Sic Semper Tyrannis

Felix Fuchs/The Eagle

When in the Course of our world’s affairs,

The peoples see necessity to now

Dissolve the former bands and chains which have

Oppressed them under madmen’s reigns too long,

.

And to assume among the powers of

The earth, their separate and equal fate

To which the Laws of Reason, not of any

Religion’s god, entitle them, a decent

Respect to the opinions of mankind

.

Requires that they must declare the causes

Which now impel them to the separation…

.

“We hold these truths – we’re just spectators –

Self evident and equal while we fight,

Endowing our Creator(s)

With certain alienating rights…

Among these: Our lives

And our Liberty

And our Happiness, too…”

.

But to secure these rights, democracy

Must be established among Men and Women,

Deriving all just powers from consent of

The governed people and their own free will.

.

Whenever any form of government

Becomes destructive of these ends and hurts

The people, killing without mercy or

Regret, it’s nothing but a murderous madness.

.

It is the right then of the people there

And truly of the world to alter or

Abolish it and institute a new

Tomorrow and a brave New World for all

.

And laying its foundation on such rights

And organizing all its powers in

Such form, as to them shall seem likely to

Effect their own and our Safety, too.

.

These are odyssean times, but on the red horizon

We see the dawning of a new tomorrow.

In times ahead, indeed, no man dictates,

And only our prudence rules supreme!

.

But governments so long established should not

Be changed for light, transient causes now;

.

But our cause is just!

And our coalition strong!

.

Accordingly experience of the past

Hath shewn that West and East are more disposed

To suffer or to turn away their faces,

While evils are still sufferable and oil can

.

Flow,

.

Instead of speaking up and keeping their

Old promise to the world and finally

Abolish all undemocratic forms to which

We are accustomed in our world today.

.

And it is necessary, it is legal,

And it is right, and I believe we should not

Just stand aside while tyrants murder masses.

But when decades of crimes, abuses and

.

So many usurpations, suddenly

Explode it should now finally convince

The world to help evince a new design

To force the despots into sad submission.

.

It is right.

It is a sacred duty

To topple every tyrant,

To catch him,

Try him,

And to provide new guards

For our future.

.

.

*This poem is based on the Declaration of Independence and uses remarks by President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron