An Overdue Visit

A holiday poem from the ACLU, who are NOT trying to destroy Christmas - enjoy, and happy holidays to everyone!


An Overdue Visit

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the nation
Friends of Freedom knew it was a special occasion.
Lady Liberty stood taller just off the shore
Her torch shining brighter than a few weeks before

But it wasn't the flame turning her cheeks all rosy
It was thoughts of Snowe, Feingold and Nancy Pelosi
And leaders from every side of the aisle
Who would soon bring the Bill of Rights back into style.

The Amendments had all hurried out of their beds -
Which was no easy task, they were nearly in shreds -
And they rushed to the window on papery feet
As a jolly old man flew right over their street.

"Could it be!?" they inquired as the roof shook and trembled
And they crept toward the mantle, peaceably assembled,
Just as someone emerged from the chimney with flair
In a shiny red suit, with a shock of white hair

And a top hat, and pants all in red, white and blue -
"Wait a minute," the Amendments exclaimed, "Who are you?"
"Don't be frightened my children," he said, "it's no scam.
"You can't have forgotten your old Uncle Sam!"

"Holy crap!" said Free Speech. "Stop right there!" yelled Bear Arms
And Privacy cried "Who shut off the alarms?!"
The Fifth remained silent, but Uncle Sam said
"We've been having some trouble, but Freedom's not dead."

The Amendments were cautious. "It's just been so long
"We've seen Liberty lost, we've seen so much go wrong.
"The President's trying to mangle and warp us,
"The Fourth is in tatters, so's Habeas Corpus!"

The old man sat down - he had had quite a ride -
But he told them "Don't worry, the Law's on our side,
"'Cause the nation's fed up and more people are crying
"For Justice and an end to illegal spying,

"And secret abductions by the CIA,
"And laws that would take women's choices away,
"And Gitmo tribunals and secret detention,
"And other intrusions too numerous to mention - "

"Not so fast," said a grinchity voice from above
And Don Rumsfeld pushed past the Fourteenth with a shove.
He was covered in soot and he looked kind of scary.
It seemed like his Christmas had not been so merry.

The Amendments said they weren't happy to see him:
"You tried to throw all of us in the museum!
"You've done so much the Constitution forbids!"
"And I would have gone on, but for you meddling kids!"

Uncle Sam told him "Rummy, your plans just won't do,
"So we've got a brand new timetable for you!"
And as Rumsfeld retired and crept into the night
The Amendments cried out "Have a good secret flight!"

From the distance they heard him reply with a snort.
"Bye-bye, Rummy!" they answered, "we'll see you in court!"
Uncle Sam rode the chimney up out of the room
And, like Frosty, he said "I'll be back again soon."

But they heard him exclaim "Oh, and just one more thing!
"This year, when the holiday bells start to ring,
"Try to honor religion. Honest faith can't be wrong.
"It's America, can't we all just get along?

"So, on Christian," he cried, "Muslim, Hindu, and Jew!
"On Quaker! On Shaker! And Atheist too!
"On Buddhist! On Taoist! And to show we're not chickens
"We'll file a few lawsuits defending the Wiccans!

"Your belief is your right, so get out there and savor it.
"Uncle Sam's not a preacher, and he doesn't play favorites!"
So this holiday season, whatever you do,
Warmest wishes for Freedom, from the ACLU.

Free Hugs

Free Hugs in Sydney - Juan Mann One Love

I read about this guy in the Collegiate Times. Such a great idea...I wish I had thought of it! Free hugs for everyone!

To Heather, and beyond!

Want to put your name in a movie quote? I got some great ones:


When there's no more room in hell, the Heather will walk the earth. (Dawn of the Dead)

It's a Sicilian message. It means tonight Luca Brasi sleeps with the Heather. (The Godfather)

Heather, for lack of a better word, is good. (Wall Street)

I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, I've been seeing this Heather. (Close Encounters of the Third Kind)

Listen to them. Children of the Heather. What music they make. (Dracula)

I want that Heather, not excuses. (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

They don't throw their garbage away. They make it into Heather. (Annie Hall)

First rule of Heather Club is - you do not talk about Heather Club. (Fight Club)

Heather? We ain't got no Heather! We don't need no Heather! I don't have to show you any stinking Heather! (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre)

Love means never having to say you're Heather. (Love Story)


I could go on, probably for days...and it works with any word, too!

"You had me at 'slapshot' "

In Transition

I feel bad that I haven't posted in a while, but so much has happened in the past two weeks that it's hard for me to sort out yet, especially since I just found out today that I'm starting school in three days instead of a week, so I have to worry about that for a bit. Still alive, though, and still sane...for now.

I'll fill you all in on my reaquaintance with kith and kin when I can sort it out into a coherent narrative. Until then, thanks, you guys, for thinking of me.

Tune in next time...

Let's go fly a kite

This was so amazing, I just had to share it!

:)

Wish me luck

We're unplugging the computer now. See you all on the flip side...

:)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I found this video on a blog for introverts, which I'll be linking to shortly...I watched Mr. Rogers Neighborhood religiously as a kid, and watching this brings it all back. Fred Rogers did more for the children of my generation than anyone else, and this just proves it.

Shameless Self-Indulgence

I don't have any big plans for today, but I still enjoy it enough to want everyone to know about it!

You too can be an artist!

It's late, and I can't think of a witty intro to my very own Picasso, so I'll just let you look at it.

Thank you to my friend Jimmy, who showed me this site.

Fake News

Alright, Jimmy, I racked my brain for three days, and here's what I got. Enjoy.

The March of War

This is really about why guns suck nowadays, but I realized it could be counted for more than that...I just had to get it out.

You are cowards; you have no honor.
You shoot at one onother from the shadows,
slinking like dogs, hiding like soldiers.
What of the days of noble war?
What of the sword and the lance?
No longer a game of skill, yours is a peformance
of attitude: Who wants to die today? Not me.
No longer do you wish to see the eyes of the man you bring down.
Perhaps it helps you think your soul is not damned with his.
No longer do you duel for what is right, but what is small.
A careless word, an imagined insult.
No longer do you stand on the side of good.
Now the good guys are hunting you down.