Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence
Here's a nice little collection of words from my old friend Brian Wagner. Enjoy!
Eleven score amd seven years ago our founding fathers felt the need to rebuke their official head of state at the time - King George III - by writing a document that listed his offenses against America. This document has been sacred to our nation ever since. It's called the Declaration of Independence.
As you read the following excerpts, consider the men held at Guantanamo Bay, the Homeland Protection Act, the various shenanigans of John Ashcroft and the DOJ, as well as our invasion of Iraq. You may find yourself questioning whether the current administration truly understands the foundations of our great country.
As I present this, I understand that it's easy to say that the situation is different, that we were a colony of a distant empire and struggling for freedom. That 9/11 changed everything. That the Security of "our people" is paramount. My answer to this is simply, "You are correct to a point." But are we foolish enough or hypocritical enough to think that the issues that led us to declare war against a country that was, at the time, birthplace to the majority of our forebears are any less heinous after 200 years of supposed progress?
FROM THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
---------------------------------------
HE has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.
HE has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
HE has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
FOR depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
FOR transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:
FOR taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
IN every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
---------------------------------------
Inspired by Patti Smith.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Here's a nice little collection of words from my old friend Brian Wagner. Enjoy!
Eleven score amd seven years ago our founding fathers felt the need to rebuke their official head of state at the time - King George III - by writing a document that listed his offenses against America. This document has been sacred to our nation ever since. It's called the Declaration of Independence.
As you read the following excerpts, consider the men held at Guantanamo Bay, the Homeland Protection Act, the various shenanigans of John Ashcroft and the DOJ, as well as our invasion of Iraq. You may find yourself questioning whether the current administration truly understands the foundations of our great country.
As I present this, I understand that it's easy to say that the situation is different, that we were a colony of a distant empire and struggling for freedom. That 9/11 changed everything. That the Security of "our people" is paramount. My answer to this is simply, "You are correct to a point." But are we foolish enough or hypocritical enough to think that the issues that led us to declare war against a country that was, at the time, birthplace to the majority of our forebears are any less heinous after 200 years of supposed progress?
FROM THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
---------------------------------------
HE has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.
HE has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
HE has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
FOR depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
FOR transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:
FOR taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
IN every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
---------------------------------------
Inspired by Patti Smith.
* * * * * * * * * * * *