I think there are at least two kinds of heroes promoted here: Heroes of talent, who have pushed their own personal limits as far as they can (athletes, opera singers, etc) and heroes that have changed the world (like Ayn Rand, Ronald Reagan, or the fictional John Galt).

Personally, athletes and opera singers don’t send a shiver down my spine because I have never been a fan of high-level sports or classical music. Playing sports is fun, but I have little interest in sitting down and watching people cheer for whichever side for two hours (even if beer is involved). 2 minutes of Paul Potts on Youtube is the closest I have gotten to enjoying opera.

That is not to say that I don’t like music. I listen to music for hours each day. Sit in a quiet, dark room, in a comfortable chair and listen to Incubus’ Aqueous Transmission with your eyes closed. That’s a transcendental experience for me. One wakes up relaxed and defuzzed, somehow quieter and more contented inside, and more ready to face the world.

At the other end of the energy spectrum, I get a buzz out of watching Christian Bale. In each of his roles (American Psycho, The Prestige, Batman, Reign of Fire, Equilibrim, Rescue Dawn, The Machinist, etc) he becomes his characters in such an intense way that it is almost possible to believe that each movie features a different person. I just think he is an incredible actor.

I wouldn’t call Brandon Boyd (lead singer of Incubus) or Christian Bale heroes, though. I’d call them extremely talented, inspiring individuals, worthy of our respect because of their creativity and hard work.

During my time with the Libertarianz I have seen people being heroes in small ways, consistently, over years. Tim Wikiriwhi, for instance, is indefatigably energetic about libertarianism in Hamilton. Richard Goode’s excellent transitional drug policy is a great example for the rest of our policy wonks (in fact, he came up with the idea for transitional policies, IIRC). Graham Clark consistently writes letters to his local papers in Tauranga. Bernard Darnton’s articles are so funny and easy to agree with.

Each time someone like the good people I have mentioned writes a letter to the editor, a press release, an article for the Free Radical, even a philosophical blog post - that represents an individual exercising their beliefs to try and make the world a better place. Sure, it’s on a small scale, but that’s heroism, I reckon.

Salut!

This excerpt (p. 333-334) is from Harry Browne’s excellent book How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. It’s a libertarian ’self-help’ book which I have been reading over the last few days, and I’ve found it relevant, inspiring and thought-provoking. Browne has some interesting ideas about how to run relationships, marriages and child-raising.

Hat-tip to Dr. Richard Goode for lending it to me.

Look to the Libertarianz for a party which doesn’t want to ban everything they don’t like, or make everything they do like compulsory.

I was disappointed to see Lindsay Mitchell missing from the list, unless she is mystery Number 5 candidate (”yet to be announced”).

A Lyn Murphy is listed at number 14. I was amused to see a comment elsewhere on the ACT website which reveals that Lyn joined the party less than four months ago. (I guess it could be a coincidence?).

If that really is the same Lyn Murphy, she must be a powerhouse to have achieved the Number 14 position after just four months, ahead of loyal supporters like Peter McCaffrey and Clint Heine.

Anyway, I wish ACT and their candidates the best luck. May the best man win, and all that jazz.

Of course all discerning Pacific Empire readers will be voting Libertarianz.

UPDATE: Lindsay Mitchell has declined a position on the ACT list. I presume she is running as an independent candidate. Good on you, Lindsay!

“Only the most politically correct ‘liberals’ like Cathy “not-in-my-backyard” Casey and the most repressed conservatives like Bob “think-of-the-children” McCoskrie would want to shut down the Boobs on Bikes parade. The brave men and women who want to take part in this event have a fundamental right to do so. Of course some people may find it offensive, but they are not being forced to attend, and they certainly don’t have to watch the parade on television or read about it in the paper.”

“This is a freedom of speech issue,” Howison explains. “A free society is incompatible with censorship - even the most offensive literature should be free to be sold to New Zealand adults.”

“Libertarianz would defend to the death the right of people like Steve Crow to present their ideas, no matter how controversial. The public of New Zealand are not so morally weak that they need state protection from impure thoughts, books or parades. Freedom of speech means the right to offend.”

Aucklanders attending Crow’s Erotica Expo should look for Libertarianz activists making the case for free speech.

Warning: the photographs on the linked site contain many graphic images of corpses.

The photographer did not get too close to the actual fighting, but he got close enough.

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Well, who remembers the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, when the Olympic flame was lit by a flaming arrow?

In this video you can see that the arrow flew far over the cauldron which was supposed to contain the flame; the cauldron was actually lit from inside. A bit of ‘fakery’ in large dramatic productions is to be expected. Get over it.

This story is distracting from the hidden tragedy of the Olympic games: China’s human rights record, including religious rights, freedom of speech, political freedom and prisoners rights.

Yes, China has made great strides towards Western liberalism. Yet they still have a long way to go, and we must continue pressing for change.

Every day when I walk to work these Falun Gong protesters are peacefully protesting outside the Chinese Embassy on Glenmore Street. The Intercity bus you can see is parked in front of their ususal spot; when I first saw it I wondered if the Chinese Embassy might have arranged for it to be parked there!

Their sign reads “Heaven destroy the Chinese Communist Party; Heaven bless China.” Good distinction there, I think.

Previously:

Now:

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Well done New Zealand, you are now the proud owners of the Linden train station.

They can’t even spell swear words right?

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