When in the course of human events.... Thus starts one of the most famous documents in the world, one which I make Casa Brillig read every year. This year I was struck by how much a NEW Declaration could be crafted out of recent events. No, I'm not advocating secession or civil war. It is not Festivus. But I do feel the need to lay out my grievances, in the manner by which my forebears did. I invite you follow me below the powdered wig feathered-hat macaroni fold after a word from our sponsor...
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(With all due apologies to the original writers of the Declaration of Independence. The lack of grace and flow is entirely due to my humble, amateur adaptation)
In Top Comments, July 4, 2013.
The unanimous Declaration of brillig, Citizen of these United States,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one woman to dissolve the intellectual bands which have connected her to others and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature entitle her, a decent respect to the opinions of humankind requires that she should declare the causes which impel her to feel thusly.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all persons are created equal, that they are endowed by virtue of their existence with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among People, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that humankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of the Citizens of These United States; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their current Elected Government Officials and Political Mouthpieces. The history of the present Republican Party is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
They have refused their Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
They have forbidden their Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance.
They have refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people.
They have called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with their measures.
They have endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
They have obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing to act on confirmation of new Justices.
For imposing Restrictions on Women's Reproductive Health without our Consent.
They have plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
They and their Mouthpieces have excited domestic insurrections amongst us.
For Insertion of Provisions into Legislation Hypocritical to Intent.
For willful disregard of Established Constitutional Principles.
[brillig here: I could go on for many, many pages... but how about you do so in the comments :-)]
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. Princes, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
I, therefore, a Representative Citizen of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these States, solemnly publish and declare, That these Republicans are unfit to hold Power over the Citizenry. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Election Law, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Activist Honor to bring about Governmental Change Through Free and Fair Elections.
My Declaration has space for additional signers. Just leave your Addition to the List of Grievances in the comments!
ps- I showed Dave in Northridge a draft of this, and he mentioned it was kindred spirit to Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Declaration of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Conference in 1848. I revisited a piece of history I haven't looked at in close to 25+ years, and read it as if for the first time. Go read it, it's stunningly beautiful and scary in how much still seems relevant in these times! Thank you, Dave.
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
Yours Truly was delinquent today, spending it watching children play and melting in the glorious heat and weather (so that's what the sun looks like!) at a friend's house. Clearly everyone else picked up my slack!
From Rick Aucoin:
In response to aoeu's comment comes this zinger for Kissinger, by Laurence Lewis.
From Laughing Planet:
This comment long enough to be a diary by jplanner should break your heart just a little bit. [note: diary itself has gone byebye]
From hnichols:
This comment by Words In Action, from bobswern's diary “Non-lethal,” Weaponized Drones Coming To A Town Near You. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?.
From Tara the Antisocial Social Worker:
While contemplating the question of "To HR or not to HR," pico gives us a literary tour de force.
From cohenzee:
Sending in potatohead's most awesome and supportive comment on why people should stop lurking and start talking.
From Steveningen:
In Horace Boothroyd III's clever diary Proposed text for Texas anti-masturbation bill, ahumbleopinion hits a home run with this practical suggestion for an amendment to the Texas abortion bill.
From loggersbrat:
I found this one by Red Bean in Horace's post about an anti-masturbation bill in Texas.
From serendipityisabitch:
For a new law of internet commentary, this comment by kenlac and the one following by xxdr zombiexx are golden.
pico updates Hamlet's soliloquy in lightarty's diary about whether or not to HR.
Top Mojo for July 3rd, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) So in your world, everyone who breaks by Nashville fan — 221
2) I disagree by Victor Ward — 135
3) The hubris is breathtaking. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 133
4) And that is the problem. The prosecution... by Meteor Blades — 132
5) Lying to Congress about spying to get by Horace Boothroyd III — 128
6) Your straw man argument is amusing by Victor Ward — 118
7) Ah, how I have missed the "straw man" blast by Nashville fan — 116
8) Seems, uh, worth mentioning by david mizner — 107
9) Why don't they bag Chris Matthews?: by dweb8231 — 105
10) Thank you by DeadHead — 103
11) I'm glad my post has elicited praying. by David Harris Gershon — 100
12) There are bound to be some inaccuracies by Pluto — 96
13) as i said in that shiny object diary: by Laurence Lewis — 95
14) His lies have been demonstrated time and again by Walt starr — 95
15) We stepped in it big time by DeadHead — 93
16) The next time Air Force One lands in South America by aoeu — 85
17) I believe what by Tool — 81
18) Opinions Will Vary by bink — 79
19) I thought it would slow down some starting 1/20/09 by RFK Lives — 78
20) You know, the contents of the leak do not by Nashville fan — 75
21) trust no public figures by Laurence Lewis — 75
22) I for one thought he was a blowhard by corvo — 74
23) Clapper's lies under oath are felonies. by Timaeus — 73
24) This mistake emphasizes 2 things about our spying by white blitz — 73
25) In fairness... by ord avg guy — 73
26) there seems to be no shortage of $$$ for endless by Lepanto — 72
27) So a protest on behalf of the 99%... by dance you monster — 71
28) Worst ever by Blue Wind — 71
29) beyond ridiculous by Lady Libertine — 70
30) Any comment that starts with by Stentorian Tone — 70
31) Impeach Obama... by reginahny — 70
For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures for July 3rd. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!