We the People

"We, ever your servants, will continue to defend your liberty and defend the forces that seek to take it from you!" - Rufus Scrimgeour, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010)

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In my Civics & Economics class, we were each asked to rewrite the Preamble in our own words. Aside from the basic grammatical irks (misuses of "shall," Seemingly random Capitalization - both of which must have been OK back then), I realized it is in dire need of updating. Here is my rewrite:

"We the people, human and otherwise, in order to perfect our union to the greatest possible degree; as well as establish true justice and ensure domestic tranquility; defend our borders and everything within – and without when necessary – yet force no being to fight unwillingly; equalize opportunities for those who seek them (depending upon plausibility but not determining anyone’s welfare according to factors out of any individual’s ability to control); secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and for our posterity – these do ordain and furthermore establish this Constitution, and any further updates within reason, of these United States of America."

Mine may not be perfect (or to perfection's greatest possible degree, as it were) - but I try to acknowledge equal rights for all - not just straight white men, not even just for humans. All beings deserve a chance at life in the beginning, and how it works out is to be determined. I do not appreciate the fact of being bred simply to die; in fact, I despise how egg-chickens are handled, to name one thing in a thousand. Nor do I like the whole "born rich, die rich / born poor, die poor" thing which seems to be going on. I do realize that there are exceptions, but it seems harder to do well when one comes from a shabby background. Life is a game - and I don't literally mean the board game of that title - and a rigged one at that. Sometimes the only way to win for any amount of time is to cheat back. I've been surviving, as stated in previous posts, and I intend to continue doing so. I didn't get where I am today by sitting on my ass complaining; I got here by doing stuff. And while various systems have screwed me over, I don't waste any more time than I have to dealing with them. I am strong, in other words.

But the Constitution, much like the Bible, seems to need a bit of tweaking. And no, I was not in the Preamble number in Schoolhouse Rock Live!, although my friends were.

Love to all,

Lewis

I Will Survive!

"Nothin's over while I'm breathin'!" - Quaritch (from James Cameron's Avatar)

"My best advice is...survive." - Haymitch Abernathy (approximate paraphrase from memory)

"You may kill me, but you may never insult me." - Captain Jack Sparrow

"First ya hate 'im, then ya respect 'im, then ya kill'im!" - Monty Python's "Mosquito Hunters" sketch

"Nice people finish last." - Dunno who said it

"Slow and steady wins the race; fast and steady wins it better." - My sister Laura

"You really don't stand a chance." - Mr. Ollivander

"Some say to survive, you need to be as mad as a hatter, which, luckily, I am." Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter

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I consider it plausible that at least some of you have wondered where the hell I have gotten to. Why has Lewis not been updating? I'll tell you: my laptop was malfunctioning so we took it into the Geek Squad at Best Buy. They waited a week before telling us what was wrong, and almost three more weeks to supposedly fix it. When I received said computer, it didn't seem that they had done a freaking thing. So we sent it to them again last week (not my idea) and there it has remained. I began to resort to scribbling poems in journals and such and emailing myself documents. Many people would have despaired long ago due to lack of technology, but I found ways around it. I think I am fully capable of surviving without Facebook and all that, although I prefer my stories typed. And iTunes should be an online thing, like the Amazon Kindle, in which the device is hooked up to the account.

As I said, many people seem to be digitally reliant. While I have an appreciation for computrical things, I don't make horcruxes out of them (couldn't resist an HP reference). I suppose a nod to the One Ring would also be appropriate. People who pour their beings into devices are leaning on a crutch, which, when broken or stolen, will drop a person to the ground. Rising might be difficult. In my stage-combat class this past summer, which I took for a week of five days at Raleigh Little Theatre, we had several balancing exercises, which I now realize apply not only literally, but metaphorically as well. I am a survivor. I do not need many material things, and I try not to put down an excessive amount of roots anywhere (unless they transmit signals for when I depart, like neurons or whatever).

I want to travel the globe, and I'll probably only take a few pairs of clothes, something to read (Kindle?), something to write on as well as a drawing pad and utensils, a camera-camcorder combo, possibly my phone, and a laptop if I have one then. Bloody Geek Squad.... Anyhow, it's not insane to think the aforementioned might be one device soon. Something on which to read; write; capture; record; draw; print; call; view things such as time, temperature, cardinal direction, map, altitude, date, and so forth; shine a light; and resist things such as shock of impact and water in the circuits. I am aware that many of these things are already combined, and that it might be pricy, but all in one would be good, and saving pennies might be prudent. But with or without this potential life-saver/-destroyer, I shall survive. I have a certain proclivity for it. That's the same reason I don't smoke or drink or do other drugs in the common sense of the word.

Much love to you all (and may the odds be ever in your favor),

Lewis M. Winter