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Title: Do We Have A Right To Revolution?
Source:
The Libertarian Republic
URL Source: https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/right-revolution/
Published: Oct 14, 2013
Author: Austin Petersen
Post Date: 2019-08-16 07:58:35 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1504
Comments: 10
Letter from the Editor, Re: Stance on police The Libertarian Republic is not an “anti-police” website. TLR is against abuses of authority. The police, military and all government officials (elected and appointed) are public servants. They are endowed with certain enumerated powers in order to secure our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. To the extent that they operate under such constitutional guidelines, their governance is legitimate under the principles of natural law. The only legitimate role for any government (if there must be one) is the protection of individual liberty. When authority over steps its enumerated powers and violates those rights, they are to be reprimanded or removed from their posts after legitimate due process. But if there is resistance to those precepts, We The People may also invoke the right to revolution. The right to revolution is codified in many state constitutions across America. For instance, the State of Texas’ constitution states: “All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government, and, subject to this limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.” “[g]uard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.” -Patrick Henry “All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper.” And consider that of Kentucky: “All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety, happiness and the protection of property. For the advancement of these ends, they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may deem proper.” It is clear that the many governments of America constitute a federation of states committed largely in principle to the theory of individual rights consistent with natural law. We The People may temporarily contract with any guardian of those rights if they are institutionalized in a manner consistent with those rights. Therefore, any public servant or even, any institution hostile to those freedoms are subject to being ‘altered or abolished’. Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio The right to revolution is an inherent right, and is separate from terrorism. Terrorism is a criminal act, but revolution is a principle of general law. It is what distinguishes the acts of September 11th, with the Arab Spring. Revolution and resistance to tyranny in Western tradition can be found in biblical traditions, such as the case of Judith, who beheaded Holofernes in order to free her people from his oppression. Holofernes was an invading general who was dispatched to conquer the Jewish people for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar. Holofernes encircled the Israelites, cutting off their water supply and demanded they bow to Nebuchadnezzar. They were saved by Judith, a beautiful Hebrew widow who seduced the general and then beheaded him when he was drunk. Her act of violence was not terrorism, it was an act of self-defense. Her resistance to tyranny was obedience to God. The Libertarian Republic is your night watchman We at The Libertarian Republic are committed to our role as night watchmen in defense of individual liberty, natural rights and legitimate republican governance. If our public servants are in compliance with those limitations on their power, they have nothing to fear from our free speech. But for those who are hostile to those rights, we will expose them to the harsh light of public scrutiny. After all… if you have done nothing wrong, then you must have nothing to hide, correct? Ultimately, it is We The People who must be the guardians of our own life, liberty, security, and property. If our public servants behave in a manner inconsistent with those rights, then we are compelled to act, and to engage in our natural rights to free speech as protest. There must be independent guardians of the public liberty, who are committed to watching the watchers. The Libertarian Republic commends, honors and respect those public servants who risk their own lives, liberty and security in defense of innocent’s lives, liberties and properties. When they behave with honor, they deserve our accolades and appreciation and will receive it. But if, after a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce us under absolute Despotism, it is our right and indeed our duty, to throw off such government, and to provide for new guards for our future security. Your friend in liberty, Austin Petersen
![“[g]uard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.” -Patrick Henry](https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Patrick-Henry1.jpg)
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
Nobody ever has the "right" to kill anybody else, ever. God permits men to defend their lives and limbs with force, and to punish killers by death, but that's the extent of the degree to which men are EVER permitted to kill anybody else. Of course we kill for a great deal more than that. All of that extra killing is not our right at all - it's all over the live - but we spin our own laws out of thin air and grant ourselves "rights". If you can effect a political revolution without killing people, then go to it!
So God does not allow me to kill a man who is taking my wallet, car or my freedom? I read a different Bible than you. To me Christ came to redeem those who walk in the flesh. The Word also told the Hebrews to slaughter all the people and animals in Canaan. Doesn't that mean we are given the leeway to make our own choice? I choose to not inflict force upon others.....until force is applied to me. I will use all means necessary to protect my God given Rights, including the guarantee of a Republican form of government. That means no democracy, no socialism, no communism and no foreign control.
Are you a Hebrew entering Canaan? No? Are the people you think about killing Canaanits, practicing child prostitution and human sacrifice? No? No. So there's no authorization in what God told Joshua and the Hebrews, regarding the Canaanites in Canaan, that gives you - a non-Hebrew nowhere near Canaan - the authority to kill anybody. If you're going to use all means necessary to prevent democracy I guess that means that you'll be killing people left and right to stop it. So I guess we can use whatever means we think are necessary to stop you. It's too bad. No, you don't have the right to kill over your politics, and neither has anybody else in the history of mankind back to Adam and Eve. God said not to shed blood. He explicitly commanded the Hebrews to shed the blood of the Canaanites who did not flee as the recompense due, in his sovereign judgment, for their murderous and casual sins of human sacrifice. One people, one time, one place, for a specific reason (and if they fled Canaan, God didn't give the Hebrews the right to pursue them throughout the world). Nothing in that singular event applies to you. What applies to you, and me, and the police, and the army, and all politicians is the expliclt and absolute commandment not to shed human blood - and the condemnation both to have your own blood shed by man if you do, and the promise of the lake of fire also. Jesus gave an exception: you can carry a weapon to defend yourself. Defending yourself does not expand to mean "enforce your political will". So, on the whole, you are mistaken. That said, you're going to do what you want to do and call it godly, so there's no point in arguing with you. Just note that this is a democratic country, and always has been. We may be a republic, but we choose those representatives democratically. And those representatives have chosen to open up other things to the democratic ballot, in most states. And if the people choose to vote for socialists, or for social welfare advocates, as their representatives in that republic, then it is still a republic, and they have the right to do so. If the people decide to vote for representatives that enact treaties that grant some degree of foreign control, or that communize aspects of society, then, once again, they have the right to do that. You declared that you have the right to kill such people, to prevent them from enacting, through the republican form of government, political ideals you oppose. So, you're willing to murder over politics. Such is the way of man. My advice: don't do it, because God never granted you the authority to, told you not to, and told you he will throw you into Hell if you do. I'd take his word on that, if I were you.
We don't choose representatives democratically, we choose them electorally. We vote for the Representatives, and they are constrained by the Constitution, or were in the past when that document was still followed. In your world, what the founders did in 1776 or so was murder. What the British did to traitors. Was that murder? or Justice?
Yes, the Founders murdered the British to take control from them. The British murdered the Founders to prevent them from doing so. Both were wrong.
We should have just gone all Ghandi on them, just lay down and allow the strongest to mow us down. HEY, we let them take the actual high ground, as we were mowed down while taking figurative high ground. Force is all that matters in politics and war. In ALL governmental matters or matters between men, whomever is strongest will win. At least until Jesus returns, then again he will be the most powerful force...never mind. Whomever wins any skirmish, battle or war decides what is murder and what is heroic. My point was, people die. Why let it be you or your cause? Force will be used, make sure your side wins. It has ever been this way.
#10. To: jeremiad (#9)
He will be, and he will judge all LESSER powers who defied him and did what they wanted (e.g.: killing people to attain power), and in doing so defied him. In that day, the last will be first and the first will be last. So, the question is, does one ACTUALLY believe in Jesus and final judgment, or does one pay that cultural lip service and do what one desires to attain power in the here and now. Most people who say they believe in Jesus, don't really, because to believe in Jesus is to follow him, and to follow him is to do what he said. And killing people to attain power is doing what he said NOT to do. I'd say that one can easily come to the conclusion that it's ok, and necessary to use force to establish government and force to maintain power, but just drop the Christian crap, because one isn't following Christ anyway if one does so. So if one doesn't believe in Christ enough to really do what he said, stop the pretense of belief. It's pointless and hypocritical otherwise.
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#5. To: Vicomte13 (#3)
#6. To: jeremiad (#5)
#7. To: Vicomte13 (#6)
#8. To: jeremiad (#7)
#9. To: Vicomte13 (#8)
Replies to Comment # 9. Force is all that matters in politics and war. In ALL governmental matters or matters between men, whomever is strongest will win. At least until Jesus returns, then again he will be the most powerful force...never mind.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
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