91
Security & Survival / Re: American Freedom and the Japanese Bushido Culture - One in the Same
« Last post by JohnyMac on October 21, 2025, 09:23:08 AM »Thank you Jackalope. 
Recent Posts
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Security & Survival / Re: American Freedom and the Japanese Bushido Culture - One in the Same
« Last post by Jackalope on October 21, 2025, 09:03:36 AM »Johny, you?ve written a very thoughtful and informative essay. Thank you for reminding us about the essence of liberty and how it is built upon discipline and self-reliance. Hopefully, the American Freedom Culture will continue to grow and flourish. We can?t return to the ?old? ways, but we can adapt and overcome. Be flexible when dealing with challenges , but also be steadfast in your beliefs.
Many problems still face our republic, but with the right attitude and a strong belief in God, we will prevail.
Many problems still face our republic, but with the right attitude and a strong belief in God, we will prevail.
93
Security & Survival / American Freedom and the Japanese Bushido Culture - One in the Same
« Last post by JohnyMac on October 20, 2025, 10:56:55 PM »When I was in high school back in the early '70s - 1970 to 1974, to be exact - we had a rifle team. That might sound strange to some folks today, but back then, it was just part of school life. We'd meet after class, shoulder our .22s, and learn the fine art of marksmanship - breathing control, trigger squeeze, discipline. It wasn't about violence. It was about responsibility. It was about pride. Looking back, I've come to realize that what we were really learning wasn't just how to shoot - we were learning what it means to be American.
When I say I grew up with this culture, I am not blowing smoke up your kilt lass. I remember being fifteen or sixteen, before I had a driver's license or even a parking pass at the high school, I would board the school bus with a long gun in a soft case. Sometimes it was my .22 for rifle team practice; other times it was a shotgun if I was heading over to a buddy's house after school where we would go small game hunting. I'd hand it over to the assistant principal for safekeeping, then pick it up at the end of the day. Folks today would blink twice at that - maybe call it crazy - but we treated it like a privilege. You handled that gun like you handled your honor: with care, with respect, and knowing you'd answer to your parents if you didn't. That bus, that office, that handoff - small acts, sure - but they were the everyday practice of a freedom culture: responsibility in private that keeps liberty safe in public.
Every great culture has a code. The Japanese had Bushido, the "way of the warrior." It wasn't just about fighting; it was about living with honor, discipline, and respect. The samurai carried the katana not as a weapon of conquest, but as a symbol of duty - a reminder that strength and virtue must go hand in hand.
Here in America, we've got our own version of that code. I like to call it the American Freedom Culture. Our "sword" isn't the katana - it's the firearm. It represents the same ideals: independence, craftsmanship, courage, and the willingness to take responsibility for your own safety and freedom.
The Gunsmiths of Liberty
From the old gunmakers in Easton and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to the craftsmen of Kentucky and Tennessee, America's early gunsmiths weren't just building tools - they were building freedom. Those Pennsylvania Long Rifles were the katanas of the frontier. They were elegant, accurate, and made by hand. Each one carried the mark of its maker, just like a sword signed by a Japanese smith.
Fast forward to today, and that tradition is alive and well. Modern gunsmiths - men and women working in garages, sheds, and small workshops - are still building rifles with the same care and pride. Eugene Stoner's AR-15 is a perfect example of how that spirit of innovation never died. Lightweight, modular, precise - it's the American rifle for a free people, designed by a man who understood the value of adaptability and craftsmanship.
More Than a Tool
Now, don't get me wrong - I'm not romanticizing violence. The firearm, like the sword of old, is a symbol. It's a reminder that freedom is something you must be prepared to defend, even if you never have to. Owning a firearm - and knowing how to use it safely and responsibly - is part of what keeps that spirit of independence alive. It's not about fear; it's about self-reliance and respect.
When we had rifle teams in schools, the message wasn't "be dangerous." The message was "be disciplined." It was about steady hands and clear minds. Those lessons stuck with a lot of us, even as the teams disappeared. The culture didn't die - it just changed shape. You see it today in the 4-H Shooting Sports programs, in local ranges, and in everyday Americans who still believe that citizenship means being capable, informed, and ready.
Our Way of the Warrior
The Japanese had Bushido. We have something just as meaningful - a way of life built around freedom, personal responsibility, and craftsmanship. Call it the American Freedom Culture if you want. I sure do.
Because at its heart, this isn't about politics or slogans. It's about a belief that liberty isn't given - it's earned. It's preserved by people who are willing to learn, to train, to build, and to stand up when it matters. The tools may be different - steel and powder instead of folded iron - but the spirit is the same. The American rifle, like the samurai's sword, reflects the character of the one who holds it. And if we ever forget that, we lose more than a skill - we lose part of who we are.
When I say I grew up with this culture, I am not blowing smoke up your kilt lass. I remember being fifteen or sixteen, before I had a driver's license or even a parking pass at the high school, I would board the school bus with a long gun in a soft case. Sometimes it was my .22 for rifle team practice; other times it was a shotgun if I was heading over to a buddy's house after school where we would go small game hunting. I'd hand it over to the assistant principal for safekeeping, then pick it up at the end of the day. Folks today would blink twice at that - maybe call it crazy - but we treated it like a privilege. You handled that gun like you handled your honor: with care, with respect, and knowing you'd answer to your parents if you didn't. That bus, that office, that handoff - small acts, sure - but they were the everyday practice of a freedom culture: responsibility in private that keeps liberty safe in public.
Every great culture has a code. The Japanese had Bushido, the "way of the warrior." It wasn't just about fighting; it was about living with honor, discipline, and respect. The samurai carried the katana not as a weapon of conquest, but as a symbol of duty - a reminder that strength and virtue must go hand in hand.
Here in America, we've got our own version of that code. I like to call it the American Freedom Culture. Our "sword" isn't the katana - it's the firearm. It represents the same ideals: independence, craftsmanship, courage, and the willingness to take responsibility for your own safety and freedom.
The Gunsmiths of Liberty
From the old gunmakers in Easton and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to the craftsmen of Kentucky and Tennessee, America's early gunsmiths weren't just building tools - they were building freedom. Those Pennsylvania Long Rifles were the katanas of the frontier. They were elegant, accurate, and made by hand. Each one carried the mark of its maker, just like a sword signed by a Japanese smith.
Fast forward to today, and that tradition is alive and well. Modern gunsmiths - men and women working in garages, sheds, and small workshops - are still building rifles with the same care and pride. Eugene Stoner's AR-15 is a perfect example of how that spirit of innovation never died. Lightweight, modular, precise - it's the American rifle for a free people, designed by a man who understood the value of adaptability and craftsmanship.
More Than a Tool
Now, don't get me wrong - I'm not romanticizing violence. The firearm, like the sword of old, is a symbol. It's a reminder that freedom is something you must be prepared to defend, even if you never have to. Owning a firearm - and knowing how to use it safely and responsibly - is part of what keeps that spirit of independence alive. It's not about fear; it's about self-reliance and respect.
When we had rifle teams in schools, the message wasn't "be dangerous." The message was "be disciplined." It was about steady hands and clear minds. Those lessons stuck with a lot of us, even as the teams disappeared. The culture didn't die - it just changed shape. You see it today in the 4-H Shooting Sports programs, in local ranges, and in everyday Americans who still believe that citizenship means being capable, informed, and ready.
Our Way of the Warrior
The Japanese had Bushido. We have something just as meaningful - a way of life built around freedom, personal responsibility, and craftsmanship. Call it the American Freedom Culture if you want. I sure do.
Because at its heart, this isn't about politics or slogans. It's about a belief that liberty isn't given - it's earned. It's preserved by people who are willing to learn, to train, to build, and to stand up when it matters. The tools may be different - steel and powder instead of folded iron - but the spirit is the same. The American rifle, like the samurai's sword, reflects the character of the one who holds it. And if we ever forget that, we lose more than a skill - we lose part of who we are.
95
Sustenance / Cider Pressing
« Last post by JohnyMac on October 20, 2025, 10:29:42 AM »My MAG and a few non MAG folks held our annual cider pressing gettogether on Saturday. We only had 10 bushels of apple to press as apples locally were hard to come by. Out of those apples we ended up with 7 gallons of cider.
Every couple brought a dish to pass and this years host smoked a brisket. MrsMac and I donated the brisket and I made two loaves of artesian onion bread in my Dutch Oven that we brought.
The weather was perfect. Sunny and in the high 50's with no rain. With free range children counted, we had about 18 folks. Due to prior commitments, we had 5 less participants than normal.
Here are a few pics
Every couple brought a dish to pass and this years host smoked a brisket. MrsMac and I donated the brisket and I made two loaves of artesian onion bread in my Dutch Oven that we brought.
The weather was perfect. Sunny and in the high 50's with no rain. With free range children counted, we had about 18 folks. Due to prior commitments, we had 5 less participants than normal.
Here are a few pics
96
General Discussion / Re: America's PSYOP
« Last post by JohnyMac on October 20, 2025, 08:41:42 AM »"Keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and keeping situational awareness at all times." A worthy plan Hope, that we should all be following.
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General Discussion / Re: America's PSYOP
« Last post by Hope on October 20, 2025, 07:32:41 AM »Psyop after psyop, we should trust nothing. I believe the god of this world, Satan, is calling the shots whether he is using the Cabal, Elites, Blackrock, Vanguard, Synagogue of Satan, Luciferians, Illuminati, Freemasons, and the list could go on and on. I believe there is no right or left, just one agenda disguised as light and dark, but all moving us toward the same goal. Yes, I believe Trump and his players are working for the dark side. Negative perspective, but it is where I fall. Keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and keeping situational awareness at all times.
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News & Politics / Re: No Kings Redux
« Last post by Jackalope on October 19, 2025, 05:51:23 PM » In the closest protest to my AO, in Crossville, TN, there were maybe 20-30 people. The anti-protesters numbered over 100. This is a very conservative area, and they don?t tolerate leftist liberals very well.
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News & Politics / Re: No Kings Redux
« Last post by JohnyMac on October 19, 2025, 04:29:33 PM »Two in my area of NE PA.
Montrose, PA. Susquehanna County Seat, <100 folks with many cars license plates being from NY not PA.
Honesdale, PA. Wayne County Seat. Similar here as in Montrose. Many of the folks were not locals.
Binghamton, NY. The closest major city to my AO, it was estimated by the local news that "hundreds" of protesters showed up. I had breakfast with a retired BPD LEO, and he told me that looking at an elevated level of folks on the local news, it was maybe 300 protesters and you couldn't tell if it was just curious onlookers or protesters.
I am sure in major Blue cities, there were a lot of folks that showed up, however out here in flyover country, not much interest. ✌
I just did a quick scan through the interwize and there are no guest-o-mates on attendees for larger Blue cities. If it was a large number there would have been more reporting on it.
Montrose, PA. Susquehanna County Seat, <100 folks with many cars license plates being from NY not PA.
Honesdale, PA. Wayne County Seat. Similar here as in Montrose. Many of the folks were not locals.
Binghamton, NY. The closest major city to my AO, it was estimated by the local news that "hundreds" of protesters showed up. I had breakfast with a retired BPD LEO, and he told me that looking at an elevated level of folks on the local news, it was maybe 300 protesters and you couldn't tell if it was just curious onlookers or protesters.
I am sure in major Blue cities, there were a lot of folks that showed up, however out here in flyover country, not much interest. ✌
I just did a quick scan through the interwize and there are no guest-o-mates on attendees for larger Blue cities. If it was a large number there would have been more reporting on it.
100
News & Politics / Re: No Kings Redux
« Last post by Sir John Honeybucket on October 19, 2025, 07:10:30 AM »Looks like the No Kings organizers just used the same event map from last time, accuracy neither needed nor desired. The few actualy activities looked more like a mini Grateful Dead convention than otherwise. Oh well, the right to protest is good. There is no right to riot and to burn, so this was a success.
Back to my toast and coffee.
Back to my toast and coffee.