So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

[Note: This "story" has been slightly modified from its original form, as an essay published in Free-Market.Net's FMNews.]

Yes, I know -- I've cribbed my title from Douglas Adams. But it's appropriate, given the subject of this essay and my continuing struggles to find my voice after the Supreme Court's ruling in the Hiibel case. And, unlike the Harvard professor, I'm admitting it freely, so it shouldn't come back to haunt me. ;-)

For those of you who may have forgotten, or didn't receive the last FM News, I wrote in part:

"The magnitude of the task before those of us who love freedom has been revealed, in the yawning indifference of Americans to this decision. I wonder how many of us are checking our 'Claire Wolfe clocks', and saying something like, 'Wow -- how did it get to be half-past time to shoot the bastards without me noticing?'

"On June 21 the Supreme Court killed any pretense that may have remained of protecting the Constitution, and thereby U.S. citizens, from abuse at the hands of the state. And most of America scratched, belched, and turned on the TV.

"It's too early to say, but my optimism may have died that day too. I hope not, but for now, I continue to be speechless in response to the trends in the U.S."

To clarify, I wasn't -- and am not -- feeling burned out (been there, done that already). I simply didn't know what, if anything, I could do to advance freedom effectively in the face of such apathy. I still don't have the answer to that question, but thanks to an unexpected gift, I have decided on a new direction.

The "gift" came to me under the guise of more work. Vin Suprynowicz had completed the draft of his first novel, and asked me for critical feedback. The dead-tree version I received being a seriously hefty thing, I procrastinated starting it. But finally, I sat down and picked up the first page ...

... and was almost immediately immersed into the world Vin has created in The Black Arrow. Yes, it's a "how-to" novel for liberty lovers, but it's unlike most I've read. For starters, the novel is truly that -- a story first and foremost. It's a stylish and complex one, at that. His characters are not cardboard cutouts or John Galt wannabes; they're realistic and they deal with life's problems while they're out to bring down the state. Much of the information and examples presented as the "how-to" component is solid.

As I read the early chapters of The Black Arrow, I became increasingly restless, until the tears started to flow. After some reflection, I realized that I've been saying too much, and doing too little, with respect to my efforts for freedom. While reading the book, I became inspired to write again, but have been waiting until the time was right to compose this essay.

This is, as the title suggests, my farewell FM News. I have resigned from Free-Market.Net in order to explore other paths to freedom. Lest I implicate all you readers in a "conspiracy" with me, I won't say more on those other paths here, except to assure you that I've not given up the cause of freedom. Another thing that The Black Arrow reinforced for me was that as long as I'm drawing breath, I will not -- I cannot -- give up that cause.

I don't intend this as a commercial for The Black Arrow, but it remains nonetheless accurate to give it -- and Vin's wordsmithing talents -- a lot of credit in providing inspiration and motivation to me at a very difficult time. I suspect Vin wouldn't object, though, if I include a link for those of you interested in ordering the book.

To those of you who've taken the time to respond to my essays -- in this space and elsewhere -- I appreciate you giving my thoughts your time, and sharing yours in return. To all of you who've worked to educate, advocate, agitate, and otherwise advance liberty, I offer you my sincere and deep gratitude. Never give up, and never give in -- keep doing freedom!