The Stories and Novels By Derek Ward
A man who chooses between drinking a glass of milk and a glass of potassium cyanide does not choose between two beverages; he chooses between life and death. A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society. Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an alternative to any system where men can live as human beings.
Ludwig Von Mises
Bonus Double Quote as we look back to the centennial of the start of World War I.
Europe today is a powder keg and the leaders are like men smoking in an arsenal … A single spark will set off an explosion that will consume us all … I cannot tell you when that explosion will occur, but I can tell you where … Some damned foolish thing in the Balkans will set it off.
Otto Vin Bismarck, German Chancellor in 1878.
The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.
Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for the British Government
Sir Edward is reported to have said this on the eve of World War I.
We should not forget the spark that ignited the American Revolution was caused by the British attempt to confiscate the firearms of the colonists.
Patrick Henry
Governments confiscate arms for their safety, not the citizenry’s.
You have to be mentally prepared for a possible violent confrontation. I can say with some authority that if you give up, if you lay down to die, than that is exactly what will happen. You will die.
FBI Special Agent Edmundo Mireles, Jr., participant in the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout
This was one of the lessons repeated at my MAG-20 class. You may be in severe pain, physically and mentally exhausted, but you must continue the fight. If you stop fighting before the bad guy, you will lose, and you will die.
I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery
Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, by it’s very nature, is chaotic.
That chaos frightens those who do not want to shoulder the responsibility.
Believe me, dear Sir: there is not in the British empire a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist before I yield to a connection on such terms as the British Parliament propose; and in this, I think I speak the sentiments of America.
Thomas Jefferson, November 1775
Eight months later, the Continental Congress would ratify Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence.”
If you are not free to choose wrongly and irresponsibly, then are not free at all.
Jacob Hornberger
Save me from the petty tyrannies of people trying to save me from myself.
The amount of energy necessary to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than to produce it.
That’s probably on the low side.
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore Roosevelt
Dedicated to Joseph Wilcox, who stepped up to stop a spree killer and was killed when by a shot in the back from the killer’s partner.
H/t Miguel
This one is a bit long:
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Forces
This was the order given to the troops on the even of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day.
Let us remember those who air dropped into France and those who charged the beaches – Utah, Omaha, Sword, Gold, and Juno – seventy years ago today.