Shared Air

Guy walks into a church and says “You all may think a life of chains and bondage is worth living, but not me. I’d rather be dead!”  Fellow churchman asks, “Is someone trying to enslave you?” First guy replies, “Well, no, it’s a metaphor. I was making an analogy about taxes and representation.” The churchman says, “Phew, that’s a relief. Being a real slave would suck.”

No, it’s not really very funny. And the analogy was kind of a sick joke in retrospect. Quite ironical. But that’s nothing: Another guy, different guy this time. A blacksmith. He learns to read, absorbs the revolutionary ideas of the founding fathers. He thinks liberty is preferable to death, even if it’s the slow death of overwork and invisibleness. The blacksmith, not his own man but a charismatic type, wins some converts and they arm-up and press for freedom. It doesn’t go over well and he’s hanged. Turns out the pursuit of happiness had some glitches to be worked out.

=====

Don’t forget, you can find us on Facebook | Richmond Matters http://bit.ly/H0ceK and also on twitter: http://twitter.com/RICMatters