You're not the boss of me!

Posted July 5th, 2009 by xntryk1

Sunday, 05 July 2009 04:49

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!

[The following is a written adaption of a talk given by Larken Rose in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall, on July 4th, 2009.]

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, in Philadelphia, a bunch of guys got together and wrote a letter to their king. The letter was very eloquent, and well thought out, but it basically boiled down to this:

"Dear King George,

You're not the boss of us!

Sincerely,

A Bunch of Troublemakers"

That's essentially what the Declaration of Independence was: a bunch of radicals declaring that they would no longer recognize the right of their king to rule them, at all, ever again. They went on to create a new boss, which turned into a new oppressor, but we'll get to that in a moment. First, let's consider the essence of that attitude: "You're not the boss of me!"

This July 4th, like every year, millions of Americans are celebrating Independence Day with various parades, picnics, fireworks, and so on. But how many of those people celebrating have ever actually considered what the Declaration was actually about, and what the colonists actually did? The colonists did not merely beg the king to change his ways. In fact, the Declaration explains how they had tried that, to no avail. Instead, the colonists were doing something far more drastic.

In short, they committed treason. They broke the law. They disobeyed their government. They were traitors, criminals and tax cheats. The Boston Tea Party was not merely a tax protest, but open lawlessness. Furthermore, truth be told, some of the colonists were even cop-killers. At Lexington, when King George's "law enforcers" told the colonists to lay down their guns, the colonists responded with, "No, you're not the boss of us!" (Well, that was the meaning, if not the exact verbiage.) And so we had "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," widely regarded as the beginning of the American Revolution.

Looking back now, we know the outcome. We know who eventually won, and we don't mind cheering for the rebels. But make no mistake: when you cheer for the founders of this country, you are cheering for law-breakers and traitors. As well you should. But, for all the flag-waving and celebrating that goes on every July 4th, do Americans actually believe in what the colonists did? Do they really believe in the attitude expressed in the Declaration of Independence? Are they really still capable of supporting a mantra of "You're not the boss of me!"?

In, short, no. Imagine the equivalent of what the colonists did so many years ago, being done today. Imagine a group of people writing a letter to the United States government, sending a letter to Congress and to the President, saying that they would no longer pay federal taxes, they would no longer obey federal laws, and that they would resist--by force, if necessary--any attempt by federal agents to enforce those laws. How would a group which did such things be viewed today, by most Americans?

They would be viewed as nut-cases, scofflaws and terrorists, despicable criminals and malcontents. They would be scorned as the scum of the earth, despised by just about everyone who today celebrates Independence Day.

How ironic.

So why the double standard? Why would the American public today condemn the exact same attitudes and behaviors which they glorify and praise in the context of the American Revolution? Quite simply, it's because, for all the proud talk of "land of the free and home of the brave," the spirit of resistance--the courage to say "You're not the boss of us!"--has been trained out of the American people.

We have become a nation of wimps.

Continue at: http://tinyurl.com/qy8jv9

output

I’ve seen all that very clearly for over 30 years.

On July 6th, 2009 Cliff Treadway says:

The masses truly are blind.

—Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa

If you remember anything, remember the throw-away tools of war.

Caught this falling out of

On July 6th, 2009 livefreeordie says:

Caught this falling out of the nest. Thought I would put it back on the top.

You're too kind...

On July 7th, 2009 xntryk1 says:

:-)

______________________________________
“Let them protest all they want, as long as they pay their taxes.” ...credited to Al Haig, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State.
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...

this can open you up

On July 6th, 2009 TexaslovesRonPaul says:

to a whole new way of thinking. Excellent!

Bump

On July 6th, 2009 Realdeal says:

For me, this has been one of the best posts on DP ever. It really had a huge impact on me...almost, but not quite, like the "Blowback" moment.

I really hope everyone reads this.

Well, you know what they say...

On July 6th, 2009 xntryk1 says:

..."You can lead a horse to water..." :-)

______________________________________
“Let them protest all they want, as long as they pay their taxes.” ...credited to Al Haig, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State.
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...

You're trying to teach horses to...

On July 6th, 2009 elrococco says:

fish?

Just kidding. Americans need a swift kick, repeated a few times, to wake them up. This post is the kind of kick that seems to work.

Assert Your Authority

:)

On July 6th, 2009 SCButterfly says:

I will now be stuck with the theme song to "Malcom in the Middle" in my head all day....

http://www.youtube.com/wa...

***
Freedom is not: doing everything you want to.
Freedom is: not having to do what you don't want to do.
~ Joyce Meyer

They Might Be Giants

On July 6th, 2009 Aphrodite13 says:

my fave band........

General American public? Sad to say, but we've been trained out,

On July 6th, 2009 SusanneV says:

drained out, drugged up, plugged up, wimped out, pimped out, hypnotized and pharmacized. A doctor god's dream? It's the Amerikan way. Just as Amerikan as artificially flavored and preserved hot dogs and apple pie.
Yummm... The FDA and AMA are working overtime for us!!!! YAY!
Let's all just relax now. Did we not just celebrate the 4th of July? Have a nice tall glass of cold, refreshing fluoridated, chlorinated cherry Kool-Aid. And don't forget the aspartame, of if you prefer, Splenda. :)

Yep.

On July 6th, 2009 Realdeal says:

I know there are some here who don't like quotes, but your comment reminded me of this....

"The will of men is not shattered (by the welfare state), but softened, bent, and guided. Men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence. It does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, until each nation is reduced to be nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." Alexis de Tocqueville

"In short, they committed

On July 6th, 2009 TxRedneck says:

"In short, they committed treason. They broke the law. They disobeyed their government. They were traitors, criminals and tax cheats."

This is NOT true. You need to read the Law of Nations, VATTEL. It was the King who was violating the LAW, not the Revolutionist. Just because a King declares something to be Law does not make it Law, this had already been established in history BEFORE the Declaration of Independence and the Revolution.

----------------------------------------------------------
"Ehhh, What's ups Doc?" Bugs Bunny
"Scwewy Wabbit!" Elmer Fudd

This excellent post needs to be resurrected....

On July 6th, 2009 loyaltothecrazyuncle says:

Thanks for the bump!

On July 6th, 2009 xntryk1 says:

:-)
______________________________________
“Let them protest all they want, as long as they pay their taxes.” ...credited to Al Haig, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State.
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...

"Cautious, careful people,

On July 5th, 2009 Realdeal says:

"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences." ~ Susan B. Anthony

Well....

On July 5th, 2009 SimpleSam says:

I truly think it's a matter of both.

Not really cowardice as much as it is, the population having been played out for so long in allowing themselves to be told what to do.....they don't want to be embarrassed in actuality by acting like Rebels & lawbreakers.

Which as stupid as it sounds, is the real reason the people of this country did not declare a revolution right after the Federal Reserve came to action.

I don't think it was so much any fear of government real or imagined...but more so, it was because of our own insecurities in being viewed as "outcasts" and "lawbreakers" by all the various outfits....

The terms somehow became more important on us, as if they were emotionally scarring and embarrassing.

When in truth we should have been proud to be lawbreakers, to be rebels etc. Today it's not fashionable anymore.

People don't mind an orderly revolution nowadays that is in line with the rule of law, and of stirring the apple cart and breaking a few eggs, but they are EXTREMELY skittish about.....

A) AN all out open revolution where everyone goes nuts and breaks the law...

B) An all out open Revolution where everyone commits crimes and are viewed as "anarchists"

C) The embarrassment they receive in front of their fellow countrymen, when they commit crimes, shoot their guns in the air or violate everything.

It's COMPLETELY backwards what this country has turned into. They no longer wish to be the rebels, and if anything is to change without people looking like fools, they WANT it all to stay within the rules of society.

But let me tell you.....NO real change has ever come from within the walls of society. It's come from those who BREAK it....and they are viewed with the most scorn.

Simply

On July 5th, 2009 Forge says:

a fantastic article.

Thanks for sharing.

Awesome

On July 5th, 2009 DaninPA says:

is all I can say right now.

--------------------------------
Neither nations nor households can build prosperity through debt and consumption, but rather through thrift and productivity.
-William Norman Grigg

bump

On July 5th, 2009 iehuvihs says:

bump

Great find

On July 5th, 2009 quiltingsando says:

bump.

bump

On July 5th, 2009 Ragnar D says:

Ron Paul is my President.

Holy Crap What a Great Article!

On July 5th, 2009 hawkiye says:

Hit the nail square on the head! Every time I read this gals writing I like what I read! Huge bump for liberty! Everyone needs to read this!

-----
End The Fat
59 pounds lost and counting! Get in shape for the revolution!

Get Prepared!

Amenhotep!

On July 5th, 2009 FoxCreek says:

Agreed!

On July 5th, 2009 xntryk1 says:

(but Larken is a guy, not a gal :-))...

______________________________________
“Let them protest all they want, as long as they pay their taxes.” ...credited to Al Haig, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State.
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...

Great post

On July 5th, 2009 tog2476 says:

I hope we will all wake up soon.

bump www.retakecongress.com w

On July 5th, 2009 ThePatriot says:

bump

www.retakecongress.com

www.revolutionbroadcastin...

www.randpaulmoneybomb.com

The more taxes that

On July 5th, 2009 jkm1864 says:

The more taxes that Washington pile on the greater opportunity I see for freedom. Most of the guys I work with are getting really pissed off right now and it makes me laugh. One day Washington will pass a tax that will make the American TAX PAYER stand up and say enough is enough. I don't think voting the bastards out will fix all the problems but its a start and We are well on the way to seeing some real change. They can keep parading a bunch of jack asses in front of us but one day the tax payers will get the hint. Personally I want to see people rise up and hang all the traitors on pay per view but then again if our problems are solved peacefully I'll be equally happy as long as the traitors are doing hard time.

the new mandatory

On July 5th, 2009 dducks says:

healthcare bill is the last straw for me. If they make this mandatory I will not pay. I have contributed just about enough for the murder of Arabs too. I am seriously considering not paying FIT either.

Agree...

On July 5th, 2009 SimpleSam says:

I have done a lot of things outside the law which I would consider revolutionary, I am an anarchist but not enough of an anarchist...

People in this country have forgotten what it means to be anarchists. And it's so sad that they are more EMBARRASSED of being viewed a certain way, than they are of putting their own country back under control of its rightful rulers....The people.

bump for freedom*)))

On July 5th, 2009 legalizeliberty says:

your post makes my day - Thank you*)))

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
-- Patrick Henry