barrk
Dec 13th, 2000, 10:38 AM
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
OBITUARY: DEMOCRACY DEAD AT 224
http://www.geocities.com/dearkandb/index.html
United States Supreme Court: The ideal of American government succumbs
after
protracted gang-rape. The one-time virtue and muse of our national life
was
known for rising above partisanship.
WASHINGTON--Democracy, an American ideal who championed causes ranging
from
full enfranchisement to civil rights, and was an influential presence in
national political issues, died Saturday. She was 224.
Officials writing for the majority at the United States Supreme Court,
where
Democracy died Saturday afternoon, declined to release a rational
explanation for her demise. Constitutional scholars and historians say
she
apparently succumbed to injuries suffered during prolonged and violent
torture and gang-rape.
Democracy had undergone what these scholars describe as "willful torture,
clearly intended to result in her demise." Just Friday, they had
expressed
hope that she would escape her captors and tormentors, the Republican
Party,
the Bush-Cheney campaign, and the conservative majority of the Unites
States
Supreme Court.
From Washington to Los Angles, the well-liked, soft-spoken Democracy was
remembered as the "ultimate expression of the peoples' will," who had
risen
above partisanship during a career in national politics dating from 1776.
She was widely respected by progressive politicians for taking on
thankless
but important jobs, including equal rights for women and minorities; and
had, until recently, enjoyed a friendly working relationship with
conservatives on the other side of the aisle.
A onetime elusive, almost impossible ideal, Democracy came into her own
during the second half of the Twentieth Century. In recent years,
however,
she was increasingly unable to fend off ceaseless efforts by the radical
right wing of the Republican Party to overturn her record of inclusion
and
empowerment. "Republican tactics before, during and after this election
already have a rank odor" said constitutional scholar Anthony Lewis. "She
[Democracy] held on, though, for as long as she was able."
President Bill Clinton praised Democracy as a heroine who "worked
tirelessly
for the citizens of our nation," and "worked hard to make sure that the
voices of the less fortunate could always be heard." Vice President and
presidential candidate Al Gore recalled Democracy as "a grand pursuit,
perhaps the most noble pursuit ever undertaken by humanity," in a somber
statement late Saturday evening. "She wasn't one who used demagoguery or
went out of her way to harm others," Gore added. "She was more interested
in
serving the people."
A little over a month ago, Democracy was reported missing by voters in
Florida's Palm Beach County. Soon, reports began flowing in from other
counties in the state, indicating that she was thought to be missing
there
as well. Concerned citizens from other areas of the state, indeed from
all
over the country, joined in a desperate search for the missing icon.
Concern soon turned to dread as reports began trickling in that Democracy
was being held hostage by the Republican Party, the Bush-Cheney campaign,
and the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court. As the reports
grew
more ominous, it became apparent that rape was the motive.
With ostrich-like denial, the national press refused to entertain the
possibility that the venerated American muse might be in danger. Despite
urgent reports and voluminous evidence, which continued to mount for
several
weeks, the media treated her abduction and torture with indifference and
good humor. Progressive political leaders and involved citizens,
including
presidential candidate Gore, continued to appeal to the Fifth Estate for
its
assistance in investigating and documenting the crime in progress, to no
avail. These same political leaders and citizens petitioned the courts
to
intervene on Democracy's behalf, but were rebuffed.
Just this Friday, hopes were again raised when it appeared that Democracy
might escape her tormentors alive. Progressives celebrated in the
streets
of America, honking their horns and hugging each other in unabashed joy.
Their relief was short-lived, however, as word came Saturday indicating
that
Democracy had, indeed, died at the United States Supreme Court.
"There isn't a single time when the people called upon her that she
wasn't
there," said Florida Representative Lois Frankel (D), wiping away tears,
"I
am just so sorry that we couldn't be there to save her."
In a display of excruciatingly bad taste, powerful members of the
Republican
Party appeared on a series of national media programs, to celebrate
Democracy's death, and to congratulate those responsible for her rape and
murder. When questioned about the circumstances surrounding her death, a
Bush aide in Tallahassee commented, laughing, "It's just a family
affair."
Memorial services for the deceased will be held at undisclosed locations,
nationwide, for the next four years.
"The shock [of Democracy's death] will linger for a while," said Rev.
Cecil
Murray of First AME Church. "But a great person always stands taller than
her tombstone."
OBITUARY: DEMOCRACY DEAD AT 224
http://www.geocities.com/dearkandb/index.html
United States Supreme Court: The ideal of American government succumbs
after
protracted gang-rape. The one-time virtue and muse of our national life
was
known for rising above partisanship.
WASHINGTON--Democracy, an American ideal who championed causes ranging
from
full enfranchisement to civil rights, and was an influential presence in
national political issues, died Saturday. She was 224.
Officials writing for the majority at the United States Supreme Court,
where
Democracy died Saturday afternoon, declined to release a rational
explanation for her demise. Constitutional scholars and historians say
she
apparently succumbed to injuries suffered during prolonged and violent
torture and gang-rape.
Democracy had undergone what these scholars describe as "willful torture,
clearly intended to result in her demise." Just Friday, they had
expressed
hope that she would escape her captors and tormentors, the Republican
Party,
the Bush-Cheney campaign, and the conservative majority of the Unites
States
Supreme Court.
From Washington to Los Angles, the well-liked, soft-spoken Democracy was
remembered as the "ultimate expression of the peoples' will," who had
risen
above partisanship during a career in national politics dating from 1776.
She was widely respected by progressive politicians for taking on
thankless
but important jobs, including equal rights for women and minorities; and
had, until recently, enjoyed a friendly working relationship with
conservatives on the other side of the aisle.
A onetime elusive, almost impossible ideal, Democracy came into her own
during the second half of the Twentieth Century. In recent years,
however,
she was increasingly unable to fend off ceaseless efforts by the radical
right wing of the Republican Party to overturn her record of inclusion
and
empowerment. "Republican tactics before, during and after this election
already have a rank odor" said constitutional scholar Anthony Lewis. "She
[Democracy] held on, though, for as long as she was able."
President Bill Clinton praised Democracy as a heroine who "worked
tirelessly
for the citizens of our nation," and "worked hard to make sure that the
voices of the less fortunate could always be heard." Vice President and
presidential candidate Al Gore recalled Democracy as "a grand pursuit,
perhaps the most noble pursuit ever undertaken by humanity," in a somber
statement late Saturday evening. "She wasn't one who used demagoguery or
went out of her way to harm others," Gore added. "She was more interested
in
serving the people."
A little over a month ago, Democracy was reported missing by voters in
Florida's Palm Beach County. Soon, reports began flowing in from other
counties in the state, indicating that she was thought to be missing
there
as well. Concerned citizens from other areas of the state, indeed from
all
over the country, joined in a desperate search for the missing icon.
Concern soon turned to dread as reports began trickling in that Democracy
was being held hostage by the Republican Party, the Bush-Cheney campaign,
and the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court. As the reports
grew
more ominous, it became apparent that rape was the motive.
With ostrich-like denial, the national press refused to entertain the
possibility that the venerated American muse might be in danger. Despite
urgent reports and voluminous evidence, which continued to mount for
several
weeks, the media treated her abduction and torture with indifference and
good humor. Progressive political leaders and involved citizens,
including
presidential candidate Gore, continued to appeal to the Fifth Estate for
its
assistance in investigating and documenting the crime in progress, to no
avail. These same political leaders and citizens petitioned the courts
to
intervene on Democracy's behalf, but were rebuffed.
Just this Friday, hopes were again raised when it appeared that Democracy
might escape her tormentors alive. Progressives celebrated in the
streets
of America, honking their horns and hugging each other in unabashed joy.
Their relief was short-lived, however, as word came Saturday indicating
that
Democracy had, indeed, died at the United States Supreme Court.
"There isn't a single time when the people called upon her that she
wasn't
there," said Florida Representative Lois Frankel (D), wiping away tears,
"I
am just so sorry that we couldn't be there to save her."
In a display of excruciatingly bad taste, powerful members of the
Republican
Party appeared on a series of national media programs, to celebrate
Democracy's death, and to congratulate those responsible for her rape and
murder. When questioned about the circumstances surrounding her death, a
Bush aide in Tallahassee commented, laughing, "It's just a family
affair."
Memorial services for the deceased will be held at undisclosed locations,
nationwide, for the next four years.
"The shock [of Democracy's death] will linger for a while," said Rev.
Cecil
Murray of First AME Church. "But a great person always stands taller than
her tombstone."