Book Review: Alongside Night (1979)

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Brian Wright

30th Anniversary Edition: The prophetic novel of America’s return
by J. Neil Schulman

Commemorating Independence Day, 2016. — ed.

“J. Neil Schulman’s Alongside Night may be even more relevant today than it was in 1979. Hopefully, the special thirtieth edition of this landmark work of libertarian science fiction will inspire a new generation of readers to learn more about the ideas of liberty and become active in the freedom movement.” — Dr. Ron Paul

The 1979 publication of this Prometheus Award-winning novel of agorist-libertarian[1] resistance was, along with L. Neil Smith’s The Probability Broach—in the same year, a bellwether event in the American liberty movement. As a contemporary of both authors, and having a structured prejudice for Randian heroic individualist romantic fiction, I remember being nonetheless gratified that writers of my generation were emerging in the blossoming freedom context of that time. Continue reading →

Movie Review: Alongside Night (2015, updated version)

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Brian Wright

An impressive and important artwork in the libertarian cultural oeuvre (8/10)[1]
Written and directed by J. Neil Schulman, produced by Patrick Heller
Reviewed by Brian R. Wright

Patrick Heller of Liberty Coin Service, who financed this film, is a personal friend of mine and political ally going back to the early 1970s. To use a military analogy, back in the day of Rampant Campus Collectivism we charged up a lot of the same hills under heavy fire… and continue to fight for reason and liberty in our much more sinister Era of Polished Global Fascism. I’d say we’ve managed to secure some beach heads for what we (with others)—and certainly the writer/director of Alongside Night, Mr. J. Neil Schulman—see as the ultimate if not imminent victory of Worldwide Liberty.

In 1979, when Neil’s novel was written, only a handful of authors had emerged to work Ayn Rand’s corner (philosophical individualism) or, say, Robert Heinlein’s hard science fiction path—Heinlein had a more martial-society ideal for the heroic person. [Yet, Heinlein came up with any number of mindbending plot devices and convincing tech innovations.] Anyway, Alongside Night along with L. Neil Smith’s Probability Broach were the ones most of us contemporaries in the modern libertarian movement read and discussed. Continue reading →

Brian’s Column: Open Letter for Satyagraha

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Brian Wright

Note: This is the root open letter for an intended worldwide ‘pay it forward’ individual email campaign aiming to convince persons, one at at time, of the need to understand and publicly assert the truth of 9/11 en masse. The benefits of understanding the truth of 9/11 and investigating, indicting, and prosecuting legitimate suspects are enormous… and immediate:

No Patriot Act
No TSA
No DHS
No NDAA
No statist gun control
No wars in the Middle East
No mass-blanket surveillance
No poison skies
No poison foods
No Obamacare
No Common Core
No unconstitiutional federal authority whatsoever…

It’s lights-out, bright-future Planet Liberty, overnight. Continue reading →

Guest Column: The Real State of the Union

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Brian Wright

“People’s Protection-Manual” on life support
by John Galt

Instead of the traditional Republicon versus Demoliar debate which ensues for theatrics on cable news, I thought a more prudent analysis of the State of the Union after Obama’s first term is much more appropriate and realistic as to where our nation is going in the future.

Thus I present the following commentary on the State of the Union for the United States of America by analyzing our Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and their status as of tonight.

Original column by John Galt-Florida here. Continue reading →

Guest Column: Peace and Guns

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Brian Wright

The common ground of peace and armed citizens
by Scotty Boman

Scotty Guns Peace From the Daily Paul 08 February 2013

In addition to being a libertarian activist, I am also a peace activist. In the course of attending meetings, rallies, and protests, I have noticed confusion by some anti-war activists who favor laws designed to prohibit, or severely limit, private gun ownership. Some have suggested that it is hypocritical of me to advocate both non-violence and gun rights.

The most absolute approach to non-violence is pacifism; but can a pacifist support gun rights? The answer can be found in a careful analysis of core moral principles. Pacifism is a philosophy most notably promoted by Jesus Christ, as described in the canonized gospels. These teachings have been adopted by well known twentieth century activists such as Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. To sum it up in a few words, pacifists oppose violence as immoral, regardless of any provocation or defensive justifications. A pure pacifist is willing to be killed or allow others to be killed rather than take up arms to defend one’s self or family.

The other moral code at issue here is the non-aggression principle. This philosophical standard builds on premises developed in the enlightenment movement, which appears to have influenced writers of the United States Constitution. Continue reading →

Guest Column: Letter to the Leahy Subcommittee

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Brian Wright

Spokesmen for Hitler’s victims know why gun rights
‘shall not be infringed’
by Ron Burcham

My letter was e-mailed to the Senate committee hearing, for today (1/30/13) only, on “What Should America Do About Gun Violence.” It was sent to the 18 members of the committee which include Feinstein, Schumer and Franken. Also it was CC’d to both Levins, US Congressman Kerry Bentivolio of the 11th District of Michigan, and Senator Debbie Stabenow for good measure. If anybody actually reads it I’ll be on another list for sure. 🙂 [1] Continue reading →

Guest Column: Healthcare Professionals for Guns

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Brian Wright

Respect for tools of family protection
by Ron Burcham

I was at the dentist yesterday for a filling and some other work. The dental assistant noticed my empty holster and my First to Fight cap. I had left my .357 in the truck. She asked if I was a Vietnam Vet. I said yes and she said her dad was a AF Vietnam Vet. We chatted about her dad teaching her, her sister and her mom how to shoot and his license to carry. She teases him about the bumper stickers on the back of his truck. Continue reading →