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Soccer Moms
Don J. Cormier Although soccer has been very popular in most parts of the world for most of the century, it is only now becoming popular in the United States. It might even be described as trendy in certain middle and upper middle class circles. Baseball has become boring, football is not feminist, and basketball has gained certain racial connotations. Therefore, there is a market for a sport which is fast paced, can be played by both sexes, and is racially neutral. Soccer scores in all areas. The "Soccer Mom" is a new symbol and stereotype for the late nineties. The "Soccer Mom" is the mom who spends time supporting her kids' involvement in organized soccer games, usually in conjunction with a responsible job and an otherwise busy schedule. Although it's dangerous to rely overmuch on stereotypes, there are times when they can be used to gain social insights. The following discussion of "Soccer Moms" is based on my observations of women who seem to fit the stereotype. Soccer Moms have a basic urge to raise children. This implies an intense concern with food, shelter, health, and security, because these things are important aids to raising healthy children. All these things require money, and Soccer Moms require that their spouses have a so-called "good" job. When the "good" provider is lacking, Soccer Moms are not shy about demanding money from relatives, friends, or anyone else who seems a likely source of resources. In political terms, the soccer mom tends to support any government policy that promises to support or protect children — no matter how far-fetched or repressive. There's nothing wrong with wanting to raise happy, healthy children, but the Soccer Mom carries concern for health and safety to an undesirable extreme. In her zeal to preserve life, the Soccer Mom would create a life so smotheringly dull as to be hardly worth living. Soccer Moms need to learn — if they can — that the best life for humans is one with constant real challenges. That is where ecstasy and meaning lie, behind the veil of effort and pain. The life of civilization is a great mistake, precisely because it creates too much comfort and security which temporarily satisfy, but which eventually make life seem worthless. Sports and most forms of art are substitute activities which would be unnecessary in a world in which people's full capacities were engaged in the struggle for survival. Parents who truly wish their children well must seek out those who can teach living in the old ways — with no tools save those made by hand, from materials found at hand in the natural environment. Those who can live by their own efforts in the wilderness can live free from the constraints imposed by other people. Those who are not dependent on the order of civilization can live without it, if and when it falls. I'm fascinated by Mr. Cormier's observations of the political behavior of "Soccer Moms". It does seem that women will sacrifice all rights for "the children". This "welfare at any cost" attitude is important because it tends to encourage the creation of a welfare state. Some men may share the attitude, but it seems to be nearly universal among women. Thus, the likelihood of a welfare state will probably increase as more women participate in the political process. A welfare state will inevitably lead to the creation of a police state, because a welfare state cannot survive otherwise. Thus, the likelihood of a police state will probably increase as more women participate in the political process. If this is indeed true, then letting them vote was a big mistake. — editor
But what difference does it make whether women rule, or the rulers are ruled by women? The result is the same. — Politics, Book 2: Chapter 9, by Aristotle
(Speaking of a police state, this is from the Idaho Falls, Idaho, Post Register for Sunday, April 26, 1998) OLYMPIA, Wash. - A motorist stopped for speeding was arrested and handcuffed by Olympia police officers for failing to have a litter bag in his car. The officer who arrested Jerry Clark last month also made it clear that not just any litter bag would do. Officer Bryan Henry wrote that when he looked in Clark's car, he did not see a "state-approved and designed litter bag." "I asked Clark if he had a litter bag," Henry added, "and Clark pointed to a grocery bag on the floor." The law does require drivers to carry a litter bag, but doesn't say what kind. It does say the state will distribute free bags bearing the "state-wide anti-litter" symbol. But state officials say that due to budget shortfalls, the bags are no longer made. Clark, 28, of Olympia, was handcuffed and hauled off to the city jail, where he was later released without being booked. Clark doesn't dispute the speeding ticket and he acknowledges mouthing off to the officers. But he says the police used the law on litter bags to harass him. "Nobody should get treated like that," Clark said. "It was total abuse." Henry and Sgt. John Hutchings said in their reports that Clark was aggressive, verbally abusive, irrational and hostile. After Clark's arrest, officers searched his car and found a 4-inch, fixed-blade hunting knife in a map pocket, according to the arrest report. That knife is now the basis of a misdemeanor charge, possession of a dangerous weapon, against Clark. The law allows such a weapon if it is kept in plain view, and Clark said it was. The officers who found it sticking out of a map pocket said it was placed for quick retrieval and could have been used to harm them. After being processed at the jail, Clark was cited and released for speeding, not having a litter bag, and improper placement of a license plate. Clark was later charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. His next court appearance is May 12. The case has received the attention of state Rep. Peggy Johnson, R-Shelton, who said she was considering legislation to repeal the waste-bag law. Police Chief Gary Michel said there were no grounds to reprimand the officers involved, but said the issue would be discussed in future training.
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Letters and Excerpts
Dear Sam You make some good points, but you still don't have a comprehensive theory, much less a comprehensive strategy. The saying goes that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Not to mean to be insulting, but revolution in this country for the past half century has been extremely half-baked. This was true of the revolutionary groups of the 60's, & is equally true of the somewhat different revolutionary groups today. The examples of Oklahoma & the Unibomber demonstrate that going off half-cocked only kills people pointlessly & creates a reaction in favor of the government. I myself defended the legality of the Oklahoma bombing — a political act, against a political institution, which is part of a government, which respects neither international law, nor its own, & oppresses, robs, & kills people in other countries, as well as its own. All oppressed citizens of the US police state have as much right to revolution as people oppressed by the US in other countries have the right to kick American power out of their countries. However, revolution has to be done in a rational manner; otherwise it's just pointless killing that reinforces the government. The government is now so corrupt that these kinds of reactions are actually lengthening its life. This is why I can't help you write a pro-gun commercial; it would only make things worse at this point, because there is no organized group ready to use weapons in a rational way Besides, your arguments, while half true, lead further in the wrong direction. Yes, it's criminal that the government uses tanks & bombers against its own people. There are two possible solutions. 1. Stir up people to demand that the government stop using tanks & bombers against its own people (or against Third World countries it has no business invading), or 2. Create an army that will attack the government militarily. They will have to get weapons somewhere, won't they? But the idea that, while doing little in either of these directions, you demand that laws be changed to allow people to legally buy anti-tank guns & anti-aircraft guns, sounds absurd, especially since you never promote changing laws that oppress more basic human rights — in fact you do the opposite; you take the absurd position of opposing the 14th Amendment: there should be no government, because it prevents freedom — especially when it outlaws slavery. Of course we liberals take the opposite approach — a government that supports corporate wage slavery & racism hasn't done much against slavery. So this is why I'm afraid to egg on the current crop of US revolutionaries like yourself. Fortunately, there are more rational, humanistic revolutionaries in other countries. A much more rational approach to "birth right" would be to say: let's be realistic — societies do ask cooperation of their members, in order that they (both societies & individuals) may survive. But you say the opposite: you defend a society's right to enslave individuals, thereby negating any rational argument justifying revolution, or even the peaceful advocacy of human rights. A society with as little respect for humanity as this one (& Tacitus said that Christians hate humanity) is not going to be helped by an increase in pointless violence — this country already has more of that than anyone else, exactly because of its hatred of basic human values, which you so blatantly display, toward women as well as minorities, whose rights we liberal intellectuals champion. Needless to say, neither this society nor its revolutionaries have any respect for creative thinking or for productive workers either, which is why I'm surprised you printed DeAmicis' communist-anarchist allegory — maybe you missed its point? I can only repeat: first you need a movement interested in revolution in this country. And it would be nice if it respected basic human decency. Otherwise, I ain't going to be arming it, philosophically or arms-wise. 1. I do have a comprehensive plan. It's a simple plan and far more dangerous to government than the alternatives. I'm trying to teach people to think for themselves. 2. The 14th Amendment didn't outlaw slavery. It made citizenship indistinguishable from slavery. 3. There is no such entity as society. Since it doesn't exist, it can't have rights and can't ask or demand anything of us. 4. Women and minorities don't seek rights. They seek privileges that can be enforced by government. — editor
Dear Sam I am not familiar with an LC-III — who makes it? Anyway, please thank Sir John for his generosity so we all can keep receiving your newsletter! I agree with your assessment of the Lottery! However, it is indicative of the Massive Fraud, Big Lie, and the futility of trying to "educate" Joe Sixpack! It's also why "John Galt" had the only viable answer — but he had Francisco & Ragnor, which, if we Sovereigns don't have, will perish at the hands of the "State" and its minions, and freedom and Liberty will be dead! Hey, Sam — If "Con" is the opposite of "Pro", — then what is the opposite of "progress"?? Yeah, you're right! CONgress!!! (You can print this!) I would suggest that you put a request (with an envelope in the Newsletter) for subscribers to send (12) 32¢ stamps to cover costs of postage for a year. The Newsletter would still be free, but it would reduce your costs to a bearable level. This is what the A.B., Prison Legal News, etc. does for prisoners! Even if everyone doesn't send stamps, most will and even this will help.... — Eric; Tehachapi, California
An LC III is a Macintosh. — editor
Hi, Sam! ... my roommate, just gave me your website address and I scanned it (I have Internet and E-mail at work). You have a great site. I took one of your newsletters to a guy at work (he enjoyed your last newsletter I gave him). [My roommate] has told me about your life in Idaho. Even though you've been through some hardships and severe weather, it sounds like you're managing very well and are adapting to your life there .... — Rusty
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Buck Hunter Shoots Off His Mouth Dear Buck I can't get a tomatoe soup stain out of one of my white t-shirts. I've tried everything. What can I use to remove the stain? — Baffled
Dear Baffled Try using scissors.
Acknowledgments
— editor
— Historian Stephen Ambrose
Speaking on The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer Friday,
April 3, 1998
Woman would be more charming if one could fall into her arms without falling into her hands. Epigrams, by Ambrose Bierce
(Bartlett's Familiar Quotations notes: "In 1913 Bierce wearied of American civilization and disappeared into Mexico, to seek 'the good, kind darkness.' ") "American civilization" sounds to me like a contradiction in terms. — editor
Frontiersman Cancellations — If you don't want to keep receiving this newsletter, print REFUSED, RETURN TO SENDER above your name and address, cross out your name and address, and return the newsletter. When I receive it, I'll terminate your subscription. You may also cancel by letter, e-mail, carrier pigeon, or any other method that gets the message to me. Back Issues — Back issues or extra copies of this newsletter are available upon request. Reprint Policy — Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this newsletter in its entirety or to reproduce material from it, provided that the reproduction is accurate and that proper credit is given. Please note that I do not have the authority to give permission to reprint material that I have reprinted from other publications. For that permission, you must go to the original source. I would appreciate receiving a courtesy copy of any document or publication in which you reprint my material. Submissions — I solicit letters, articles, and cartoons for the newsletter, but I don't pay for them. Short items are more likely to be printed. I suggest that letters and articles be shorter than 500 words, but that's flexible depending on space available and the content of the piece. I give credit for all items printed unless the author specifies otherwise. Payment — This newsletter isn't for sale. If you care to make a voluntary contribution, you may do so. The continued existence of the newsletter will depend, in part, on such contributions. I accept cash and U.S. postage stamps. I don't accept checks, money orders, anything that will smell bad by the time it arrives, or anything that requires me to provide ID or a signature to receive it. In case anybody is curious, I also accept gold, silver, platinum, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. — Sam Aurelius Milam III, editor
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