Opus 2013-31: Cornerstone Considerations: D of I, Tyranny

There is a word that rang loud, clear and frequent from the Founding Fathers:  Tyranny.  I jump forward a bit to consider this statement in the Declaration of Independence:

“The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

Keep in mind that compared to the peasant classes of the world the colonists in this part of the British Empire had incredible freedom to live their lives, even compared to the average commoner in Britain.  What is this talk of Tyranny?

First, lets look at the dictionary.  Since I am at my computer I will Google it.  According to Merriam-Webster, tyranny is

“1:  oppressive power
“2a : a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler;
    b : the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
“3: a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force
“4: an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act”

Notice this does not say you are deprived of the basics of life.  It does not say you are locked up or marched down the street at gun-point.  It uses modifiers such as “oppressive,” “absolute power,” “single ruler,” “imposed,” “force,” “harsh,” and “unjust.”  In 1776 this was directed at the King George III of England.

Today we could say the same things about King Barak I of Kenya.  Notice the words from the Declaration, “ repeated Injuries and Usurpations.”  Can you think of any area in your life that the president has stuck his nose recently?  Have you heard the threats he is making about going around congress and undermining the Second Amendment by Executive Order?

It is time for a D of I reprise.

Read and think.  Read and weep.  Read and take action.  At this point that means speaking out, writing, and voting.  The shooting can wait until we have Lexington and Concord revisited.  But by that time it will be too late.  We still have city, county, state and congressional elections coming up.  It may be early to repeat it, but vote the suckers out.  Also words like “impeachment” should become a part of our vocabulary both of elected officials and appointed tyrants. 

homo unius libri