Support from Afar

I'll keep this one short since it's personal. I have a fan in Thailand who owns one of my Liberty drawings. He recently got it framed and sent me the photo and a short blog post. I just wanted to say thanks, and give a link to his blog which I find interesting. Last October, we did an interview, which you can find here.

I'm glad to know there are still people out there who understand what Liberty means and are helping spread the word. Thanks Gary Dale and good luck.

I've been busy lately

Here is a hodge podge of things I have been reading, writing, or working on the last week:

The Day Racism Died, by Jay @ The Break Room This is an editorial on President Obama's recent comments, which he later retracted to a degree, regarding the actions of a police officer doinghis job. Most of you here know how I feel about Obam, so I will leave you with the article.

A series of work @ Big Hollywood by Scott Graves: Warhol, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 Let me say this: "I can't stand Warhol's work". However, this series of articles raises some good questions about art. marketing, philosophy, and our future as Conservatives (those of us who are) in the creative industries. If you have time, read the whole series and chip in on the comments. I found it worth the time.

A Contradictory Exhibit of Art in Search of Dialogue an article about an art show I attended recently. Those of you who are artists or members of the larger art community should be fore warned: I have very strict guidelines for what I consider art, particularly good art. You may be offended by my opinions. Keep in mind that art is subjective, and opinion is opinion. I definitely have a bias, given my treatment by the art community. When people start telling you to tone it down a bit so you can sell your work, you tend to get a little offensive.
To the rest of you, enjoy. This article is particularly appropriate in conjunction with the Warhol series.

Socialized Medicine, A Crisis We can't Afford to Ignore

I have been absent from the blog most of this week, because I have been trying to fight the upcoming Health Care 'Reform' bill. As many of you know, this bill will do nothing to improve the health care industry or curb costs. It is just as cumbersome, invasive, and regulatory as any other socialized program. With the programs in Cuba, England and Canada crashing down upon their heads, one has to wonder why our own government would attempt to foist the same monstrosity upon us. It amounts to the same thing that it always does with government programs - power. This is not about choices, options, improvement or the common good. It is about the government telling you what you can have, when you can have it, and at what point your life becomes economically unfeasible. Even the New York Times is giving some of the opposing information without their typical spin.
Yesterday, I attended a rally at my Senator's office. For those of you who don't live in my district, Saxby Chambliss is one of those worthless 'Conservative' turncoats who does enough to get re-elected, then leaves us twisting in the wind. I have yet to understand why he continues to win re-election after voting for the Medicare Prescription Entitlement bill, the Bush Stimulus that led to the Socialism of the banking and auto industries, and various affirmative action bills. He is also a proud proponent of Congressional pork and bi-partisan efforts to help the less fortunate. In short, he is a Blue Dog Democrat who signed up with the Republicans because he's too 'moderate' for the Progressives and Liberals running the Democrat Party. Even so, the old ladies at the rally yesterday were crooning about how 'he's got our backs on this one" because he's a 'Conservative'. I guess if you repeat a lie enough times, it becomes an acceptable imitation of the truth.
Chambliss's office sent a representative, Mr. Kendall, out to speak to us, so we wouldn't crowd the reception area. Although we met outside the building in the courtyard, we were informed by the representative and security, that we were to move from the area to a park across the street. We were not being loud or unruly, and there were not enough of us to crowd the space, but he was just doing his job so we complied. Conveniently, the park was not only across the street, but below street level, so we were effectively invisible at that point. When the representative from Chambliss's office came down with the security guard to speak to us they looked as though they were nervous. Maybe they're not used to protests, or they have an overblown perception of how people behave, because I don't find a crowd of senior citizens with two moms and a toddler threatening. Maybe the fact that they made us stand out in the sun for an hour before giving us 10 minutes to ask questions had something to do with it. Or perhaps, we looked like a bunch of homegrown terrorists. Your guess is as good as mine.
To be fair, Mr. Kendall, did offer to take us up to the office, but insisted there wouldn't be enough room for us all. He also brought us water - thanks. So, we finally put the question to Mr. Kendall: Does Senator Chambliss support or oppose this bill? Mr. Kendall's response was that he opposes it, but I suspect he is only giving us half the answer. That may be the true reason for his nervous demeanor - Chambliss's record does not support the assertion that he will oppose the bill if he is offered something he wants in return. The other reason I smell a rat on this is the lack of response I have received from their office on this issue. I have sent several letters recently on various issues, and health care is the only one they did not respond to.All of this is bad enough, but this morning I got an article from regarding the Health Care Bill. It says that Obama has given up his attempt to get 60 votes on the bill and instead has decided to use the budget reconciliation procedures to push it through with 50. I'm not an expert on how this works, so please do your homework and verify this claim. Then, do whatever you can to raise awareness of this new tactic to ram government health care we don't want down our throats.
For information on the body of the as well as those not yet up for a vote, please visit the Library of Congress
For information on the voting record of you Congressmen, please visit Project Vote Smart

My thoughts on Liberty

This article is my effort, on the 4th, to remind you why America is great, who fights for us, and what we need to do to preserve the founding principles for future generations.

Some New Drawings

I am working on a series of drawings for a show with my friend Alvaro. Hopefully we will be on display somewhere in Atlanta by the end of the year.
These drawings are from my Liberty Series and the photos were taken by Alvaro. We try to get together a few times a month to talk politics and art and inspire/push one another to get more art out into the world.
Alvaro has work going on display at MOCA GA soon. More details to come.

A Little Promotion for My Husband

As some of you may know, my husband recently launched The Break Room at Machine Politick to promote his writing. We are in the process of getting his first book ready to self-publish. I am currently working on ideas for the cover art, and we hope it will be out in time for Christmas. The link above is for his recent commentary on Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You may be able to guess that he will have something snarky to say. He is, after all, my husband.

An Unexpected Visit and the Encouragement it Brought

This article may not be interesting to those of you who enjoy my political posts, but it's nice to have something positive to write about. I had an unexpected visit yesterday, and I would like to take a minute to share the story.
Occaisionally, people contact me via email to let me know they like my artwork. At this point in my career, that is a huge encouragement. Better still, are the people who check in on me regularly to ask how I am doing and let me know they keep up with the blogs. In an age of computer driven anonymity, it is nice to know people care enough to reach out and encourage one another. This is how I first met Laura, who is a dance instructor from Brooklyn. The main focus of her program is to pass on family histories and personal experiences through the medium of dance.
As it turns out, she was on a road trip with her sister's family this week, from New Hampshire to Texas. I received an email from Laura on Monday night asking if my work was available for viewing. She wanted to 'stop off' in Atlanta on her way home if I didn't mind. Seeing as how my work is just hanging around the house, I said come on by. To be honest, I didn't expect her to call me. However, yesterday afternoon, Laura called to say she was heading to Atlanta, and would like directions to my house.I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet Laura, and not just because she likes my work. She is an interesting and intelligent woman who faces many of the same obstacles I do. Imagine being a dance instructor in the Northeast, surrounded by Liberals, while being politically Conservative in your views.
Needless to say, our common experiences led to a lengthy conversation on how we can make a place for like-minded people in the arts.Luckily, Christopher and I have already laid the groundwork here at Liberatchik. Being at the forefront of a movement is a very demanding, and sometimes lonely, endeavor. I spend long hours on the computer, away from my family and my art. However, meeting Laura, and seeing her enthusiasm for my work and ideas is all the encouragement I need to persevere. Who knows how many other people are out there, with the same passions and vision, who are afraid to be openly political with their Liberal friends.
I hope that I will soon have the opportunity to introduce Laura to you as well, through Liberatchik. I feel that she will be a wonderful addition to our team.

This article is cross posted @ Liberatchik

Letters from MoveOn: What Would Obama Have Us Change?

Obama: "My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."
From Daniel Mintz @ MoveOn.org: "Want to see what Change looks like? Real Change? ...Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget - his and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a 'fundamentally new course'. ...President Obama called his new budget a 'threat to the status quo'. ...Unfortunately, most people don't realize how far-reaching and progressive this plan will be - that's where we all come in. Sunday, March 1, 2009.Now, to my point.
What would Obama have us change about 'the greatest nation in the history of the world'?
Would he like us to cease being the land of the free and home of the brave? I think we know the answer to that, don't we?
Would he have us turn our back on the Constitution and the founding principles of America? We're already pretty far down that road without his help.
Would he have us turn our back on the free market and the opportunities available to those who are willing to work hard and prosper? You do realize equality brings us all down to the same level, rather than creating prosperity?
I know he would have us become a Democracy, subject to mob rule, rather than a Republic. When the parasites can control the income and property rights of the achievers, the end is not far off.
Would Obama have us stop our charitable contributions and mission work on behalf of the less fortunate? No, he simply wants control over the definition of needy and the power to distribute our money for his own gains.
Would he have us reduce our military force and weaken our defense against terrorists? Absolutely.
Would he infringe on our civil liberties in ways Bush and Clinton never dreamed of? You bet.
Would he have us surrender our time, money, and property in the name of equality and service to our fellow man? He has said so on many occaisions.
Would he ruin the economy in the pursuit of his concept of fairness? He said that too.
Would he cripple businesses in a quest to end global warming and income inequality? Yes on both points.
Would he turn America from one of the most prosperous countries in the world, to one of the least? Yep.
I have one more question for you: Do you want to stand idly by, while he takes advantage of the successful marketing campaign MoveOn is running on his behalf, or do you want to organize and recruit a truly Conservative opposition? It won't be easy, and it won't happen immediately, but it can happen. The fool's gold looses its luster when the fools realize it won't buy bread and milk for their kids or pay the mortgage.
In closing, I'll leave you with a couple of quotes.
"...His silver tongue seemed tied in knots when he was asked why, despite his promises to cut the deficit, projections have it rising dramatically - trillions beyond what his own office estimates.The true answer is that Obama wants to spend far more than the nation can afford, even with his huge tax hikes. And the more his plans become clear, the less convincing is his claim that they are all tied to the economic crisis." Center for Individual Freedom; Friday, March 27, 2009. Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News

"Obama has surely set the tone for the unfolding riot of Liberal hubris. In his effort to reprise the sort of expression of Liberal power we saw in the Thirties and Sixties, Obama has - without a whiff of self-doubt - committed America to $65 Trillion in extra debt, $65 Billion for each one of his first 1oo days, and that's based on an impossibly rosy forecast of the economy. No wonder Congressional Democrats clamor to take over corporations, tax the air we breath, and set wages for everybody." Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online Editor at Large
Before you accuse me of only criticizing and providing Conservative 'talking points', go to the source of my inspiration: Obama's BluePrint for Change.
This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Public Service article at Liberatchik

Your Obligation to Your Fellow Man is Penance for Your Success

I received emails this week from Barack and Michelle, reminding me of my obligation to 'serve the less fortunate'. From the way they talk, you would think I had committed crimes against humanity because I have worked hard and made sacrifices. You see, they consider people like me lucky because I have things others do not. I suppose the irony of their having more than I do has escaped them. Of course, that's different. I'm a white person who doesn't share their views, so they see me as part of the problem, not an active participant in the solution. I am a golden hen to be slaughtered for my 'riches' in order to support their constituents.
I received emails from the fices of Barack and Michelle on the 22nd and 24th of this month, respectively. Here are just a few of the admonishments and veiled accusations contained in their letters

...."I announced United We Serve - a nationwide call to service, challenging you and all Americans to volunteer this summer...and when I say all, I mean everyone...The First Lady is rolling up her sleeves and getting to work too, but before she does, she has this message for you"...

"We aim to make a real difference right now and bring more Americans into a tradition of life-long service to make an even greater difference down the road... There's an old Thomas Edison quote I've always l liked: 'Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.'...And I believe the chance to serve is a precious gift indeed... As a parent, I think service is a great way to demonstrate values and teach our children firsthand what it means to commit to a purpose beyond ourselves... It should be part of everyone's life. From the moment someone can walk to the day they leave this planet, service should be a part of how we give back, ...how we express gratitude for the lives that we've been given..."

It's time to roll up YOUR sleeves. Not the Obamas', although they are pretending that they will be right there beside us, working to 'improve' America. Not Congress'; they're too busy meeting lobbyists and screwing us over. Not people on the government dole, they'll be on the receiving end of our labor. Not charitable institutions, which are the appropriate organizations to handle community service. US. The productive members of society who are already working hard to make America great. We're supposed to feel guilty for our success and 'good luck'.
We couldn't possibly have worked hard to get where we are. We can't claim to have made sacrifices if they were made for our own benefit or advancement. We are to believe that the only way we contribute to society is by helping those less fortunate, and the only way to do so successfully is under the guidance of government.
As with all of my posts in this Letters series, this is an insight into the mindset of the Progressive. By themselves, these letters are inoffensive in the context in which I receive them. They are being sent out to like-minded drones who are eager to be part of the cool crowd. Some of the underlying points are valid. The problem arises when you examine the larger picture. The Obama's and their ilk don't think we do enough. They think we have an obligation to serve their purposes and they have the authority to enforce their agenda regardless of our willingness to participate.
It is offensive inn the suggestion that they have the right to set standards for our lives. They clearly feel that they have the authority to compel free individuals to serve someone else's needs. By their standards, our lives, property, time and labor are theirs to dispense with and our children are servants to their Progressive agenda.
This sort of thing happened in Germany once. Are you paying attention?

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

The James Allen Show: A Review

I have recently been introduced to the James Allen Show, and subsequently, have decided to write a review. It is nice to come across a fellow Conservative who is spreading the messages of Limited Government and Individual Liberty. James was also sure to point out on his show and blog, that these are things that come with increased individual responsibility. I couldn't agree more. These are all principles and philosophical truths that must be backed up by fact, rather than fear-mongering or half-truths. Points on which James and I seem to agree.
In my time listening to James' show and perusing his blog, I have seen strong support for the following principles: the necessity for and significance of the Constitution and the checks and balances it places on the government, the importance of morality, the absolute necessity for the use of reason as opposed to relativity, individual responsibility, and the illegitimacy of fear-mongering as a method of influence or political interaction. On the first point, James makes a clear defense of the Constitution as a document written in stone, with the sole purpose of maintaining separation of and limitation on government powers. He defends its place in our society by backing up the role it plays in guaranteeing our individual rights and establishing a rule of law. James does a very good job defining the term 'morality', as well as explaining the importance of having a standard by which to judge our own actions as well as those of others. This point relates closely to the next, which is the importance of reason. Without a clear standard of right and wrong, we cannot expect others to adopt our morality. The use of reason, the practice of backing up our statements with fact, and avoiding emotional reactionism are all practices that help us to interact in a civil fashion.

James clearly has a very deep faith in God, coupled with the ability to accept disbelief in others. His goal seems to be reaching out to others and showing the virtues of his beliefs, rather than pressuring others to accept them. Not being a religious person myself, I find that I am able to approach this subject from an unbiased and non dogmatic point of view. I have great respect for people of faith, who in turn, respect my lack of faith.

In conclusion, I will leave you with 2 points that I found most striking in James' work: 1.The battles we fight reflect what we value.

2.We must present a world view that includes the critical use of reason.

Thanks James, for an informative and enlightening program. To those of you reading this, I encourage you to give him your attention.

This entry will be cross posted at ModernConservative.

Outting the Progressive Agenda

I decided to shed a little light on something I learned about recently. It's called Camp MoveOn. Here is a quick synopsis for those of you who don't have time to follow the link to Liberatchik.

This series in general (Letters from MoveON.), and this post specifically, were inspired by an e-mail I received recently from MoveOn.org. In an effort to make Conservatives aware of the demons we face in the battle for America and our culture, I am writing articles based on these e-mails. Each one will include some portion of the email, the date I received it, and my concerns and opinions as a result of the message being sent.

This article is addressing an upcoming event in the following cities: Atlanta, Philadelphia and Denver. It is being called Camp MoveOn, and is asking us to "host a member who is coming (to our city) for exciting grassroots leadership training". I couldn't possibly make up this kind of thing, so I will torture you with some more excerpts from the email before launching into my own tirade on the subject.

"...We're working with the same folks behind 'Camp Obama', one of the secrets behind the Obama campaign's effective organizing. ..."

On the surface, all of this seems inoffensive and well within the realm of civil organization. When you scratch the surface, and put it in context with the other emails I am receiving, it seems much less pleasant. We all know, by the way, that George Soros is a huge contributor to MoveOn, and he has made statements to the effect that he will do everything in his power to ruin the US. Last, allow me to point out that the Tea Party participants are being ridiculed and berated for openly protesting government waste, while these people are using an underground movement to approach and influence people in their homes. If a Conservative or Libertarian group were behind this, I wouldn't have had the honor of spilling the beans.

In Economic Hard Times, the Government's Solution is to Waste Money

Harry Reid wants you to pay for subsidies to the tourism industry. I won't go into too much detail on this because the title is self-explanatory. I will simply include the short letter I sent in response:

I oppose any legislation to support government funding of any business or industry. Like the bailouts and the nationalization of banks and auto dealers, this is a gross violation of the Constitution. Put simply, it is wealth redistribution and fiscal irresponsibility at a time when the government should be cutting waste.

Ignorance is an Amazing Thing

The following is from my recent article on Liberatchik:

...The shirt reads: Freedom is great. While, on the surface, that seems innocuous and easily defensible, let me address the reason it irks me. This woman, having voted for Obama, has no true concept of freedom. Putting the shirt on a child who will bear the burden of paying the bill and suffering the consequences of his mother's vote is the irony. I hesitate to call it cruel, because I don't believe she is knowingly selling her child into serfdom, but it is certainly ignorant. Further, Obama and the current Congress have no interest in Americans being free.
In closing, I will leave you with an excerpt and a link. The fact that this is coming out of Russia should scare the pants off of you.

..."The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record-setting, not just in America's short history, but in the world. If this keeps up for more than a year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe. ...The proud American will go down into his slavery without a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker."

This quote is an excerpt from an article by Stanislav Mishin @ Pravda.RU

Graphic Novels aren't Just for Kids Anymore

This week's featured artist at Liberatchik is a graphic novelist named Bosch Fawstin. Much of his work deals with the subjects of terrorism and Islam. As an illustrator, I have an appreciation of his technical abilities above the aesthetic of the work or the story line, both of which are amazing on their own. The clean, bold imagery of his characters is reminiscent of WWII propaganda posters. Having an affinity for that aesthetic, I am drawn to his work.
Fawstin's message is both patriotic and aggressive. He makes no apologies for his opinions, nor should he. The facts back up his position. In an artistic genre that often glorifies anarchy and belittles the 'evils of capitalism', Fawstin's work stands apart. He has created a hero for the 21st century with a clear vision of morality and justice. His work supports freedom, pays tribute to our troops who fight on our behalf, and shreds the propaganda in defense of Islamic terrorism...

The Making of an Art Movement.

Now that the Decarationist Movement and Liberatchik have launched, I thought people might like to know how we got started. Christopher of Modern Conservative contacted me via email late last year, and together, we have combined our creative talents and our passion for freedom to build this site. As we add new members, the face of the project may change, but the underlying philosophy and goals will remain constant - Liberty is superior to tyranny; the State is our enemy; Freedom of Speech includes all points of view; individuals, not government, are the creators of wealth and freedom...

To read more, visit Liberatchik.

Thanks to Daily Uprising

I'd like to pass on a short article at Daily Uprising. They were kind enough to put up a link for Liberatchik without being asked. It feels good to know people are out there supporting us.

Declarationist Art for Libertarians and Conservatives

New Posts @ ModCon

Here we go again. Obama, the great promise of Change, Hope, and an end to racial tension proves himself to be just another Socialist hack. We all know nothing he said about equality and diversity on the campaign trail was true, so I'll get to the point. His recent Supreme Court nominee is proof, yet again, that he has no intention of following the rule of law or adhering to the Constitution. I will provide a link to Sotomayor's quote, because I have no interest in addressing that in great detail at this point. I will go so far as to say that her comments were not, by definition, racist; but no less disturbing for that fact.
If you care about individual Liberty, you should fear her for reasons I will address in a future article. On to the point of this post. The art for this week's featured slot on our page is by Alvaro Alvillar. It is an installation that addresses the issue of racism in America. In particular, it addresses the fact that it is universally acceptable to be racist against whites while speaking of diversity and ending racism. It speaks also to the victim mentality and the power wielded in it's defense that is the driving force behind the acceptance of blaming whites and holding them to a different standard than 'minorities'. Finally, it addresses the political power gained by the use of these tactics as well as the guilt many whites feel as a result.

As promised, I am back to explain the real issue behind Obama's nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Everyone under the sun is going on about her remarks being racist. Because they were not, in fact racist, the entire argument has been rendered invalid. Her comments were, however, inappropriate as well as revealing of a larger and more important issue. She is clearly more interested in ruling based on her feelings and opinions rather than the rule of law and that should be the reason to oppose her nomination.
I don't think her feelings or experiences make her any more qualified for the position than her race. These are not even subjects we should be discussing when nominating a judge to the Supreme Court. We should be examining her record as a judge and the fairness of her rulings as defined by law. She should neither be influenced by international opinion, nor foreign law. The Supreme Court is a branch of the United States government, not a tool for promoting globalism.

For those of you who have not heard, Liberatchik has launched with the help of ModernConservative.com. Please take a minute to check it out and learn more about the Declarationist Art Movement now under way. We have recently been joined by some very talented artists. Weekly updates are made to feature Conservative art, music and film. Links are also provided to our signatory artists. New articles a posted 3 or more times a week, which is why I have become scarce around here. Finally, we are working on a FaceBook page. I hope you like what we're doing, and invite you to join us. Any level of help or support is greatly appreciated.

Integrity

"Integrity can neither be lost nor concealed nor faked nor quenched nor artificially come by nor outlived, nor, I believe in the long run, denied." Eudora Welty

A good friend of mine sent me this quote one day as a compliment. I'm not sure if I always live up to it, but I do the best I can. This is a difficult path I've chosen, although I wouldn't have it any other way. I work very hard, and it helps to know that someone has so much faith in my efforts and abilities.I am not just an artist, although that can be difficult enough. I am a political artist, which sometimes makes people uncomfortable or angry. I am also a Conservative, which is a very unpopular viewpoint in the art community. That is why I have teamed up with Modern Conservative to start the Declarationist Art Movement and Liberatchik. We want to create a place where artists, like myself, from all genres can come together for support and encouragement. We are creating a place where we can be recognized for our talents, but more importantly, supported in our ideals. All of this is being done with the goal of creating a larger community, awareness by the average American, and eventually patronage by those who are willing and able to help us in our endeavors. I look forward to the day when artists can express their thoughts through their talents - openly, and uncensored.
Meanwhile, I am a mom and wife. I struggle to balance my passion for my art and politics with my love for my family. My days can be long sometimes, and I often want to take a break. Sometimes, I don't feel like staying up late to write. I just want to paint, or sleep, or play with my son. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be blogging regularly. It's time consuming, requires me to be on the computer instead of painting, and I didn't consider myself to be a writer. Then Christopher approached me with this project, and within 6 months, we've launched it. Currently, I'm working on a guidebook and planning to set aside time to start approaching other artists.This project isn't just about me or Christopher. Yes, I want to make a living from my work. I can't continue to work on this project or stay home to paint without money. However, I know from experience how hard it is to get started as an artist. I hope I can help and inspire other artists out there to get involved and be active politically as well as artistically. I genuinely believe that the future of our country is being shaped by media, culture and the arts. Marketing is everywhere and influences everything we do on a subconscious level. If we are to combat the Liberal stranglehold on entertainment and our culture, we have to fight back on a creative level.
I know from speaking to people that they want to be entertained by something meaningful. They want art that they like because they agree with it, not because it's the latest trend. They want to see movies that don't stereotype them as evil, listen to music that doesn't berate them, and see to a comedian who isn't insulting and demeaning them. We can give it to them. It takes the simple qualities of strength and integrity to take the first step in that direction. Stand tall, make a statement, back it up with facts, and have the strength to stand firm. One step at a time; we can do this.
If you are an artist, who shares our views, get in touch with me. You can participate openly, or not. Just knowing you are there is encouraging. If you know someone in the arts who qualifies, send them the link. We'd love to see their work and get in touch with them. If you know people who collect art, and share our views, let them know we are here. Word of mouth is one of our biggest tools. Once we have the support, we can start organizing shows and raising awareness on a grand scale. In the meantime, I am working with my friend Alvaro to put on a show. I'll keep you updated as we get closer to achieving that goal. Thanks to all of you who are showing your support for us before we are 'cool'. We greatly appreciate it.

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Why do we honor our soldiers?

The answer is simple. We honor them because they keep us free. Regardless of how you perceive the government, the brave people who defend our freedoms deserve our thanks. On Memorial Day, I would like to leave you with some quotes from the Declaration of Independence to remind you why they fight, and why America is great.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. ...

On Memorial Day

Flags by Alvaro Alvillar

In honor of Memorial Day, I am posting some of Alvaro's flags. My sloppy photography does not do them justice. However, I am fortunate enough to own Hope and Honor, and I can tell you no photo could do them justice. I am posting them as tribute to all of our fallen soldiers, those still serving, and those who have returned to civilian life. Thank you for your service. It is greatly appreciated. I am thankful for the freedom you have preserved.

This tribute is cross posted on Liberatchik