Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

I've got a pile of things I have to do today, so this is a short entry.

Apparently the “debate” about going with war with Iraq is over, as the US is now “on a path to war” that can't be stopped (Toronto Star) — even though most Americans are more concerned about the failing economy in this upcoming election (USA Today) and a war will drive the economy even more into the hole. That said, nearly half of all Americans say that the first ammendment (free speech) should be overturned as “people have gone too far” (CBS).

The last story is the scary one, and the last story is the one that shows that the monsters that run the country have the power to do whatever the hell they want — because, on the whole, the people not only allow it, but really believe they want it. Ken Paulson of the First Ammendment Center in Arlington that did the study says, “Many Americans view these fundamental freedoms as possible obstacles in the war on terrorism.”

I'd like to know what kind of doublethink allows people to believe that freedom of the press is somehow linked to terrorism. In addition, 48% of people believe that religious freedom should be infringed upon, and 43% of people have said that newspapers should not even be allowed to criticize the government. 40% even cast votes to punish university professors who spoke out against the military.

Let's take a quick a quick look at the Declaration of Independence. Most importantly, let's look at the list of facts that were presented as a proof of Britain's tyranny, and the reason for separating. When you do, you'll see that nearly every claim can be applied by the individual states to the federal government.

I have one word for you: secede.

"If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left to combat it."

- Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address

"If any state in the Union will declare that it prefers separation ... to a continuance in the union .... I have no hesitation in saying, 'Let us separate.'"

- Thomas Jefferson, Fifteen years later

"['We the people' refers to 'people'] not as individuals composing one entire nation, but as composing the distinct and independent States to which they respectively belong."

- James Madison

"Any attempt to preserve the Union between the States of this Confederacy by force would be impractical, and destructive of republican liberty."

- Jacob Kunkel, Maryland

"If tyranny and despotism justified the Revolution of 1776, then we do not see why it would not justify the secession of Five Millions of Southrons from the Federal Union in 1861."

- New York Tribune, 1860

"An attempt to subjugate the seceded States, even if successful could produce nothing but evil -- evil unmitigated in character and appalling in content."

- Detroit Free Press, 1861

"Any people whatsoever have the right to abolish the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right -- a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world."

- Abraham Lincoln, 1848