July 4, 1776 is not necessarily the date of our actual Declaration of Independence. The actual date is still debated to this day, but the Declaration of Independence, based upon a motion for independence by Richard Henry Lee, was ratified by 12 of the original 13 Colonies on July 2, 1776. After two days of debating the language used in the Thomas Jefferson draft of the document, the Declaration was officially adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776 and was actually signed by most of the delegates on August 2, 1776. So if we use the actual date of ratification, which would be the most correct, I believe, then July 2, 1776 is the date of our Declaration of Independence. If we use the date it was officially adopted by Congress then July 4, 1776 is correct. If we use the date it was signed by the majority of delegates then it would be August 2, 1776.

Whichever date is most correct, the Declaration of Independence remains one of the greatest documents ever written, followed closely by our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. All of these documents have been used as models by the citizens of many of the world’s countries as they have sought greater freedoms.

As deplorable as the conditions and divisions within our United States of America have become, this is still the greatest Nation upon God’s Earth. Those who complain about what an awful place America is should do a bit of traveling across the world and live for a short time in any other countries before denouncing our great Nation. We, the people, have the power to make America whatever we want it to be. If this Country is terrible it is because that is what we want it to be. Because we are more concerned with what we as a race, a religion, a state, a community, or an individual want than what we as a unified Nation want. If America is wonderful it is because we as Americans choose to no longer allow our government to continue to convince us that we are incompatible because we have different colors of skin, that our ancestors are from white Europe, black Africa, brown Mexico, from China, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Spain, and all other countries and nations throughout the world, that we worship different gods or the same God differently than our neighbors (and everyone has a god- the Christian [Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Latter-Day Saint, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.], the Muslim, the Buddhist, the Sikh, the atheist obsessed with technology, money or power - we all have a god), or to convince us that what is good for the black man isn’t good for the white man or that all men believe they are better than women. In other words, America is a reflection of its people. Divided we fall, because we allow our corrupt government and those who operate in shadows behind the curtain to divide us as a people, because division is their greatest weapon. United we stand, because we understand that we are all brothers and sisters, and that our skin color, religious beliefs, gender and other differences are complimentary strengths meant to unify rather than divide. Separately, our differences weaken us as a people, as a Nation. But together, our differences become strengths. I’ll bring the noodles. You bring the meatballs. Someone else brings the tomato sauce, another the parmesan cheese, another the garlic, another the salt and another the pepper. I can eat noodles, you can eat a tomato, a garlic clove, or whatever, or we can combine our different but complimentary ingredients and make some delicious spaghetti to share with each other. Everyone gets filled with a delicious meal. And let’s not forget to place with gratitude our Native American brothers and sisters, that even today we continue to neglect and ignore, in the seat of honor at our table. It is their land, really, upon which we live. They, of all peoples in the U.S.A., have the most reason to be upset and yet they as a people seem to complain the least.

We should learn about and take pride in our respective cultural, ancestral and spiritual heritages, our religious beliefs, our gender, our history as individuals, as groups and as a Country. To do otherwise is a tragedy. But, regardless of what else we may be, we must remember that first and foremost we are AMERICANS.

I am of no real significance in this world or this Country. I have no power and very little influence. Most likely, my words here won’t make any real difference in the course that we as a Nation pursue. But perhaps there is the slightest of possibilities that someone who reads these words will be influenced by them. Perhaps the principle behind my words will be shared with others, particularly with the young people of our great Nation. Perhaps one of those young people will agree with me and grow up to be a person of influence with the ability to effect positive change. Regardless of whether our words make any real positive difference or are ignored completely, we each have an inescapable responsibility to do all that we can to better ourselves as individuals and as a people. As a United People.

 “Am I conspiring to overthrow the government? Really? Come on, you can do better than that,” Tarren replied. He smiled at the figure standing across his desk, waiting for the wink or gesture that would confirm that he was indeed the butt of a practical joke. But it didn’t come.

The androgynous figure, dressed in a finely tailored dark gray business suit, red, white and blue tie, and very expensive black shoes, simply stared back at him, arms crossed and silent. Average height if female, short if male, slender build, pale complexion, short red hair and blue eyes. The look on his face, or her, face was solemn, so solemn that Tarren decided he would never accept a wager from his visitor because that was the best poker face he had ever seen. Everything about this person shouted “SERIOUS" so loud that this was obviously a prank that someone was playing. But who?

“What did you say your name is?” Tarren asked.

“Smythe 32,” came the reply. “I am-“

“Yes, you already told me your last name, and 32 is what? Your badge number? Right?” Tarren interrupted, and hoping to at least discover the gender of this practical joker continued, “But I’m asking for your first name. And please, feel free to sit.” He pointed to a chair in front of his plain but solid oak desk.

Without acknowledging the proffered chair, the visitor continued, “Smythe 32 is my name, or model and production number to be more precise. It is also my authorization identification. I have already identified myself and informed you that I represent Division. Now-“

“Look,” Tarren interrupted again, starting to get annoyed, “Normally I would play along. Carry this on for a while, really get into it and afterwards have a laugh over a beer or three. But I am staring down a deadline, haven’t had anything to eat since last night and in a few hours I have to deal with my manipulative, diet pill addicted whore ex-wife and her lover when we all sit down to chat with our attorneys and wrack up huge legal expenses that I will probably end up being legally ordered to pay. I’m not sure who you are, who sent you here to play what I normally would think is a great practical joke, or even if you are a man or a woman. Props to your acting ability and poker face, by the way. But do me a favor: get to the punchline and leave.” Tarren finished, leaning back in his old and uncomfortable office chair while resting his hands on his ample stomach.

Smythe 32 showed no anger or annoyance at being interrupted multiple times or at the tone of voice which Tarren used. There was actually no emotion whatsoever evident on the face of Smythe 32. Emotion was viewed as a potentially critical weakness and therefore was not a component of the programming used to construct Smythe 32.

“I have met the criteria for patience. I have observed your legal rights. I will now tell you in plain words that this is no practical joke”, Smythe 32 said flatly. Looking directly at Tarren, it continued, “I also inform you that I will ask you once more a question. It is a deadly serious question and failure to answer will be judged as an admission of guilt and will be met with deadly consequences. Any attempt to dodge the question or to leave this room until I am satisfied that you have honestly answered the question and given you permission to leave will be taken as an admission of guilt and will be met with deadly consequences. Am I understood, Mr. Terrahill?”

Tarren’s annoyance began to fade as he stared at the red haired, white skinned and blue eyed figure before him and he began to have serious doubts about his initial feelings of this all being a joke. He nodded his head in answer.

“Yes or no? Do you understand?" Smythe 32 asked. "Verbally respond."

“Yes,” came the answer. “But if this is-“

“Very good,” Smythe 32 stated. “I remind you that I will ask you a question. It is the same question that I asked when I first entered your office. It is perhaps the most important question you have ever been asked and will determine your future in a very literal manner. I will not repeat this question again.”

Tarren simply stared at Smythe 32. If this was a practical joke he was going to reach over his desk, grab this androgynous red, white and blue freak and throw him, her and it right thru the glass window of his office and watch him, her and it plummet down all 16 stories and splat all over the sidewalk below.

“Mr. Terrahill”, Smythe 32 said, “on April 27th of this year you wrote an article which was published in the Elanor Gazette, for which you are a reporter. In this article you stated the possibility that the government of our Country intentionally lied to her citizens concerning some of the terrorist attacks that were stopped prior to being carried out in order to divide the people living in this Nation. You went on to state your belief that the government of our great Country intentionally divided its citizens into race, religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual preference. Your stated that the reason for such division is that the leaders of our government find it much easier to control a population that is constantly fighting amongst itself. That a united people would prove to be a force that would wipe the slate clean, the slate of a government with its own agenda to rule according to its will and not the will of the people. In your third paragraph, second sentence, you stated ‘United we stand and divided we fall.’ Your language was inflammatory and has resulted in 72,326,918 views, 33,751,111 likes and 21,456,003 comments. The final words in your column were, and I quote, ‘A united people is the Sheppard. A divided people are the sheep.’ Mr. Terrahill, are you conspiring to overthrow the government of our Country by seeking to unite the citizens of our Country so that the government may be forced to obey the voice of the people?”

When Smythe 32 finished, Tarren said, “I exercised my Constitutional right to free speech. We, as a Nation, must wake up and unite. We can again be the greatest Nation on the face of this Earth if her citizens come together and insist that our government rule according to the voice of the people.”

“Division disagrees,” Smythe 32 said quietly, as it reached into its well tailored suit jacket and withdrew a small gun with a large silencer attached to the business end.

Teacher

That all things end

That credit obtained must be repaid

That everyone makes mistakes

That what is given is also taken

Preacher

Of  Power that will not be ignored

Of that which is beyond your control

Of lessons repeated until learned

Of a door to Life that you can't open

Darkness

Those with sight grope in blindness

Those with control live in bondage

Those with riches are made poor

Those with knowledge know nothing

Light

Lacking pride the sightless see

Lacking strength the weak are strong

Lacking bondage serve a Master

Lacking all lack for nothing

Taking

Receiving cruelty for malice given

Receiving isolation for lust unfeigned

Receiving frost for heat shown forth

Receiving spittle for tongue unbitten

Giving

A tender word from a strange friend

A tender kiss from a hated love

A tender warmth from a cold fire

A tender thought from a living ghost

Grief

The view from the window is what you paint

The history lesson is that which you make

The course of the river is furrowed by your tears

The destination reached is where you decide to go

Healer and Destroyer. Giver and Taker. Necessary and Unwanted. Embraced and Shunned.

A dried up River. Giving Life to the dead. Eating away at the soul and Awakening the soulless.

Heads or Tails?

Citizens of the United States of America have access to an astounding amount of information. Almost anything we want to know is literally in the palm of our hand. We are a country full of smart folks. Aren't we?

But what do we as a people really get accomplished? I'm not saying we don't accomplish anything. We have done some wonderful things in our history as a nation.

And yet we have only accomplished a fraction of what we should have as a people. Perhaps the main reason is that we are an intentionally divided nation. We like it that way. It seems to a politician's advantage to preside over a divided people. Black against White against Brown against...

We in America are kept so busy arguing and fighting, each group with its own agenda, that very little gets accomplished. If united, the amazing things we would accomplish would increase by an order of magnitude in a relatively short amount of time.

We won't do that. We would have to start caring about each other as a people instead of as a white man, a black woman, a Hispanic woman, or a gay man. Our leaders won't allow that to happen as a united people would pose a significant threat to their hold on power. Divided people don't get much done and are much easier to control. A united people is the shepard. A divided people are the sheep.

That's just the way it is.

Carmichael humperdinked the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen on a Wednesday afternoon between the hours of 3 pm and 5 pm. Afterwards he ran away and went into hiding because it was a capital offense to humperdink the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen on a Wednesday afternoon between 3 pm and 5 pm (and Carmichael knew this). However, a few days later, on a Saturday morning, he was caught while humperdinking a cossflogger between 9:15 am and 11:37 pm, by the Stanklemers (who are, as everyone knows, responsible for schlarping any offenders of the Super Sacred Flagepole of Farsnuggen).

The punishment for humperdinking the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen during the prohibited hours was immediate ransuckling of the offender's scrugnubs straight up the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen exactly one parsnickitynik from the date of the offense.

As said Carmichael's scrugnubs were being carefully prepped for the ransuckling, Marley Marleyson, Sumpreme Judge Anforker of Capital Crimes Against the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen (commonly known among the xylmalingers of Farsnuggen as Supreme JACCASS-FoF) asked Carmichael why he would commit such a horrendous crime as humperdinking the Super Sacred Flagpole of Farsnuggen (and that poor cossflogger!)?

"Because," Carmichael answered defiantly, "it was an itch that I just had to scratch!" But everyone knew the real reason was Carmichael just really liked humperdinking flagpoles.