Live free or die: "irrelevant", "destructive"?

[KBCraig]

What a tool this guy is! 

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Jack+Polidoro%3a+Scrap+NH%27s+irrelevant+and+destructive+state+motto+already&articleId=91e391c1-c6ab-4779-960a-c56b726fba80

Jack Polidoro: Scrap NH's irrelevant and destructive state motto already

By JACK POLIDORO

WE IN New Hampshire often show our ignorance of state history by citing the "Live free or die" motto. We have used it to protest taxes, anti-smoking ordinances for restaurants, the right to bear arms (including assault weapons) and now the proposed seatbelt law. It would do us well to change the slogan on the state license plate back to "The Granite State" and educate our adults and children as to the motto's real origin: Gen. John Stark's reunion greeting in abstentia for a 1777 battle that occurred in Vermont, not New Hampshire.

The motto was adopted by New Hampshire in 1945, not in the 1700s, and Stark would not know he would be embossed on a license plate. "Live, freeze or die" would have been more relevant.

Residents have screamed this motto in editorials and letters to the editor as if we seceded from the union and are free to do what we want, anytime we want, when we want and for any reason, in fear of our local state government absconding our rights to "freedom."

The state's job is to protect the citizens, and the motto is not in the U.S. Constitution.

The absurd notion has led us to be last or close to last to pass logical legislation for proven health and safety measures that would save the lives of our citizens and our children.

It has also embarrassed us nationwide by delaying our recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and now for stalling automobile safety regulations as if we arrogantly know better than all the other states of the union that mandate the protection of our fellow citizens in this modern day.

Gen. Stark did not need a seatbelt on his horse, so its irrelevant. Few rapid-fire guns existed back then, most guns having been made in England and muzzle-loaded in a slow fashion.

Below is the origin of the motto by Gen. Stark. New Hampshire legislators who vote for our citizens' protection would best be educated as to its origin and the lack of its application to most of the recent editorials in every New Hampshire newspaper.

Gen. Stark would see no relevance to the present-day protests embellished by his motto, and the Free Staters who embraced that motto and who arrived in lackluster numbers starting a few years back would be dismayed at its real meaning and irrelevance to their intended migration.

According to the state, "The words ?Live free or die,' written by Gen. John Stark, July 31, 1809, became the official motto of the state. It was the 1945 Legislature that gave New Hampshire its official motto and emblem, as World War II approached a successful end. The motto became "Live free or die," as once voiced by Gen. John Stark, the state's most distinguished hero of the Revolutionary War, and the world famous Old Man of the Mountain was voted the official state emblem. The motto was part of a volunteer toast which Gen. Stark sent to his wartime comrades, in which he declined an invitation to head up a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont, because of poor health. The toast said in full: "Live free or die; death is not the worst of evils."

Free speech, written or vocal, is a right, but historic quotes need to be used in context, not ignorance.

"Seatbelts save lives," often posted on the bumpers of many police vehicles and on highway billboards, is more relevant to the issue.

[eques]

Well, he's wrong on a number of counts, such as "the state's job is to protect the citizens" (the state's actual "job" is to remain in power for as long as possible), but the historical background he cites is interesting food for thought.

Given that the motto was adopted in 1945, that says to me that it was more about anti-Nazi propaganda than it was about celebrating individualist virtue.  "Live Free or Die--now get off to Europe and kick some kraut!"

In that light, the motto takes on a decidedly sinister meaning: "live free"--do as you're told--"or die"--or we'll kill you.

The New Jersey state nickname, "The Garden State," has less irony.

[lildog]

Well, he's wrong on a number of counts, such as "the state's job is to protect the citizens" (the state's actual "job" is to remain in power for as long as possible), but the historical background he cites is interesting food for thought.

That statement about the state's job jumped out the most to me as well and I'm considering now writing an dissertation regarding what exactly the state's job is in one of my upcoming NHInsider.com pieces.  What is of the most interest here is that in the examples he talks about we're talking about the state protecting one from themselves under thread of punishment.

[burnthebeautiful]

The motto was adopted by New Hampshire in 1945, not in the 1700s, and Stark would not know he would be embossed on a license plate. "Live, freeze or die" would have been more relevant.

Residents have screamed this motto in editorials and letters to the editor as if we seceded from the union and are free to do what we want, anytime we want, when we want and for any reason, in fear of our local state government absconding our rights to "freedom."

The state's job is to protect the citizens, and the motto is not in the U.S. Constitution.

The absurd notion has led us to be last or close to last to pass logical legislation for proven health and safety measures that would save the lives of our citizens and our children.

It has also embarrassed us nationwide by delaying our recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and now for stalling automobile safety regulations as if we arrogantly know better than all the other states of the union that mandate the protection of our fellow citizens in this modern day.

You mean they didn't have automobiles in the 1700s? Wow, I never thought of that, gee, thanks for pointing that out to me!

God forbid that the New Hampshire state government care more about the desires of its residents than the federal government. God forbid we consider freedom more important than the wishes of the federal government! And what do you mean "freedom"? What's up with the parenthesis? As if being allowed to drive on government roads without a seatbelt isn't really freedom.

The states job is to protect its citizens... against the initiation of force. Using the threat of violence to force people to, against their will, make sensible choices, is not "protecting the citizens".

A logical action is not synonymous with logical legislation. Just because it's sensible or logical to do something doesn't mean that a law forcing you to do it is logical and sensible. More people wearing seat belts would save the lives of many people, a law forcing them to would not save anyones life. It is the action of wearing a seat-belt that saves lives, a law is just a piece of paper that gives the police the right to ticket you. Giving police the right to ticket unbelted passengers doesn't save anyones life.

And yes, if the New Hampshire government doesn't mandate things that other states do, that does mean the New Hampshire government is better than other governments.

[error]

Death is not the worst of evils, but socialism surely comes pretty close.

[lildog]

I wrote up my piece on this here:

http://www.nhinsider.com/richard-barnes/2007/4/16/what-is-the-governments-job.html

[CaveDog]

For what it's worth, I wrote a rebuttal and submitted it. It's probably too long for them to post, but I had fun writing it anyway. 

This is what I sent...
================================
I'm sorry that Mr. Polidoro finds our patriot ancestors to be so irrelevant and absurd. I do not. How appropriate that this comes so near April 19, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington-Concord, because Mr. Polidoro and his cohorts remind me so of the British. How laughable for him to lecture a Yankee on history.

When Major Pitcairn led his 1000 troops toward Concord, Ma it's doubtful that he knew what the outcome would be or he may have thought twice. As Mr. Polidoro's kind led their troops toward Concord, NH, they were equally arrogant.

When Major Pitcairn met a small band of militia at Lexington, he brushed them aside, confident in his seemingly superior numbers. When Mr. Polidoro's people see a few protesters, they brush them aside with equal confidence. Those 80 militiamen at Concord did not expect to defeat 1000 British, they were protesting. Today we protest with signs, they protested with muskets. In fact, Gen. Washington considered the fight with Britain merely an armed protest as late as Bunker Hill.

Major Pitcairn did indeed reach Concord. He also destroyed a little in the way of munitions and spiked a few cannon. Then he turned back for Boston, but by now the word was out and the Yankees had begun to move. History clearly tells us what became of those British by the time they straggled back to Boston.

Major Pitcairn and his command did not understand Yankees. Neither does Mr. Polidoro. He cites history, but he does not grasp it. I am descended of Richard Warren, Mayflower arrival and signer of the Mayflower compact. I am the product of history. Mr. Polidoro does not know that history shows Yankees migrating north for centuries as people with the sort of ideas the pilgrims fled Europe to escape flooded into the original colonies. They don' understand that they have invaded our "live free or die" haven. They don't understand that we are here in numbers, the product of centuries. I migrated from MA, but for Yankees that matters little. All of New England is our home. It matters no more than the difference between Vermont and NH.

If I know anything about Yankees, election 2008 will be the left's Lexington-Concord. They may have reached Concord and spiked a few cannon, but that matters little either. We are patient and we are stubborn. We know that nothing they do today can't be undone tomorrow. They can ignore us, even taunt us. The British shot us, hung us, imprisoned us and burned our towns. Mr. Polidoro is a lightweight. We wore down the British and we will wear them down too in our own way. The Yankee way. Something they will not grasp until they are straggling back toward Boston, defeated.

[dalebert]

Gen. Stark would see no relevance to the present-day protests embellished by his motto, and the Free Staters who embraced that motto and who arrived in lackluster numbers starting a few years back would be dismayed at its real meaning and irrelevance to their intended migration.

I love the way he tries to downplay FSP's significance while the entire piece screams that we're a huge thorn in his side. If we're so insignificant, why even mention us?

"Ignore them. They are irrelevent. Stop paying attention to that fifty pound gorilla in the room. Listen to me! I'm serial! I'm totally serial! Damn it! I said they're insignificant!"

[SpeedPhreak]

I am at the point when I read anything "for the children" I stop reading & throw up.

[CaveDog]

I love the way he tries to downplay FSP's significance while the entire piece screams that we're a huge thorn in his side. If we're so insignificant, why even mention us?

The FSP is significant and I'm glad you're here. However, Mr. Polidoro understands the natives better than I'd care to let on. My piece above is propaganda aimed at the natives. You'd do well to understand that. He understands that there's a traditional suspicion of people "from away" in these parts. By painting you as outsiders, he's appealing to that, which is why I had to speak of my ancestors and establish my credentials with them.

He's using you as a useful tool. It has nothing to do with what size gorilla you are. By portraying anyone defending liberty or the "live free or die" motto as part of the FSP, he's disconnecting them from the locals. The natives regard the FSP as outsiders trying to change the state as much as they regard the liberals as outsiders trying to change the state, a point few porcupines seem to fully grasp. In order to get them on your side, you need to convince them that you're defending the "New Hampshire way". That you're like minutemen rushing to join thier ranks, that you think like them, that you're defending "traditional" values connected with thier history. Ignore that and whether you win a few battles or not, you'll ultimately lose the war.

[CNHT]

Thanks for posting this KB, I just saw it... I hope they get LOTS of angry letters on this one!

[lildog]

Gen. Stark would see no relevance to the present-day protests embellished by his motto, and the Free Staters who embraced that motto and who arrived in lackluster numbers starting a few years back would be dismayed at its real meaning and irrelevance to their intended migration.

I love the way he tries to downplay FSP's significance while the entire piece screams that we're a huge thorn in his side. If we're so insignificant, why even mention us?

"Ignore them. They are irrelevent. Stop paying attention to that fifty pound gorilla in the room. Listen to me! I'm serial! I'm totally serial! Damn it! I said they're insignificant!"

The shear fact alone that he felt the need to mention the FSP gives it relevance.

[error]

I stopped worrying about being perceived as "from away" when people began asking me if my name is spelled like the town.

[Crocuta]

It has also embarrassed us nationwide by delaying our recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and now for stalling automobile safety regulations as if we arrogantly know better than all the other states of the union that mandate the protection of our fellow citizens in this modern day.

[Quantrill]

+1 to (should be Cave Dog) for action!  That letter was right on!

+1 to lildog for action!  Nice piece in the NH Insider!