On May 12th, 2015 I was invited to speak alongside Governor Rick Perry at a Lincoln Dinner organized by Okaloosa Republican Executive Committee in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. I was supposed to warm up the crowd for the Honorable Rick Perry, but the order of appearances was switched at the last moment; Perry gave his keynote speech first, and then I stepped in, thanking the Governor for warming up the crowd for me.

I titled my speech What surprised me in America: an immigrant's account of the good, the bad, and the ugly. There was no way I could cover this topic in 20 minutes, so I'm expecting more invitations from groups who will be willing to give me twice as much time or more.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OR DOWNLOAD IT HERE >>

WATCH THE VIDEO:


Fort Walton Beach is right next to Destin, home of the largest U.S. Air Force base, which explains why the district is largely Republican. It is a beautiful place to visit, with warm and wonderful people, and I had a great time.


The event was organized by Laurie Bartlett, a radio talk show host who had interviewed me several times for her program (we made friends during my 2011 book tour in Austin, TX). Special thanks to Bettina Viviano for her great introduction (she admits she reads the People's Cube every day). And, of course, to Mrs. Red Square who drove our Red Cube vehicle all the way to Okaloosa while I kept adding final touches to my speech in the passenger seat.

Below is a page from the brochure for the event.

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UPDATE

Many have suggested to post a clearer audio of the speech and even to have an audio file posted separately, so that it could be downloaded and listened to as a podcast. You have been heard!

The video has now been replaced with a new one, posted on the People's Cube account. Enhancing the audio, however, made the soundtrack get slightly out of sync with the lip movement, which adds it a vague charm of a foreign movie.

And, while I had the sound file open in the editor program, I decided to cut out all the unnecessary pauses and "uhm" sounds, lest anyone thinks I was trying to imitate the most eloquent speaker who ever inhabited the White House. Unfortunately, that couldn't be done to the video as well, because then it would've looked like a thoroughly censored Soviet movie.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OR DOWNLOAD IT HERE >>

I captured the elusive Mr-Husband-Red-Square on film while going 85 miles per hour towards Okaloosa. Who the hell is driving the car?



Here I am flirting with the warm-up act....



...but going home with the love-of-my-life act :)

Hmm, Even the Mrs. wears red.

<off>

Attaboy Red!

When Rick Perry is your intro act, YOU are the headliner!

<on>


If Pinkie sees you "Pal-ing Around" with Governor Perry, tell her you grabbed his wallet to redistribute his ill-gotten gains...it's your only chance.

Ivan the Stakhanovets wrote: Attaboy Red!

When Rick Perry is your intro act, YOU are the headliner!

Yet another bit of empirical evidence for the show trial Ivan. Has the founder of American Thinker ever headlined an event with a former Governor of Texas / presidential candidate as the warm-up act? I think nyet.

Will there be audio for us to download and enjoy?

Mikhail Lysenkomann wrote:Will there be audio for us to download and enjoy?

I'm glad you asked. If you crank up the volume while watching the embedded YouTube video in the middle of the post, you will notice that it also has audio. There's no end to wonders of the People's technology!

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Red Square,

Your speech was most wonderful and informative!

When you whispered 'black market' into the microphone I remembered an image sent to me many weeks ago.

This man appears to be selling a case of 24 CUBES to a white Republican!

He reminds me of someone but I do not know who... sorry.

May
.

Congratulations, that's a pretty big deal! Ill have a drink in your honor, Comrade!

Thanks, Chedoh - and as you may have noticed, when I spoke about the People's Cube, I mentioned two of your articles that were debunked by Snopes, and that made people laugh.

It is great to see one of our comrades spreading the good word of communism.

Yes, it is sad and lamentable what has happened to America. But the very first time you understand the IDEA of America and it's promise you see the very beautiful smiling face of America and it is like this:

A very big deal, dear OLEG. I have other things to send you regarding this. But, that's for another time/post. I am so proud to be a Cubist™, an art form.

Superb presentation!

Karl Marx Treatment Center wrote:Yes, it is sad and lamentable what has happened to America. But the very first time you understand the IDEA of America and it's promise you see the very beautiful smiling face of America and it is like this:

OMG! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!True! True! True! True! True! True! True! True! True! True! True! Thank you, dearest KMTC! I needed that! As do we all! Thank you!

Roberta Flack was also a mentor of Donny Hathaway:Here is one of his most poignant songs, Sackful of Dreams: It always knocks me over the rainbow:

Comrade Director, all that Florida sunshine has turned you into a bronzed Adonis. I hardly recognized you.

Karl Marx Treatment Center wrote:Yes, it is sad and lamentable what has happened to America. But the very first time you understand the IDEA of America and it's promise you see the very beautiful smiling face of America and it is like this:

I hate ANYTHING by Marx. Well, except this. The rest of it (And the million+ copies of it) can go into a coal furnace. I'm utterly in love with the idea of America and what the Founders had in mind. I look at their vision for America and say "Why cant THAT be America today?" And I hate to say it, but nowadays loving America, government and all, in it's current state is more like this:



A guy much wiser than I once said "I love my country, but I hate my government". I can't remember who he was, but I'm sure that there are a lot more people with this view than when he said it. I'm one of them. I read the news articles and whatnot and get incredibly sad about the state of the government, but then I go for a walk out on the road and see all kinds of people with their own lives & ways of doing things and each with their own different houses, vehicles, styles of dress, etc., all in just a few miles of road or so, and I love America.

We might have a Soviet government, but we, as a whole, haven't succumbed to the Soviet idea that the gov't and the state is allowed to control and spy on every aspect of our lives and tamper with them as it sees fit. We haven't succumbed, as a whole, to the terrible fantasy of Communism. The film of empty Soviet grocery stores hasn't been duplicated in America yet. If you even suggest the idea that the government should put Cameras in every home and watch them like Orwellian Telescreens to a random sampling of Americans I bet you 100% of them would say that it's a terrible and tyrannical idea.

I sincerely believe we can tun back the clock, but we'll only do it with morals and principles. All the democrats have on their side, when you break down their arguments, is the promise of free stuff, and most people are unprincipled in this world, so they'll take the free stuff. The free stuff includes healthcare, money (welfare), cell phones, abortion pills and rubbers, jobs, etc. The free stuff is the sugar to get the "medicine"/poison of Communism down the throat of America; It's the magician's misdirection and sleight of hand. If people are principled and have morals, they won't take the free stuff, and they'll elect people WITH morals and principles that will do their jobs right. But, with the way the world is, I'm afraid that we won't ever again have the volume of moraled and principled people that are required for this system to work in the way described. A slogan for this "free stuff" theory could be: Don't take the Free Stuff, take the FreeDOM.

Tom Paine wrote these quotes in Common Sense, and they're as true now as they were when he wrote Common Sense:

Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.

Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interest, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions.

We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months.

But there is another and greater distinction for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth enquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind.

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Comrade Whoopie wrote: Comrade Director, all that Florida sunshine has turned you into a bronzed Adonis. I hardly recognized you.

Bronzed? I'd say he's just this side of rotisseried chicken.

What I have yet to wrap my head around is why they'd serve those weed-infested boots for dinner, unless of course, those were meant for The Enemy™.

I can't believe Red and Mrs. Square drove up there in a single vehicle. Don't they know the Progressive way is to fly in two separate planes?

Or is that only if he's going to make a speech about climate change?

　
I am constantly amazed by people who come here from the former Soviet Union and her satellite states who have to explain to home grown proglodytes how patently insane they are to be born in a country that is a brilliant experiment in personal liberty and work to throw it all away.
　
I thought I'd post some humor that mirrors what you have done here. Hopefully it's something you haven't already seen. I've forgotten where I dug it up from because I'd like to attribute it to the orginal author but it's been a few years and I not only have forgotten but cannot find the orginal post. I took the liberty to add a few updates at the end:
　
If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for being in the country illegally … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If you have to get your parents' permission to go on a field trip or take an aspirin in school, but not to get an abortion … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If the only school curriculum allowed to explain how we got here is evolution, but the government stops a $15 million construction project to keep a rare spider from evolving to extinction … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If you have to show identification to board an airplane, cash a check, buy liquor, or check out a library book, but not to vote who runs the government … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If the government wants to ban stable, law-abiding citizens from owning gun magazines with more than ten rounds, but gives 20 F-16 fighter jets to the crazy new leaders in Egypt … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If, in the largest city, you can buy two 16-ounce sodas, but not a 24-ounce soda because 24-ounces of a sugary drink might make you fat … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If an 80-year-old woman can be stripped searched by the TSA but a woman in a hijab is only subject to having her neck and head searched … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If your government believes that the best way to eradicate trillions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If a seven year old boy can be thrown out of school for saying his teacher is "cute," but hosting a sexual exploration or diversity class in grade school is perfectly acceptable … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If children are forcibly removed from parents who discipline them with spankings while children of addicts are left in filth and drug infested "homes"… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government
intrusion, while not working is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC checks, Medicaid, subsidized housing, and free cell phones … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If the government's plan for getting people back to work is to incentivize NOT working with 99 weeks of Unemployment checks and no requirement to prove they applied but can't find work … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If you pay your mortgage faithfully, denying yourself the newest big screen TV while your neighbor buys iPhones, TV's and new cars, and the government forgives his debt when he defaults on his mortgage … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If being stripped of the ability to defend yourself makes you more "safe" according to the government … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If you can be forced out as CEO of the company you founded for stating your opinion, despite a document that protects your opinion … you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
　
If the top cop in the country incites a riot where the rioters shoot cops… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
If legislators approve a nominee to become the head of the Justice Department who is confused about the meaning of the word "illegal" instead of dismissing her as grossly unqualified for the job... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

A most excellent presentation – it is my firm belief that no one knows that danger and misery of a nation under collectivism than those who have suffered under it.

Over the years, I met many a refugee from the various socialist ‘utopias' from around the world and they all speak in the same refrain – that collectivism is organized evil.

I am at odds to better some of the comments that have been already made, but I have two minor requests:

1. Is there a transcript of this speech available?

This is important in order to understand the points you made as well as our blatantly copying and pasting your speech elsewhere in order to spread the word to all.

2. Can the audio be enhanced at all?
For the same reason as specified above.

I am deathly afraid that the people of this country are falling for the same false promises of collectivism's organized evil as many have before.

They don't realize that we've already suffered under this organized evil for years now and that it has to be stopped before we reach a tipping point from which there is no return beyond a bloody conflict that will engulf the world.
{Think of it as the fun of the fall of Rome and the dark ages coupled with nuclear warfare at the end of WWII}

Every single awesome joke [color=#C0392B]Kommissar Uberdave[/color] recounted ended when he wrote: ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

Hillary is thinking about your jokes Kommissar Uberdave...

but not in a good way!
.

Comrade Šterpin wrote:

... Over the years, I met many a refugee from the various socialist ‘utopias' from around the world and they all speak in the same refrain – that collectivism is organized evil. ...

There are the 6 contradictions of Socialism in the US, which Oleg has written so well, but I present the Comrade Stierlitz 6 contradictions of Collectivism in the US:

1. Collectivists live in a country that rewards being different and new, yet they want everything to be the same.
2. Collectivists want everything to be the same, yet they advocate diversity.
3. Collectivists advocate diversity, yet they wish that those with Christian and Right-Wing views didn't exist.
4. Collectivists wish that those with Christian and Right-Wing views didn't exist, yet the country that has given them the freedom to have this view was founded by men with Christian and Right-Wing views.
5. Collectivists have the freedom to be collectivist because of Christian and Right-Wing Founders, yet they try to Keep the Founders and Right-Wing views out of school textbooks.
6. Collectivists try to keep the Founders and Right-Wing views out of school textbooks, yet people are learning about them more than ever because of the Collectivists and are becoming opposed to Collectivism because of the Collectivists.

Oh, and...

Why do you think his missus has such a huge smile?

(Thought the discussion needed some comic relief...)

Comrade Whoopie wrote:Comrade Director, all that Florida sunshine has turned you into a bronzed Adonis. I hardly recognized you.

Are you sure you're not confusing me with this bronzed Adonis?

Russia unveils bust of Putin as Roman emperor

Comrade Putout wrote:

Every single awesome joke [color=#C0392B]Kommissar Uberdave[/color] recounted ended when he wrote: ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

Hillary is thinking about your jokes Kommissar Uberdave...

but not in a good way!
.

hillary-is-watching-uberdave.jpg

　
Oops! Tovarisch Putout, it appears I had best quickly denounce myself and apply for a shovel ready job at the nearest Gulag! We all know that Komrade Kommissar Hildebeast Hitlery Hellary HilLIARy Kim Jong Hill does not deal lightly with those who step on her toes...

Comrade Šterpin wrote: 1. Is there a transcript of this speech available?

This is important in order to understand the points you made as well as our blatantly copying and pasting your speech elsewhere in order to spread the word to all.

2. Can the audio be enhanced at all?
For the same reason as specified above.

I have my speech in a Word file, but it's pretty long (I couldn't fit even half of it in the video). I'm thinking of splitting it up into topics and publish a couple of essays based on those ideas.

As for the audio, it plays fine on my laptop, but a lot of people have indeed complained, including some on Facebook. I've downloaded the video and will see how I can enhance the sound, then upload it to the People's Cube YouTube account. In addition to the volume, it could also be filtered to remove background noises and make the voice more comprehensible. Any advice/help will be appreciated. Any video/audio experts around? (I wonder if there's a also filter that can improve the accent :-) We'll have to ask comrade Sergey Brin about that.)

Alternatively, I can insert subtitles into the video, but that's a time-consuming project and my time is limited. Again, if there are volunteers who can create a timed subtitles file or similar, that would also be appreciated. The YouTube instructions are here: Add subtitles and closed captions

Congratulation Oleg on getting the word out and making more people aware of the glory of the People's Cube. Are you photogenic or do you just look that good in real life.

Do you plan on making a national tour? Maybe you could get a seat with Bill and Miller as part of a Bald Fresh tour.


And wow. Mrs. red Square gives me hope in the world of Next Tuesday where all things are equal. This means I can have a wife as equal as yours.

(This is meant as a comical compliment and not as a creepy internet skulking guy.)

Comrade Stierlitz wrote:
Oh, and...

Why do you think his missus has such a huge smile?

Because he is a good provider and they both get some beets every night?

"Comrade Director, all that Florida sunshine has turned you into a bronzed Adonis. I hardly recognized you."

Of course, comrade!!! Toiling in the beet fields of Florida will do that!!


Excellent speech comrade Red Square!!

Truly, I would love to have a transcript of this speech. I would even (gulp) pay for a bound version -- although such an offer is of course not to be confused with kapitalist merchandising or anything of that sort, Lenin forbid.

Red Square wrote: I have my speech in a Word file, but it's pretty long (I couldn't fit even half of it in the video). I'm thinking of splitting it up into topics and publish a couple of essays based on those ideas.

As for the audio, it plays fine on my laptop, but a lot of people have indeed complained, including some on Facebook. I've downloaded the video and will see how I can enhance the sound, then upload it to the People's Cube YouTube account. In addition to the volume, it could also be filtered to remove background noises and make the voice more comprehensible. Any advice/help will be appreciated. Any video/audio experts around? (I wonder if there's a also filter that can improve the accent :-) We'll have to ask comrade Sergey Brin about that.)

Alternatively, I can insert subtitles into the video, but that's a time-consuming project and my time is limited. Again, if there are volunteers who can create a timed subtitles file or similar, that would also be appreciated. The YouTube instructions are here: Add subtitles and closed captions

Please understand those weren't complaints as much as suggestions on how to get the word out.

In many ways you have to spoon feed some people on the dangers of collectivism – and the easier it is for them to comprehend the better.
(I also messed up on the font sizes in my earlier post – I wanted those suggestions to be prominent.. but not that prominent)

Please accept my sincerest apologies..

Comrade Šterpin - no need to apologize. I took it exactly the way you meant it and asked for volunteer help for exactly the same reason. And, thanks to our exchange, it's bringing results. I'll be posting the MP3 audio soon, so stay tuned!

Thomas Paine wrote:Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent

See also:

Mark Twain wrote:One needs but to hear an aristocrat speak of the classes that are below him to recognize — and in but indifferently modified measure — the very air and tone of the actual slaveholder; and behind these are the slaveholder's spirit, the slaveholder's blunted feeling. They are the result of the same cause in both cases: the possessor's old and inbred custom of regarding himself as a superior being.

Comrade KMTC, how wonderful to see/hear the not-too-beautiful face (but rather capitalistic voice) of Comrade Roberta Flack. I've been racking my brains trying to figure out who it is her profile reminds me of....hmmmm....




... GOT it!

Mrs. Red Square wrote:...but going home with the love-of-my-life act

You do indeed make a cute couple!


And by cute, I do not mean to suggest any desire to sexually harrass either of you. Nor do I mean to demean, offend (especially not to offend!!!), or otherwise humiliate you.

If you are triggered by the word "cute", "couple", or anything else in this post, please alert the Commissarka of Mental Hygiene (who, of course, is me), and I will denounce myself, rig the mock trial that will inevitably ensue, and may or may not return to say something worse.

Probably not though.

UPDATE

Many have suggested to post a clearer audio of the speech and even to have an audio file posted separately, so that it could be downloaded and listened to as a podcast. You have been heard!

The video has now been replaced with a new one, posted on the People's Cube account. Enhancing the audio, however, made the soundtrack get slightly out of sync with the lip movement, which adds it a vague charm of a foreign movie.

And, while I had the sound file open in the editor program, I decided to cut out all the unnecessary pauses and "uhm" sounds, lest anyone thinks I was trying to imitate the most eloquent speaker who ever inhabited the White House. Unfortunately, that couldn't be done to the video as well, because then it would've looked like a thoroughly censored Soviet movie.

<p><strong><a href="/music/Oleg_Atbashian_speech_5_12_2015_Lincoln_Dinner.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OR DOWNLOAD IT HERE >></a></strong></p>