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BJ from Ky
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« on: January 03, 2010, 12:40:49 AM » |
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"There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper, and it would vanish - it was that fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter.".
- Emperor Marcus Aurelius Caesar, in Ridley Scott's Gladiator
In our time, there is a dream that once was, and is no longer there, much like in Marcus Aurelius’ Rome. The founders of the United States of America had something like this in mind, when they separated themselves from the British empire. Even in its flaws, their great plan was noble, and for a time it seemed to work. Then something went terribly wrong. Why did it go wrong? Because there was a government, and lots of it, and I wanted to get as far away from it as possible.
Late into the night, on December 24th, I set out on the road headed for Keene, New Hampshire. It was to be an 800 mile journey with long hours and seemingly endless freeways. The purpose of the trip overshadowed any notion that the task at hand would be arduous or unworthy of the attempt. I was going to New Hampshire to explore the nature of the third American Revolution (yes I said third) The American Civil War was the second, and although failed, was a response to government becoming more vast and intrusive.
New Hampshire is the site of the Free State project, a very simple idea that basically asks those people who believe in freedom and liberty, to move to one place where they can be amongst like-minded people, and hopefully reverse the trend that is larger and more powerful government. The idea is to get at least 20,000 people to pledge their effort to move there, where they will find much activism already taking place, or they can begin their own activities.
Once 5,000 people had signed the pledge, a vote was taken, , and New Hampshire was chosen as the location. The reasons why New Hampshire was targeted for the project are many and varied, but as I will delve into later, it is clear from my observations that this state was indeed the best choice.
My arrival into Keene was somewhat anticlimactic by the fact that I had driven all night, and had not slept. So at first I was too busy being tired to admire the scenery around me. This would soon change, as, no sooner than I drove into town and posted on the online forums that I was there, I was given welcomes and offers to assist me shortly after.
The immediate observation one can make about New Hampshire is that it is very nice and clean. The small neighborhoods are quite attractive around the town, with the rural outlying areas being even more scenic and picturesque. Every place that I traveled to in that part of the state appeared as if it came right off a picture postcard.
So anyway, I had just arrived into town. It is Christmas day and I have been invited to a gathering of free staters. After getting the directions and making my way to the location of the party, my trip to New Hampshire really came alive, and I in many ways also came alive for the first time in my life.
I was welcomed into the midst of about 15 people, who made me feel like I had known them for years. There was no mistaking that these were “my people.” This was a revelation that I am sure many others have felt upon coming to the area, and it was so overwhelming, so liberating. No longer was I isolated, nor was there a need to feel as if I were crazy. And these were the feelings that I had in just the first fifteen minutes of the evening.
As the gathering dwindled down, one person offered the suggestion of going to the jail and singing Christmas carols. Most of those who were still at the party were willing, and after the plan was posted online, others would join us there. When we got to the jail, the others who joined up brought the total to ten activists. I was humbled and amazed at the manner in which this took place. I was thinking to myself, “Here are people, many who have already lost or sacrificed enough themselves, going out of their way (and the jail was definitely out of the way by about 15 miles) on this holiday occasion to show their support to other people, many of whom they may not even know. At the time only one other activist was in the jail, so the event served the purpose it often does- in particular to recognize that criminalizing people who have not actually harmed anyone is wrong.
After about 25 minutes of singing, the activity dispersed just as quickly as it had originated, and I returned to my hotel room. The day’s excitement had kept me awake despite not having slept the night before, but now it was time to rest. I would need even more energy for what was yet to come.
Having gone an entire day without sleep, I woke the next day about 5pm and soon had invitations from several activists to do something or other. Keep in mind, that this was my second day in Keene, and other activists are already assimilating me into the local scene as if I had lived there for years. I don’t even feel that welcome in my own hometown and it’s about 1/6 the size of Keene.
The people I was hanging out with took me to a place called Abunara. This is a social club that offers food, hookah, and a relaxing atmosphere. It is also fast becoming the prime social scene for Keene activists, particularly on Sundays, but for this night the place was quiet. We enjoyed a few games of chess, ate some good food, and most importantly discussed politics and local activism. I was having an all around enjoyable night, with people like me!
After parting ways with these folks, I returned to the hotel again. Tomorrow was to be Sunday, which would prove to hold even more excitement, than I had experienced in my first two days in town. Before I went to bed, however, I called friends and family back home and was already relating my experiences to them as if I had already settled into the town permanently. It was becoming quite clear to me that I had to try to make the move much sooner than I had originally intended to.
Waking Sunday morning, I wanted to drive around some and get a feel for the area around Keene. I’m still not quite sure where I was driving, out in the country, but it was picture perfect. I returned to the hotel with plenty of time to spare, as one of the activists had asked about interviewing me for a pod cast, in which I told a bit about why I was coming to New Hampshire. Shortly after this, it was time to head to Abunara for the social Sunday gathering, and I made my way downtown to the location.
For anyone who has read the online forums that describe Social Sundays in Keene, are only getting one aspect of the event handed to them. Sure, Social Sunday is a gathering of free staters/activists to socialize, play games, and discuss politics and ideas. But it is far more than this! It is an experience like no other- just as I felt overwhelmed by the Christmas party, there were nearly twice as many people at this event, all of similar ideology and energy.
For nearly 6 hours I played board games, argued politics, discussed business ideas, and most importantly felt at home. Abunara is a very free state friendly establishment, and will no doubt be the site of discussing many ideas and plans that will be a part of the liberty movement in New Hampshire. As it was getting late into the night, I headed back to my hotel room, and crashed onto the bed once again. All of the excitement and energy of the free state locale were exhausting me!
When I woke the next morning, I already had an idea of my own. I wanted a way to say a final farewell to those I had met, and posted online that I was inviting any free staters out for dinner. The particulars were arranged on rather short notice, but the event was arranged for later that evening. In the meantime, I took another sightseeing drive of the surrounding area.
I wanted to really take a good look at the community, and what it had to offer. Here is what I found-
Keene is certainly a smaller town, so if big cities are your flavor, then perhaps you might find Concord or somewhere else more appealing, but I would also not be so quick to write Keene off the map. The area offers all the comforts of home, along with a very friendly, energetic community. All the people I encountered running or working in the local businesses were amiable folk- not too hurried but not too lethargic either. As goldilocks would say, they were just right.
In my perusal of local businesses I would tell them I was looking to move to the area and getting a feel for local shops. One business owner asked if I was a free stater- I answered in the affirmative and he told me that he was involved in his own way as well. This caught me off guard, in a good way.
Then while I was in his store, one of the more recognizable locals, who has a public access tv show walked in the place The thing is, you have to bear in mind that not only are all these free staters moving to New Hampshire, but so many of the people living there are already liberty-lovers- another reason New Hampshire was a good choice. This movement is real, and it’s about real people, who are making things happen every day, and it’s amazing to see.
Also while driving in the country some more that afternoon I stopped at a rest area that boasted a short hiking trail. For those of you who are motivated by the outdoor life, New Hampshire is a sight for sore eyes, with many trails and scenic areas. Though the trail I was taking was quite short, it was beautiful, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Later on it was time to return to town for the food and fellowship. I had no idea how many people might show up, but I knew it could be somewhere between 0-100. The restaurant had a rather good deal on pizza, and even if more people arrived, it was the least I could do demonstrate just how truly welcomed I felt, in my visit to the area.
As it was, there were about ten people all together. Most of those who came I had already met, a few I had not, but all of them were free staters. It was a pleasant way to end my last night, and would make the long drive I faced the next day much more bearable.
After the dinner party ended, I said a few last goodbyes, and headed to the home of some activists who I had arranged to stay with on my final night. The night was capped with some wonderful political discussion and talk about future plans. The next morning, it was time to return home, and I truly did not want to leave. I actually kept stalling the inevitable departure and got on the road a little later than planned. There was a sadness about having to leave Keene, but with it came the knowledge that I would be returning, because I felt like this was where my home really should be.
The drive home was intense, taking nearly seventeen hours, and included more than one stop to rest. The closer I got to Kentucky, the more I felt I was now actually away from home, instead of getting closer to it. Hopefully in the next few weeks, my big white suburban will take me north once more, and I will hear my new friends and neighbors say, “Welcome home.”
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