We, the people...
My Dear Wormwood,
Yesterday was Independence Day here in America. It seems that two-hundred and twenty-nine years ago a group of rapscallions deceided that they didn't want to live under British rule (and, more to the point, British taxes)anymore and started a revolution. Actually, I guess the revolution itsself started a few years prior but who's counting? Either way, on July 4th, 1776 a gaggle of wealthy white men got together in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and signed a Declaration of Independence.
How INTERESTING. A bit of paper stating that you are your own boss. Wouldn't that be grand? When the recent change of management 'down below' (which caused me to go into exile here) occurred I could have used one of those bits of paper. Declaring myself my own sovereign nation is so terribly appealing to me. The United States of Screwtape. Can you imagine?
So, it seems, killing a bunch of British soldiers and signing a bit of paper is enough to start your own country. And where have they gone in the afore-mentioned two-hundred twenty-nine years of independence? What has changed since then? Well, to put it bluntly, it was 'out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire', dear nephew. Yes, not much has changed, has it? No, they don't keep slaves anymore, but the bosses of big-business still have people working for them for six bucks (sometimes less) an hour providing them with barely enough funds to afford the grasciously offered forty acres and a mule. No, slavery is not limited to any one type of person now, it applies to all races. but, being barely paid for your labor is, I suppose, better than not being paid at all, isn't it?
Which brings me back to this Declaration of Independence rag of theirs. (They also wrote a Constitution which reads, essentially, like a list of demands from a kidnapper. They did steal the country after all, didn't they? I mean in the beginning. From the Indians.
SIDEBAR: When Columbus 'discovered' America, do you think the natives dropped to their knees and thanked him for finally telling them where they were? I think not. I would assume that they already knew about it. That's like walking up to someone and saying, "HEY! I just heard the greatest new band on the radio, they're called The Beatles!". But I digress.)
I sat down and read the Declaration for the first time fully through. It's really an interesting bit of writing. I wasn't aware that an entire section is a list of accusations against King George III. It's kind of interesting to read these accusations and apply them to the current President (who's name, as irony would have it, is also Geoge). How strangely...FAMILIAR it all is. I highly recommend reading it, if you haven't.
I ask you, nephew of mine: If the early American settlers rose up and formed a revolution against a tyranical ruler back then, what's keeping them from doing so now?
The answer is quite simple: Americans doen't mind a bit of tyranny so long as they have their cable TV and Wal*Mart.
Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape
Yesterday was Independence Day here in America. It seems that two-hundred and twenty-nine years ago a group of rapscallions deceided that they didn't want to live under British rule (and, more to the point, British taxes)anymore and started a revolution. Actually, I guess the revolution itsself started a few years prior but who's counting? Either way, on July 4th, 1776 a gaggle of wealthy white men got together in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and signed a Declaration of Independence.
How INTERESTING. A bit of paper stating that you are your own boss. Wouldn't that be grand? When the recent change of management 'down below' (which caused me to go into exile here) occurred I could have used one of those bits of paper. Declaring myself my own sovereign nation is so terribly appealing to me. The United States of Screwtape. Can you imagine?
So, it seems, killing a bunch of British soldiers and signing a bit of paper is enough to start your own country. And where have they gone in the afore-mentioned two-hundred twenty-nine years of independence? What has changed since then? Well, to put it bluntly, it was 'out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire', dear nephew. Yes, not much has changed, has it? No, they don't keep slaves anymore, but the bosses of big-business still have people working for them for six bucks (sometimes less) an hour providing them with barely enough funds to afford the grasciously offered forty acres and a mule. No, slavery is not limited to any one type of person now, it applies to all races. but, being barely paid for your labor is, I suppose, better than not being paid at all, isn't it?
Which brings me back to this Declaration of Independence rag of theirs. (They also wrote a Constitution which reads, essentially, like a list of demands from a kidnapper. They did steal the country after all, didn't they? I mean in the beginning. From the Indians.
SIDEBAR: When Columbus 'discovered' America, do you think the natives dropped to their knees and thanked him for finally telling them where they were? I think not. I would assume that they already knew about it. That's like walking up to someone and saying, "HEY! I just heard the greatest new band on the radio, they're called The Beatles!". But I digress.)
I sat down and read the Declaration for the first time fully through. It's really an interesting bit of writing. I wasn't aware that an entire section is a list of accusations against King George III. It's kind of interesting to read these accusations and apply them to the current President (who's name, as irony would have it, is also Geoge). How strangely...FAMILIAR it all is. I highly recommend reading it, if you haven't.
I ask you, nephew of mine: If the early American settlers rose up and formed a revolution against a tyranical ruler back then, what's keeping them from doing so now?
The answer is quite simple: Americans doen't mind a bit of tyranny so long as they have their cable TV and Wal*Mart.
Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape