As a kid, Alongside my Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden posters, were posters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I used to think that they were as timeless, inalienable, and rebellious as the rock posters with which they shared wall space. Freedom and rock were branches off the same tree.Now that I’m older, I’m starting to see that a lot of what rock has become is less about the music, and more about image. The glittery shirt is more important than the song lyrics. “Freedom” has followed suit. We’ve learned to take more in useless laws and pay more to support them. We are heavily taxed, and nominally represented. It is more important to wave the flag and eat “freedom fries” than to actually retain the rights that make us free.

Image is Everything. Image is Nothing.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, 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.”

“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”

“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 harass our people, and eat out their substance.”

“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.”

“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.”

“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:”

“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”

“For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:”

“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:”

“For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:”

“He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.”

“He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us…”

-From the Declaration of Independence (full text), July 4, 1776

Posted in Anger, Philosophical BS