.

~ F. Lynn ~
~Boston~

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!

Truly the best memorial to all American war dead is the fact that 75% of the governments in the world today are democracies of one form or another. The American Revolution has never ended, it is world-wide and we are clearly winning. Only when true personal freedom rings from every shore on the planet will the world know peace. History does not show us where one free people make war upon another free people. That state of affairs is due in no small part to all Americans who have served their country and those that gave their lives deserve the undying respect of all humanity.

Happy Memorial Day!

Rick Poure ~ New York

GOD

Abiogenesis. The Origin of Life. That is what the scientists call it. Hmmmm.

See here's the thing. The scientific reasons for the beginning of life neither prove nor disprove the existence of Divinity as the Creator. Simply put, things could have occurred in any way that Divinity chose to spin it. And does not all history serve as an example that such Divinity clearly has a sense of humor?

As if a few billion years would mean anything to the Creator. Of Time.

It gets worse. Since the existence of Divinity cannot be shown by the scientific method, then what, pray tell, is the compelling reason for those with intellect to believe in such Divinity?

Wait for it.......

Because a belief in such Divinity has profound beneficial effects on the believer. It is good for humans to believe. Otherwise hubris gets in the way. Of everything.

Spiritual humility is the apple to the orange of organized religion. The first is an essential part of being human. Of seeing ourselves as part of the larger world. The second is about money and power. And hubris. Depends upon your perspective, I guess, but it seems to me that most organized religions are about usurping the power of Divinity for themselves.

Finally, a corollary to the Cartesian Proof. God exists because Life is better than TV.

F. Lynn ~ Boston

NOR'EASTERS

The term is now used by "hip" weathermen as a buzzword for any big rain storm that meanders up the Eastern seaboard and hits the cities where the TV men are. But a real Nor-easter has certain characteristics that separate the real ones as something apart. Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring all bring them and they can be rain or snow or a bit of both. The blizzard of '78 was a real one. So are the storms hitting us in 2010 in February and March. They have met every standard. Eye-like formations. Winds from the North-east. Hurricane strength.

When I was a kid I did a lot of sailing. Naval JROTC high school. Had my own little boat. Raced it on the weekends at the local yacht club. When I was around thirteen my Pop signed me up for a summer sailing camp that raced dinghies and sloops. I remember the day I was crewing on Tommy's M-scow and a Nor'easter kicked up. Fast. Tommy said, "Fuck, that's a Nor'easter." And came about and headed for the dock. First time I heard the term. Never forgot it. Spent the rest of the afternoon watching a geyser hit the windowed porch of the Beachwood Yacht Club.

I learned then, that when the winds blow the rain and snow from the Northeast, pay no attention to what the weatherman calls the storm, just head for cover.

L. Lawless

Afghanistan

The military coalition. led by US elements of course, begin an offensive this weekend in Helmand, the heart of the world's opium trade. Our enemies are a coalition also. Of Taliban and drug warlords. Slavers who take the local farmers, addicted to the tears of the poppy, and employ them in serfdom to fuel the coffers of tyranny disguised as fundamental Islam. Fundamental Islam. Now in my country and quite a few others for that matter, fundamental Islam manages to co-exist, in the same neighborhoods, with Orthodox Judaism, born-again Christians, Wiccans, pagans, Freemasons, Nazis and all the others, without daily warfare. In fact, violence for religious or ethnic reasons is rarer and rarer in diverse societies and in the US especially. Economic motivations on the other hand breed both strange bedfellows and bizarre feuds. This begs the conclusion that the mess in the Middle East, most specifically the Valentines Day Offensive, is motivated in the least by the Taliban and their desire to impose Islamic tyranny, but rather by the interests of those people who control and use the 70-90% of the world's HEROIN supply produced in Helmand. Certainly not to suggest that the Taliban are anything but a willing tool of evil men that care not about either Allah or Jesus. Men who are willing to pay the Taliban to run a government that will allow them to continue to produce a crop that is more valuable than all the gold in history. And as long as the Taliban rule the money continues to flow...............

In the 1950's at a place called Gereshk, the US Army Corps of Engineers built a dam that diverted water from the Helmand River and created the Boghra Canal. This is the irrigation project that allowed Helmand to become the major producer of Opium in the world. Perhaps shutting the dam and depriving the region of its agricultural ability is the only solution. While harsh and certainly not devoid of consequences to the 1.4 million residents of Helmand, this solution does in fact teach the broader lesson of responsibility. More simply, if the developed world makes a major investment in your agricultural infrastructure it is not a good idea to use it to grow the most deadly illicit drug on the Earth.

F. Lynn ~ Boston

where did you go wendy o
dadada ahahaha
did you join a trio
or are you with my sharona

what goes up must come down
what goes up must come down

who is with you now
you two friends of pete and roger
are you in the front row
watching two Kings cover each other

what goes up must come down
what goes up must come down
first it might go all around
but at last it comes to ground

so many quick with a rhyme
a special touch on the strings
brad was even sublime
in both of these things

(Do you think he plays
while Shannon sings?)

what goes up must come down

joey, johnny and dee-dee
got thrown right out of Hell
back to the pet cemetary
where Dead piano players dwell

be careful for what you wish
what goes up must come down
nothing here can make them rich
speeding fast they hit the ground


L. Lawless

I once met a woman many years ago
She told me she was a tailor now
But used to be an engineer in Romania

She fought in the revolution against Ceausescu
When the walls fell and the light came
And by the hardness in her eyes I knew it was true

She still felt bad that they shot him Christmas Day
I told her Washington crossed the Delaware on the 25th
And not to feel guilty, but instead just pray

Dan Paris was pissed
When I said I was a communist
But it was just youthful idiocy
And he had old eyes from his childhood
But I never did it again
When he was around.

I once met an old boss from my past
A real sonunvabitch when he was prime
A big golfer too, now put out to grass

Now I work with another old guy, Eddie, his brother
And I wonder if Bill is the same and am I?
Or who has changed more than the other?

And many things seemed of great importance
and then not at all, being so much younger now
I am not as old as I was once.

© 2009
L. LAWLESS

JIHAD! BRING IT!

Today, Mullah Omar, the leader of the Afghani Taliban instructed his followers to continue the jihad against American forces and Americans as a whole. Yes! Let us continue the Jihad!! Let's impose mandatory military service for all American males 18-25. Fix up an army of 2-3 million guys and let them clean house from Islamabad to Jerusalem. Fix Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq all at once. Alexander did it and so can we. All it takes is the will. The will to treat these barbarians like an ENEMY. Because that is what they are. They want to bring down Western Civilization as a whole and replace it with a medieval version of an inferior religion that suppresses human rights at every opportunity and especially focuses on marginalizing women as property. Destroy them. They are asking for it. And for those of you who say we can't, think again. It is merely a matter of will. No nation was more fanatical than the Japanese of WWII. No nation except America, Australia, England and Canada. To all of you Muslim fiends........you may very well get a martyr's death. Just like the Nazi bastards did. But no one really thinks of a Nazi as a martyr now, do they?

Rick Poure and F. Lynn
NYC ~ Boston

NO APOLOGIES NEEDED

Y'know when you travel around the U.S. you don't see too many (any!) cemeteries of foreign war dead. Like German, Italian, Russian, or Polish cemeteries when those countries sent armies to help us in our times of trouble. Hmmmmmmmmm. Because no armies ever came. The French sent a Navy. Thanks. But travel around the world, especially Europe, and you will find numerous cemeteries of those Americans who died in foreign wars. And they were wars of liberation when humanity faced its darkest days and the expenditure of human life against perilous evil was considered blood well spent. So, to our European friends and allies and anyone else where American blood was spilled on behalf of others: No apologies for arrogance are in order. In fact, it is difficult to argue with success. In 1776 one country in the world was practicing functional democracy and respecting the individual rights of men. In 2009, three-quarters of the extant governments of the Earth are functional parliamentary democracies. It is not a perfect world and nations still act with self-interest. But it is undeniable progress when considered against most of the course of human history. So say thank you to the Founding Fathers and show a little respect.

Rick Poure
NYC Correspondent

Iran...........always Iran....

I am sure, that with the secret police beating people in the streets of Tehran, that Voltaire, Bolivar and Jefferson are all rolling over in their graves. If Sam Adams could only come back to life now. What the hell is wrong with these people? Totalitarianism IS an historical failure. Economically and politically. What are the "free" nations of the world doing to help the Iranian freedom fighters? Nothing? We should supply them with arms and safe havens. We should give them air cover and artillery support. The current Iranian regime seeks nuclear weapons to use against us!

That is not an idle threat, we are infidels and have no souls. Makes it pretty easy on the conscience when you become a mass murderer, right? Stalin had no God, he didn't care. Neither do the leaders of Iran. We should do anything in our power to change that or we will rue the day.

IRAN
Do we really have the luxury of finding out that Iran really isn’t lying like a dog while it feverishly works to create a nuclear weapon? Don’t we believe that Iran is preparing for peaceful space exploration when they test seven ICBM’s simultaneously? And then test more the next day. Do we believe that history cannot repeat itself? Are we as naïve and foolish as previous generations were when confronted with evil men pursuing evil goals of personal power and tyranny? Do we believe these same men who consort with terrorists and still call the US a “great Satan”? Lest we forget, these are the same “revolutionaries” who seized our embassy and kept our fellow Americans hostage. Although for those of us fortunate enough to live in the byproduct of the American Revolution, applying the term revolutionary to these miscreants is deplorable. Iran does not deserve to be treated like a nation in the company of other civilized countries. She deserves to be treated as a rogue cur, rabid with the fever of zealotry masking the purpose of her tyrannical masters. America should act now, in consort with her allies, even if that consists solely of Israel, to remove the Iranian potential for developing a nuclear weapon. It is doubtful in the extreme that Iran will exercise the same restraint and judgment that the Cold War adversaries did when possessed of massive opposing arsenals. It is more likely that Iran will convey these weapons into the hands of fundamentalist Islamic terrorists who will have no compunction about using them against American cities. The Middle East has been at war for a thousand years. It’s not very likely that peace will break out anytime soon, rather with the present ilk of leaders in control things will probably get a lot worse. A weak, indecisive United States of America will send a message of encouragement to those maleficent leaders that by their own definition are the enemies of our country, our allies and the peace of nations.
- F. Lynn,
Boston Correspondent

Kimmie is a bitch
　
　
rainy day junkie
just sittin around

gettin high
eatin jelly donuts
on the sly

planning to go camping
at the start of October
cuz we are festival
non grata

although I don't know why
our reputation is good
most people like our madness
So I am left confused
But wait, the answer is right here!

It's cuz Kimmie is a bitch
and Mike's her little butt-hole boy
Dan was a fool and this makes two
all three are stupider than dirt
you shouldn't piss off a poet
he might write about you

you shouldn't piss off his fiance
or her daughter either
in fact my whole family
has pretty much had it with you
so go away and act real cool
around somebody else's crew
cuz we are done with you
　
L. Lawless

A CURSE FOR KANYE

Kanye West. Wow. What do you say to behavior like that? Such a lack of respect that you earn the disrespect of everyone. White and black. Cop and gangsta. Hip-hop and rocker. Dude you need to take a long vacation in, like, the Antarctic to chill your juices out. Maybe Michael Vick can give you some pointers on acquiring a little bit of humility. You are both in the same boat there. Humanity as a whole scorns you. You should probably move to Philadelphia. Or Baltimore. Or perch on a cliff on the west coast of Ireland like some medieval Saint looking for redemption from your evil ways. But what I really hope for is that, once this fuss blows over, everyone forgets about you. I curse you to obscurity. May you never win an award, be invited to a show. May you lose your recording contracts. May you lose your fans. May Bob Dylan write a song about you immortalizing you as the epitome of a tasteless asshole. May no one listen to you.

~ Rick Poure

~ New York City Correspondent

 

 

The Swat Appeasement

 

That is what the history books will call it.

When Pakistan gave the Swat Valley to the Taliban in 2009.

History is not kind to appeasers.  The most recent and obvious example of WWII is oft stated and it is only the most recent.  In fact, in most cases where naked use of aggression is the option of the other side, than appeasement equals surrender.  The Romans and the Mongols both demonstrate this.  So shall Pakistan rue the day that it told the Taliban it would no longer fight them for Swat.

 

The Northwest frontier of Pakistan has long been an area disputed by the local tribes and the great powers.  There are many reasons, opium among them, also the violent politics of the region for the last two hundred years, which it may be safe to say is vividly recalled by the local inhabitants albeit somewhat forgotten by the rest of the world.  Why worry about world history when you can Twitter?

 

In 1898 a young Winston Churchill saw the publication of his first book,

The Story of the Malakand Field Force, An Episode of Frontier War,  which concerned none other than the activities of the British Army as they messed about in Northwest Pakistan. 

 

The Swat Valley.

 

  Of all places.

 

Look at Churchill’s description of the transfer of power in a principality in this region, “In 1892 [the ruler of Chitral] died, leaving many sons, all equally ferocious, ambitious, and unscrupulous. One of these, Afzal by name, though not the eldest or acknowledged heir, had the good fortune to be on the spot. He seized the reins of power, and having murdered as many of his brothers as he could catch, proclaimed himself Mehtar and invited the recognition of the Indian Government. He was acknowledged chief, as he seemed to be "a man of courage and determination, and his rule afforded a prospect of settled government. “  Apparently, not very much has changed.  Since the Taliban are the men “on the spot” and have the guns to back it up, Pakistan has decided that they can keep what they have.  Or keep what they can kill.   Maybe Riddick is an unusual moral comparison but MacBeth is not, and the Taliban are at best the moral equivalent  of the Necromongers or the Scot.  More than a few similarities I might add.

 

And now the Taliban have struck out from Swat.  Why not?  The Northwest frontier is and has always been a Pashtun nation.  Despite the trial and error methods of the British and the artificial Duran line, the people of this area clearly view themselves in a highly independent manner.  So much so that they are willing to cede personal liberty to religious fanatics who promise them glory.  Either in this world or the next.  The small cities of this area are arms factories with staggering capacities for the production of the AK-47.  Sure, Pakistan wants to use its Army fighting a civil war with these guys.   They are not worried anymore about the Indians in the Kashmir.   Right.  But it looks like they might not have a choice.  The most recent Taliban incursions are merely 60 miles from Pakistan’s capital.  Granted they have withdrawn.  To gather strength.  In, as the AP reports it, the “Swat stronghold.”

 

So here’s the reality Pakistan.  Renege on your deal with the Taliban and attack them with all your might right now.  They have no honor anyway and they consistently prove this.   Or they will fester and grow and then they will come for you. 

 

 

F. Lynn

Boston Correspondent

IRAN AND NORTH KOREA, AGAIN

 

So.  A big surprise.  Iran jails an American woman journalist for eight years in a kangaroo trial and North Korea arrests two American women journalists for investigation as spies.  These are our Mata Haris?  Come on.  I will bet that Iran uses the “pardoning” and accompanying deportation, of their prisoner by the Gangster Ahmadinejad as a political tool to build good will with the USA.  It is a set-up.  Not North Korea though.  They are just pushing our buttons in an utterly juvenile attempt at getting attention.  Those people conduct themselves with the intellectual stamina of a clam.  This is what happens when the Mafia takes over your country.  And unfortunately those types respond best to being put in a cage or just done away with.  History is full of the names, I won’t repeat them here.  But the other thing that history tells is that having patience with brutal and tyrannical despots and their oppressive regimes brings no good.  This is reality, not warmongering.  Winston Churchill knew that these things were true about tyrants.  So did Washington, Adams, etc.  How long do you think that those leaders would have put up with Kim shooting missiles anywhere near Japan?  Or Iran pretending they are not building a nuke?  Do you think that Israel believes them?

 

By the way.  The Iranian Navy has a whole bunch of fast little gun and missile boats stacked up right near the Strait of Hormuz.  How about helping out with those pirates?  Last I heard, the Caliphs didn’t approve of that stuff anymore than the King of England did.  Build some good will, act responsible.  Besides, blasting those Somali bastards to hell will be good practice.  Keep going the way you are and you will need it.

 

F. Lynn

Boston Correspondent

Simple Solutions Work Best

President Obama should instruct the United States Navy to conduct missile tests from the Sea of Japan across the Korean Peninsula, flying over North Korean territory and letting the warheads blow up in Korea Bay.

"Derivatives (financial)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

AMERICAN RESPONSIBILITY

Americans have the responsibility to bring democratic forms of government to all the people of the world.  The responsibility comes from whatever Deity may or may not exist.  Indeed, in God we do trust.  On a more secular plane, we bear the responsibility because we started It in the modern world.  It being the idea of government of the people, for the . . by the. . . etc.  It is also not enough to say that the existence of our type of freedom, predicated on the notion that all are created equal and consecrated with the blood of thousands, should be limited to our shores.  Instead we must view the spreading of liberal democracy as a human responsibility.  It’s pretty clearly established that the other ways result in petty or not so petty tyrants who rarely acknowledge the error of their ways and kill a few thousand or million of the rest of us along the way..  So far it seems the good guys are winning at this.  Three-quarters of the world's governments are today either a democracy of sorts or headed that way.  Even Libya.  And if we leave a functioning democracy in Iraq then shouldn’t that more than justify regime change?  And we can.  We have in Germany and Japan to name the two most successful ones.  And if others say we are wrong, it is not our business, by what right do we do these things then here is your answer.  If not we, then who?   Rogue nations like Iran and North Korea represent a threat to the rest of the peaceful world that we as Americans and the strongest military power in history just DO NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.  They are dangerous lunatics.  Sure it will take time and treasure and blood.  And sure, we’d love some help.  But the world we leave behind will be far, far better.  Not to advocate all out war or mass mobilization.  But when we do act to take out a brutal despot lets not get all wishy-washy about whether this was right or wrong.  As human beings this is right to do.  When our fellow man is being institutionally brutalized, we must act.  If one has any decency at all then one should feel compelled.  The Holocaust occurred less than 100 years ago.  Kim starves his own people while he fantasizes about being an American movie star. Ahmadinejad postures like a gangster in his sport coat and open shirt,  reminding us of Pacino in Scarface!  These people expect us, our President, to show respect for them?  By our standards they are criminals.  Dangerous lunatics.  And please don’t tell us that you have a different culture, or that you have done it this way forever.  America has every race, creed, and ethnicity and for the most part we live in harmony and do it without imposing bizarre restrictions on women, brutally punishing minor offences by any humanistic standard, or espousing vitriolic hatred against other peoples who do not believe as we do.  The American form of government has given rise to individual freedom of the greatest capacity in history.  That is why we get to say that we are right and we know it.  Because we have results that can prove it.  Truth is an idea that works in practical experience.  Self-government results in peaceful nations that live in harmony.  We should be zealous in promulgating individual freedom because it is in the best interests of all people of the world if all people of the world govern themselves.

 

F. Lynn

 

Boston Correspondent

Sam Adams

 

Where are the ones to spray the flame?

With a stream of fluid

From a plastic bottle held in the hand.

Close enough to the now crazed blaze

To singe the unprotected skin.

But, not backing away or flinching,

Instead, with a flourish of the hand,

And expressionless élan,

Take the fuel from the fire,

And then fan the flames with breath.

 

 L. Lawless