A personal note - Supposed vanity and the First Amendment

Vain (adj.), Vanity (noun)

1. having no real value: idle, worthless (vain pretensions)
2. marked by futility or ineffectualness: unsuccessful, useless (vain efforts to escape)
3. archaic: foolish, silly
4. having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements: conceited

It's recently come to light that some of the things I've posted here may have turned some people off or somehow infuriated them.

Some people imply that somehow I've misled them and that, because of the political concerns I have written about here, I'm not everything I presented myself to be.

I have even been accused of being guilty of "blogging vanity."

Well, I'd like to address that, starting with the last statement.

Vanity. Worthless. Undue pride. Futile.

I don't think so.

I have never once asked for anything here and have never once tried to sell or solicit anything. I have simply shared what has worked for me. In fact, I've given quite a lot of stuff away for free. Recipes. Projects. Ideas.

But everything I've ever given away has always been with a caveat - your mileage may vary.

Take what you want and leave the rest.

I've never held myself out to be an expert. I'm not an expert. I'm not a chef. I've never had any culinary training, other than watching my grandmother in the kitchen. I'm not an agronomist. I'm not a professional farmer or gardener. I'm not an economist, but I do have some inside knowledge of the credit industry. I'm not a political expert, but I have read and studied the Constitution.

I have never looked for "attaboys" or written any of this just to have my ego stroked. I've just enjoyed doing these things and wanted to share my love of pseudo-homesteading with the world. I know that a lot of people my age (early thirties) never really learned how to cook. We grew up in an age of instant and microwave meals. I thought I'd share some basic cooking ideas in the hopes that maybe somebody somewhere might give it a try themselves. Kind of an "if I can do it, anybody can do it" sort of thing.

If you like what I've shared, great. I'm glad you enjoy it.

If you don't like what I've shared, all I can say is that there are plenty of other places to visit out there in the blogosphere. I hope you find one that is more suited to your tastes.

As for my political opinions, I do not and will not apologize for them. To do so would be un-American.

I am an American. I was born and raised here. My great-grandfather was an Irish immigrant. On my grandmother's side, my family has been here since before the American revolution. One of my great-grandfathers (I forgot how many generations back) was a private in the Spartan Regiment of South Carolina in the Revolutionary War.

As an American, I follow the Constitution. I embrace its history, its longevity, and the freedoms it affords me.

One of the most powerful and most precious freedoms is granted to me - and to all Americans - in the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of speech. I have the right to say what I want to say, regardless of whether anybody else likes it.

You have the right to read it or not read it, and to agree with it or disagree with it.

Some people criticize me for including my political writings here.

I will not be silent, nor will I be silenced.

As an American, it is my right and my duty to speak up when I don't agree with what's going on. It's my right to bring it to other people's attention when I see something that I believe is wrong with the government.

To remain silent - to just "lay down and take it" - is the same as spitting in the face of the same ancestors who fought and died to give me the freedom to speak up. It would be the same as taking back the oath I made when I joined the Navy 16 years ago -

I do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. . . .

Some people think that I should just stick to posting about cooking, canning, and being Mrs. Happy Homemaker.

Well, that's not me. I do enjoy those things, but there is more to the story. And to hide the rest and just pretend that everything is hunky-dory here in the House of Zen would be lying.

If you want a mission statement to this blog - if you want me to categorize it for you - then here is my attempt:

TennZen: Enlightenment, Southern Style dares you to find an inconsistency in being Libertarian, Zen Buddhist, and Southern. Much of this blog consists of practical ways that you can be a better person and change the world by changing yourself. TennZen strives to blend together seemingly unrelated topics into an overall picture of a modern day, Libertarian, semi-rural, semi-homesteading, green, working wife and mother.

This is a blog, for crying out loud.

If you don't agree with what I write, you don't have to read it. Go find another blog that is more in line with what you like. Or, better still, write your own.

But don't ask me to change.