Why didn't we think of this? As long as we are Rogues, celebrate!

Mary Sue commented on a recent post, suggesting that maybe this rogue business, and the charge by Moderator Duncan, wasn't all bad news. So I followed the link to the Rogue Brewery

Great place! The Rogue Nation, a place with "tongues firmly planted in our cheeks" etc, has published a Declaration of Independence worthy of good beer and rogues.

Here it is:

"We, the undersigned Rogues, with tongues firmly planted in our cheeks and with the inherent power derived from within and the Laws of Hops and Barley, declare the intent to form a Micro-Nation — the Rogue Nation — a global alliance without borders, its citizenry possessing an unswerving responsible allegiance to the Rogue within, unfettered by limitations imposed by others, commonly-accepted bullshit, or rules totally lacking in reason.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all Rogues are not created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Freedom of Expression, Absence of Bullshit, Variety, and the Pursuit of Beer with Taste. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Consumers; that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to Taste, Expression, Quality, or Fun, it is the right of the Consumers to alter or to abolish it and to institute a new Government. But when a long train of Sameness and Boredom reduces Variety to Consumers and Passion to its Citizens, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Rogues, and such is now the necessity which requires them to alter their former Systems of Government.

We, therefore, the New Citizens of the Rogue Nation, in General Congress Assembled, do, in the Name by the Authority of all Wrong-Thinking People, solemnly publish and declare that the Rogue Nation, its Embassies, Outposts, and Protected Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to Any Country, its Laws, Limitations, Expectations, Traditions, or Bullshit; and that as a Free and Independent Nation they have full Power to levy War against the Status Quo, conclude Peace with Like-Minded Peoples and Countries, establish Commerce, and to do all other irresponsible and illogical Acts and Things which an Independent Nation may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, we mutually pledge to each other to keep one foot firmly in reality, but continue to Dare, Risk, Dream."

Of the many fine statements in that declaration, the one that stands out as having resonance in Anglican land is this: "a global alliance without borders, its citizenry possessing an unswerving responsible allegiance to the Rogue within, unfettered by limitations imposed by others, commonly-accepted bullshit, or rules totally lacking in reason." Since "Rogue" refers to spirits, and all that, we could change the word "Rogue" to "Spirit" and it would almost sound like non puritan Quakers (if there is such a group) or maybe Anglicans. At any rate, a spirited uplift in an otherwise difficult day.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT TIL ELECTION DAY HAS COME AND GONE.

VOTE!