RUSSELL FREED

[Neal Jiutai]

Shucks, it seems like the "Free Russell Kanning" t-shirts we produced for ya'll arrived a day too late.

But hang on to them, they're likely to come in handy someday. I've got a feeling Russell hasn't seen the last of jail just yet.

Congrats though.

[Kat Kanning]

Thanks Neal.  The shirts are really cool.

[tracysaboe]

I might someday turn over the tax collectors tables.

I don't think it would be wrong for a normal person to tip over the pharisee's tables.

Russell if your serious (It's hard to tell with you.) That is a very unwise attitude. Attacking the government only makes it stronger. I have to agree with Mike.

Tipping over tables really isn't non-violent is it?

Hopefully, you're just being the fun-loving goofy guy that you are.

Tracy

[Russell Kanning]

I am serious.
The government is killing people and some of you are worried that I am angry and violent for even contemplating disrupting the IRS office. Do you know that the IRS breaks down people's doors and steals stuff?
I was thinking that I might slowly tip over one desk to get their attention. That to me is nonviolent.
I didn't even get that far because they stopped me from walking in the door.
Maybe you and Mike can go do your analysis, but I am standing up to the feds.
Would it also be wrong and angry of me to call the fed workers "workers of iniquity"? Would that be going too far?

[John]

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
-Luke 6:36,45


For me it is not always easy - nor pure.  I am not perfect.
I wrote a song that speaks of peace, and yet, after I went to the wall with it, I said "F--- you" to those who caged my friend.  I meant both.

The song speaks of what fills my heart.  The "F--- you" was not nessesary: the song, and bringing it to the PRISON wall) was.

[Kat Kanning]

http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=74

John's got a bunch of new photos.

[Kat Kanning]

Serenade for druggies and dissidents.

[Christopher King]

Fascinating. What a bullshit case against Russell that I will post a blawg entry about later today to follow up this one:

http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/2006/08/kingcast-notes-commonality-with-nh.html

Meanwhile my struggle, and Mike Gannon's struggle -- and therefore ALL of our struggles -- continues:

http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/2006/08/kingcast-shares-real-michael-gannon.html

[John]

http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=74

John's got a bunch of new photos.

Shorty took the photos!

[John]

This picture is (right) when we made contact; mission accomplished!

http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-browse_image.php?offset=0&sort_mode=created_desc&desp=6&galleryId=74&imageId=2202

[John]

I could not see the PRISONER'S face, yet somehow I "knew" it was him . . .

[Michael Fisher]

I am serious.
The government is killing people and some of you are worried that I am angry and violent for even contemplating disrupting the IRS office. Do you know that the IRS breaks down people's doors and steals stuff?

I didn't say you would be violating ZAP, I only said you're being neither nonviolent nor Christian about your methods, but you're still claiming to be following both systems of principles when, in my opinion, you're not.

I'm bringing up the principles upon which our nonviolent movement was founded and you're not rationally responding to my reasoning. Have we not worked together (quite successfully) from the very beginning up to this point? If you will not listen to me, then who will you listen to about your methods of change?

Here's something I said about this 15 months ago after my act of nonviolent noncooperation and prior to helping you organize your own act a few weeks later. This is very applicable today:



If there is enough freedom of the press, and the government is not actively slaughtering people, then violence is unnecessary and counterproductive.  Most freedom can be won through nonviolent noncooperation.  Unlike Gandhi, I realize that when the press is silenced and the people are being slaughtered, it is time to take up arms and fight to the death for our freedom.

Take China for example.  Civil disobedience would probably work well in China while violence would only accelerate the growth of the Chinese government.  Indeed, civil disobediece is the only thing that has ever worked there before, but there was no significant follow-up after Tiananmen Square and the man blocking a column of tanks.  The movement could have spread enormously, but the people decided to value their lives more than their liberty, and so their liberty was never won.

Gandhi took his principles too far, and once said that the British should lay down their arms and allow the Nazis to take over their country, as long as they refused their support.  However, the Nazis had a complete media blackout, as far as I know, and they slaughtered countless people at will.

Gandhi understood that civil disobedience is impossible in an atmosphere of violence but he still could not realize this mistaken judgement of Nazi Germany.  However, we understand, and that is what's important.

[tracysaboe]

I am serious.
The government is killing people and some of you are worried that I am angry and violent for even contemplating disrupting the IRS office. Do you know that the IRS breaks down people's doors and steals stuff?
I was thinking that I might slowly tip over one desk to get their attention. That to me is nonviolent.
I didn't even get that far because they stopped me from walking in the door.
Maybe you and Mike can go do your analysis, but I am standing up to the feds.
Would it also be wrong and angry of me to call the fed workers "workers of iniquity"? Would that be going too far?

Nothing.  I'm not berating you. Mike is. I think what you did was wonderfull. And if the reason they arrested you was bcause you "said" you were goinog to do something, then they're violating your freedom of speach.

I have no problem with what you did, or said.

Mike, aparently does. I'm just saying that I understand his point of view too.

Tracy

[FrankChodorov]

And if the reason they arrested you was bcause you "said" you were goinog to do something, then they're violating your freedom of speach.

you have no freedom of speech rights in the IRS building...
you have no right to disrupt the business being transacted at the IRS building...

if you are asked what your intent is, you tell them (and all evidence supports what you say is going to happen) then they say you can't cross this line with the intent to disrupt the business being transacted in the IRS you will be arrested...99.98% of the public will support the officers arresting you - sorry to be the messenger of bad news Russell!

[Russell Kanning]

I guess I disagree with you Mike. I don't see any reason for me to resort to violence .... no matter how bad the government gets or if they shut down all media. But I can understand why some people (including you) would be ready to fight to the death if that happens.