The Rifleman  

[Comment] I’ve attended one Appleseed and I see how Appleseed could be part of solving our nation’s crises. Appleseed may even be the tipping point in the fight to halt, or even reverse, the ever growing infringements on our right to bear arms. However, I don’t see how Appleseed can change the values and minds of a significant number of citizens. Creating riflemen does change minds, but probably only slightly, in most cases. We need a complete overhaul of all major institutions in the nation (schools, media outlets, courts, legislatures, etc.) to teach and honor values that perpetuate liberty. Perhaps, in time, changing schools and families would be enough to begin to trickle the joy of liberty out to all the other institutions.

Nonetheless, you’ve motivated me to participate in your plan, but I’d like to hear more about how creating riflemen can significantly alter the values of the nation. I just don’t see a strong connection between creating riflemen and, essentially, creating libertarians (with a small “l” so I don’t necessarily mean the party, though that would help a great deal). [end of Comment]

Glad to hear from you, and glad you’ve decided to participate.

Sure, “changing schools and families” would prob do it - but how do you do that?

We’re doing it, by changing the people who underlie schools and families.

Here’s an expanded version of an article I recently put in Shotgun News as an explanation of the concept of how marksmanship can save a nation:

Can marksmanship ’save’ a nation?

It sure can!

Particularly, the way Appleseed teaches it.

Even if you piddle with the definition of ‘save’.

Certainly, in a physical sense, it can be the difference - witness numerous instances in this country’s history, right from the first, when a single well-aimed shot turned history around - and many well-aimed shots earned our freedom, and helped us keep it, down thru the centuries.

Japanese admiral Yamamoto supposedly explained the Japanese failure to invade this country by opining it wouldn’t be healthy, as behind every blade of grass would be a rifle.

That may not be the real reason for the absence of any intention by the Japanese to invade the continental US, but if the war had turned out differently at Midway, who knows how far Nippon was willing to go? “Victory disease” creates a fever of grandiose plans, and they may have tried it…

But we don’t face, at least at present, any serious threat from a traditional foreign invasion.

So what about the other dimension of ‘saving’ - of creating a moral change which would result in a stronger country?

In my mind there’s no question on that score: marksmanship can ‘save’ this nation.

Learn how to shoot, to become part of the American tradition of the Rifleman, and you will become a different person. An American. Not a couch-sitting, complaining, sleeping, worthless Doofus Americanus…

That alone would be worth it - all that personal improvement.

Yet reflect that a nation is only as strong as its people make it.

And you begin to understand: Anything which makes Americans better and stronger has the power to ‘save’ a nation - if it makes a stronger America, morally.

“Getting off the couch” to come to an Appleseed is the first step on the road to self-improvement. The skills you learn will be lifetime skills.

The stuff you learn about your heritage will be lifetime motivation not to let that heritage down - or let it die.

The people you meet at AS will become life-long friends.

Your current friends? You’ll feel the need to get THEM to an Appleseed, so they turn into worthy Americans, just like you. It’s tough to hang around unworthy Americans - bad for your karma, and leads to contempt, despising, and worse. So, yes, you’ll want your friend to be “Appleseeders”, too…

For some people, Appleseed is about HOPE.

In the face of the coming future, you can argue anything which gives you ‘hope’ is worthy for that reason alone - and deserves your support for that reason alone.

But for some Appleseed is a much-needed shot-in-the-arm with the message YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Yes, there are other Americans out there. Honest, concerned, off-the-couch-bailing Americans.

Yes, it’s possible, by all working together, we can stop the ship from sinking.

Yes, there’s a plan, a program, a strategy to save this nation - and all we need to add to it is the efforts of all our shoulders.

Heck, we even have the gall to set a timetable for measuring our progress…

Do we require guarantees? Do we need to know, before we start to push the wagon, that we can get it out of the rut? Or save the sinking ship?

Only if we think we are better than the founders…

Who picked up muskets and went for the redcoats, with NO assurances, no guarantees, no promises of any kind - only the shining goal of liberty, and the dark image of a darker future lying before them.

So, we don’t need guarantees. We see the task, we step up, and, knowing the stakes, bend every effort, to get the job done.

Simple as that.

This is a program YOU want to make a success.

The founders (John Adams in particular) clearly pointed out the American Revolution was a revolution in thinking - a revolution in hearts and minds.

What is Appleseed about, but creating that revolution once more?

We (re)create it by exposing our fellow citizens to a history and heritage which the mere exposure to makes them quickly understand how precious that history and heritage is, and the value and need to make sure it doesn’t disappear on their (our) watch.

Sure, you better help us out!

It’s the only hope most of us have for changing the future.

The ONLY hope.

The only HOPE.

Here’s an easy thing you can do, to help make Appleseed the success it needs to be: Make a list of all your friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors - everyone you know. Systematically go down the list, talking to each person about Appleseed, and the need to go to one of our 400+ locations this year (maybe you’ll show up at your first Appleseed with a carload - that’d be great). Time is short, and it’s not on our side. We have a nation to save…and a nation waiting, which needs saving…