Another Great American Hero (from England)

I'm just starting to read Christopher Hitchens' 2006 book Thomas Paine's Rights of Man. I regard Paine as one of my revolutionary heroes since having read his The Rights of Man some time ago.

In the early pages of Hitchens' book, I find reference to a parody of the British National Anthem, the melody of which is the same as our My Country 'Tis of Thee. According to Hitchens, the words to the parody were penned in 1771 by Joseph Mather, a radical file-maker from Sheffield.

The words to the parody are as follows:

God save great Thomas Paine,
His 'Rights of Man' explain
To every soul.
He makes the blind to see
What dupes and slaves they be,
And points out liberty
From pole to pole.

Thousands cry 'Church and King'
That well deserve to swing,
All must allow:
Birmingham blush for shame,
Manchester do the same
Infamous is your name,
Patriots vow.

Pull proud oppressors down,
Knock off each tyrant's crown,
And break his sword;
Down aristocracy,
Set up democracy,
And from hypocrisy
Save us good Lord.

Why should despotic pride
Usurp on every side?
Let us be free:
Grant freedom's arms success,
And all her efforts bless,
Plant through the universe
Liberty's Tree.

Facts are seditious things
When they touch courts and kings,
Armies are raised,
Barracks and Bastilles built,
Innocence charged with guilt,
Blood most unjustly spilt,
God stands amazed.

Despots may howl and yell,
Though they're in league with hell
They'll not reign long;
Satan may lead the van,
And do the worst he can,
Paine and his 'Rights of Man'
Shall be my song.

It's fairly easy for anyone to see that these lyrics fit today's burgeoning dictatorship in America, perhaps even more than they did that of George III, in the late 18th century--just as does Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.

We don't find any of this taught in the government children's prisons, either in the United States or in Britain. I seriously doubt if Mr Paine is anything more than a name mentioned in the footnotes of some American History texts, if at all. It's a necessity that if we ever wish to recover the liberty that once was, much less improve 'pon it, we must understand what was given us by those who once built the road to freedom, in order to clear it once again.

Those who don't remember the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

A Cure For the Woes of the California Children's Prison System

Thanks to Rob at Wild Blue Yonder, we find this gem to aid the reconstruction of the utterly failing California Children's Prison system.

In a stunning development, it was announced today that Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge has been appointed Headmaster of the California Public Schools. Professor Umbridge has pledged to stamp out all forms of homeschooling and to bring California's troubled schools up to nineteenth century standards of discipline and performance.

"There will be no more nonsense", Umbridge has decreed.

As is well known throughout the civilized world, Prof Umbridge is a character from one of the Harry Potter books.

The decision follows a criminally incompetent decision by the bought-and-paid-for California state court of appeals that will allow the state's schoolteachers to remain as incompetent as they are with little chance for most families to escape the conversion of all children into welfare state worshiping marching morons. Expect an exodus.

Tip of the old gray fedora to Wild Blue Yonder, Rational Jenn and the Philosophical Detective.

Buying stock in the moving business.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Capitalism: The Forgotten Ideal

I'm an admirer of PJ O'Rouke, both for his political positions, and for the wit that saturates his writing. The following, referring to a quote by Adam Smith, the famous Eighteenth Century Scottish philosopher, was highlighted by Jonathan Pearce at Samizdata. Mr Pearce used this quote as the opening paragraph of an excellent review of O'Rourke's book, On The Wealth of Nations.

"Smith did believe free markets could better the world. He once said, in a paper delivered to a learned society, that progress required "little else...but peace, easy taxes, and tolerable administration of justice." But those three things were then - and are now - the three hardest things in the world to find. Smith preached against the gravitational load of power and privilege that always will, if it can, fall upon our livelihood. The Wealth of Nations is a sturdy bulwark of a homily on liberty and honest enterprise. It does go on and on. But sermons must last a long time for the same reason that walls must. The wall isn't trying to change the roof's mind about crushing us."

- P.J. O'Rourke, On the Wealth of Nations.

I might hasten to add that I'm also an admirer of Adam Smith.

Tip of the battered gray fedora: Samizdata.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Roswell, Texas

At the request of my friend, L Niel Smith, I'm extending an invitation to read his graphic novel, Roswell, Texas. It's a light-hearted romp through a Texas of a different time.....and a different probability. The story was written by Niel and Rex F May. The graphic novel was inked by Scott Bieser and painted by Jen Zach.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will again, starting now.

The trade paperback will be published in June, 2008.

Art is a peek at an aspect of the world as the artist thinks it might be and ought to be.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Addendum: Please allow me to apologize for failing to mention one of the more important actors in the drama of getting Roswell, Texas before us all--in the person of Frank Bieser at Bighead Press. Bighead Press has serialized several very entertaining graphic novels and is continuing to do so. Thanks, Frank.

Fifty Years of Riveting Reading

Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged was published fifty years ago October 12th. I first read the novel in 1966, having already enjoyed her second novel, The Fountainhead. I was driven to learn more. I attended an NBI (Nathaniel Branden Institute) Basics of Objectivism lecture series in Hollywood, then I began to cast about for like-minded individuals. At the time, there seemed to be very few, but as time passed, I located some libertarian meeting groups and met some libertarians who were not objectivist-oriented, as well as many who were.

Over the years, I've met and become friends with many objectivists and many libertarians who found their way to liberty-oriented philosophies by other means.

Today's (Sept 15th) New York Times published a story, in its Business section, about Atlas Shrugged and how it has influenced many CEO's and top businessmen to get to where they are today. After the horrible review NYT gave Atlas Shrugged at the time of its publication, this story seems rather a turnabout.

It's kind of gratifying to see that, after all the scandals and peccadilloes, the Times has finally come to terms with Atlas Shrugged.

I read Atlas Shrugged every couple of years, partly to satisfy my craving for the portrayal of successful rebellions against the parasitical political class, and partly to renew in my mind the way the world might be and ought to be. I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming movie, even realizing that movies often don't measure up to the level of the novels from which they're developed. Athas Shrugged has some good people involved in its development, so I'm optimistic.

"In the name of the best within us....."

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

A Visit to the Bookstore

This afternoon the Hollywood Freeway, US 101 through Hollywood, had a Sigalert. A sigalert is an unplanned lane closure on a California freeway that lasts more than thirty minutes. They're usually caused by a serious collision of a nature that take some time to clean up. As I was driving home from a little Saturday overtime work, I heard the announcement that two southbound and one northbound lanes were closed because of "police activity." I've heard no further explanation so far. I suspect there was a Dunkin' Donut truck spill. They've been known to keep the California Highway Patrol tied up for hours.

Since I knew that would probably mean at least an extra half-hour of excruciatingly slow driving, I opted to take the I-5 freeway up to the valley instead. It's an extra three or four miles, but that distance at 60mph is better than the shorter distance at five mph.

As I kroozed past the huge and lovely Griffith Park, I recalled that I'd been putting off a trip to Barnes & Noble to shop for a copy of Newt Gingrich & William Forstchen's new historical novel, Pearl Harbor, and S.M. Stirling's alternate history novel, A Meeting at Corvallis.

I drove to the Burbank Shopping Center.

The first thing I saw at the "New Arrivals" case just inside the door of the Burbank B&N curdled the contents of my stomach and the first thirty-two feet of my small intestine. Six rows of books showing a plain white dust cover 'pon which were printed, in plain New Times Roman, the words "The Assault on Reason." Not terribly threatening, one might observe, written perhaps by Robert Bidinotto or Leonard Peikoff. But, No! Below the title of the book, was the name of the alleged author: Al Gore.

Now, boys and girls, if there is anyone on planet Earth that should be disallowed from using the word reason, that person would be Algore. Not only does Algore never use his ability to reason, limited as it appears to be, but he doesn't understand the meaning of the concept at all! I ran screaming from the store.

In my head.

What the people around me in the B&N store saw was a mere rustle in the front of my shirt, partly concealing the turning of my stomach, as I immediately began searching for the bathroom for a safe place to deposit the contents thereof.

The left have already coopted the words liberal and progressive to mean their direct opposites. Now, what are they going to do with the word reason?

I quickly bought the books I came for and hurried home, to try to forget.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Two Great Graphic Novels

I've mentioned this to some folks, and CC also mentioned it recently: Big Head Press has begun serializing a number of graphic novels, each of which is continued each week. Two of the stories are by L Neil Smith, my favorite Sci-Fi author.

The first is Neil's first novel, The Probability Broach. It's been over ten years since I first read the print novel, but the graphic novel, drawn by Scott Bieser, is a lot of fun.

The second, not yet released in print, is Roswell, Texas. This one, like TPB, is an "alternate universe" story. It's set in a universe in which Texas remains an independent nation, which requires its citizens to carry a sidearm for personal protection, unless they declare themselves conscientious objectors.

Both novels are a lot of fun, and offer the reader a view of a possible libertarian society.

I await each week's installment of each story with a great deal of anticipation, much as many of you ladies wait for the next episode of As The World turns.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm Regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California