Of course I know that Lincoln would have freed no one if that would have preserved the Union - but I submit that Vermonters were not fighting for Lincoln - they WERE fighting to end the abominable stain of slavery. Consorting with neo-Confederates is shameful, as is Lincoln revisionism, and only flatlanders without genuine Vermont roots could be blind to that shame.
Equally destructive to our credibility has been adherence to the 9/11 “truth” fad. 9/11 conspiracism is totally alien to the sober mindset of most Vermonters, and indeed virtually all of the central tenants of truthers have been thoroughly refuted. Look up building 7, stock trades, Marvin Bush, “free fall” speed, Shankesville etc. etc. etc. on web sites that are NOT part of the conspiracist echo chamber and you’ll discover the lotus of conspiracism is based on ignorance, gullibility, and a mountain of logical fallacies.
Fortunately 9/11 “truth” is already going the way of Kennedy assassination conspiracism, Area 51 idiocy, and worries about the Illiminati. Secessionist leaders - including contributers to the online editions Vermont Commons - who have painted themselves into a corner with 9/11 conspiracism need to start repairing the damage by focusing on Vermont concerns, rather than trying to fix the United States.
Vermont first, Vermont foremost. And let Vermont independence be our only cause. Perhaps the time has come for a Republic of Vermont secessionist legislature to be formed, to inaugurate a leadership that will formulate real political policy? Let us form specific committees to focus on issues. Let us move toward unifying local currency projects into a national Vermont currency, by petitioning those organizations. How might we work on officially changing the flag of Vermont, to strengthen our national identity, under the flag of the First Republic?
I don’t pretend to know what’s practical or can really be done, but I do think a Vermont first strategy aimed at taking positive, proactive local steps needs to be our priority. We've preached to the choir long enough, what actions can we take? We’ve embarked on a very long march toward the goal of establishing a nation state that lives within its means, respects other peoples, and treads lightly on the environment. One hundred years from now our descendants will see us as either prescient, or as babbling idiots. Which shall it be my friends? Which shall it be?
Marc Awodey,
Burlington
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