July 31, 2006: Russell arrested

[Minsk]

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=4885.0

I believe *that* counts as a victory . I was concerned that Russell would have the book thrown at him for resisting the judge.

[lildog]

It's suicide to take actions like Russell's anywhere except in NH.

What exactly are his actions accomplishing in NH?

Other then attracting more extremists and turning off moderates what exactly has Russell acomplished?

Even if he inspired 100 other bugs to toss themselves into the windsheild of the SUV, do you really think that those 100 bugs have a chance of stopping it?

[CNHT]

I think most would agree that I do *plenty* of work here not to have to qualify that accusation with an answer.

It wasn't an accusation. It was a question to determine if you are part of the problem or the solution. Try living without a SSN or drivers license. Then pass judgement.

No sorry that is not the way people should be 'judged' if at all. Just doing those things doesn't prove worthiness and likewise NOT doing them does not prove UNworthiness...which is just my point.

We are not asking people to pass an extreme acid test here and you should not be either. Just because someone has not given up their driver's license doesn't mean they are 'part of the problem'. But this is part of a problem when people make  such ludicrous demands on others. It is not about that.

[FTL_Ian]

What exactly are his actions accomplishing in NH?

Other then attracting more extremists and turning off moderates what exactly has Russell acomplished?

Even if he inspired 100 other bugs to toss themselves into the windsheild of the SUV, do you really think that those 100 bugs have a chance of stopping it?

There's nothing extreme about resisting violent men with guns.  Russell has motivated more people than you can imagine.

[d_goddard]

I was concerned that Russell would have the book thrown at him for resisting the judge.

No, quite the opposite.

The Judge has bent over backwards to give Russell break after break.
If he felt like it he could have slapped Russ with a few contempt of court citations during the trial and again today at the sentencing, and then sent him back to the klink for a few more months.

This despite the fact that he obviously was PO'd at Russ for, shall we say, not observing the proper decorum of the court.

[lildog]

Russell has motivated more people than you can imagine.

Motivated them to do what?

And just what exactly has been accomplished by this protest other then keeping Russell away from his wife for a month?

Other then this little circle of people in the know, this event isn't even being discussed much less changing anything.

[earthhaven]

I know of a couple of people who were previously just onlookers and now are standing up for the cause of freedom because they see how tyrannical the Federal Government really is.

[Dreepa]

Lil Dog I see you point but I do think that in the forums all over the nation Russell's name was brought up.  So he got the word out about the FSP and NHFREE. 

Also I think that RK did what he thinks is right... which is important to him no matter what else anyone says or thinks.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Other then attracting more extremists and turning off moderates what exactly has Russell acomplished?

Must be extremely dedicated moderates

[FTL_Ian]

Motivated them to do what?

Move to NH sooner rather than later.

And just what exactly has been accomplished by this protest other then keeping Russell away from his wife for a month?

Showing people the tyranny of the government.  Also, while I'm sure Kat appreciates your concern, I think it's a fair bet that she knows exactly what she's doing. If having a man at home all the time was critical to her, she'd probably not be with one like Russell. 

Other then this little circle of people in the know, this event isn't even being discussed much less changing anything.

Au contraire.  Russell's arrests made it to the front page of Digg.com twice.  That alone is decent exposure.

[FrankChodorov]

Showing people the tyranny of the government.

I don't think so...

if you asked 100 citizens whether or not we should allow the business in collectively owned property to be purposely disrupted I believe 98 will say no - even if the business being disrupted is the IRS.

now the big question is what the citizens are willing to support for punishment and what CD activists are willing to endure.

the problem is the supposed number of issues at play here...too many for the citizenry to make sense of

1. free speech
2. war
3. income taxes

people don't hear what happened and think "tyranny"

[Braddogg]

people don't hear what happened and think "tyranny"

I disagree.  When people outside the courthouse came up to us asking what Russell had done, and our response was "Handing out fliers," there were more than a few stares of disbelief.  When we got further into it, giving a fuller explanation, most still said the federales were in the wrong.  Would they have used the word tyranny?  Maybe, maybe not.  But when people get arrested for handing out fliers, the citizens start asking questions.

[edit: typographical error fixed]

[Braddogg]

Motivated them to do what?

To do what they think is right, no matter the threats the government make.  I think Dreepa hit the nail on the head with this one.  And I'll add that when people start doing what is RIGHT, no matter what the government says, then we will have a truly limited government.  Russell showed us that ignoring the law doesn't have to result in death (as long as its done nonviolently), and that going to jail does not equal disappearing.

It seems that you're afraid that your attempts to slowly turn the tide of oppression, so that people can live free, will be derailed by people actually ACTING like they already live free.

And Russell was in for just over two weeks, not a month.

[John]

Braddogg,
Thank you for making the trip to NH.  You're a good man!
I was my pleasure to meet you: With peaceful guys like you, we will win - in time.  You are a real trooper standing on that sunny corner all day. Thanks for taking/holding that spot! . . .

[Braddogg]

Braddogg,
Thank you for making the trip to NH.  You're a good man!
I was my pleasure to meet you: With peaceful guys like you, we will win - in time.  You are a real trooper standing on that sunny corner all day. Thanks for taking/holding that spot! . . .

John, it was an honor spending the day with ya.  I'm sure it won't be the last.  Thanks for providing musical entertainment!  It looked like you got more than a bit of sun, too.  I'm sure we'll both be feeling the results of that later this week