And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world...
... mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world ...
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world....

~tears4fears~
listen

This song touches me on so many levels, I am not sure that I can relate them. I do not wish to go into the personal ways it touches me, but I find myself reflecting on how it puts a sentiment on the conflict in my soul regarding the direction of our country, and the world.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee each of us the freedom to "the pursuit of happiness." It does not guarantee that we will gain it. Nor does it seek to punish success in order to subsidize failure. The miracle of our country is that we have the "freedom" to succeed or fail without interference from others. It is our choice.

Somehow, we have lost our way. Instead of being responsible and accountable, people look to others(the government) to make them whole. There is no consequence for bad decisions, or behavior. No accountability.

What happened to being a decent person? What has happened to working hard, and doing the right thing? Where has this sense of entitlement, and skewed morality sprung from? (And I am not speaking in a religious sense of morality, but in regards to what is just.) What has happened to the freedom and dignity of our people...of America?

To quote Thomas Wolfe: "Let me tell you what justice is. Justice is the law. And the law is man's feeble attempt to set down the principles of decency. Decency! And decency is not a deal, it isn't an angle, or a contract, or a hustle! Decency... decency is what your grandmother taught you. It's in your bones! Now you go home. Go home and be decent people. Be decent." ...Bonfire of the Vanities.

I am just one voice. But mine is not alone. Many of us are raising it on April 15 to send a message to Washington that the spirit of our founding fathers is not dead. We are angry and determined to stop the current direction our government seems determined to follow. We are not of any particular political group...just Americans...who love our country...who love our Freedom...and will fight to keep it.

In the spirit of my ancestors, I say...

"Touche not the catt bot a targe!"

Do not touch this cat without a shield!

Or more to the point...

"Do not tread on me!"

Please take a moment to view the works of these very talented deviants: *Blueskye27, =saga-of-anonymous, and ~rhuarch. Check out their journals and enjoy their separate, but wonderfully divergent and special offerings!

Comme toujours, soyez bien, mes amis.