Scream: Mary Surratt Edition

Mary Surratt. You've probably heard her name before. She was the first woman to hang in the United States. She was convicted of conspiracy to murder Abraham Lincoln. Bad person, yes?

Except her *military* trial was rigged. Basic rights were grossly denied her. She shouldn't have even had a damn military trial, she should have had a civil trial with a jury of her peers, not a bunch of generals- good friends of Lincoln, angrily grieving their loss.

Still, she was just a bad person who just got the harsh treatment she deserved, right?

Her attorney, Mr. Aiken, asked a DC court for a writ of habeus corpus with the argument that the military tribunal had no jurisdiction over his client. The writ was issued at 3 AM. President Johnson cancelled the writ at 11:30 AM. She was walked out to hang at 1:15 PM. From the scaffold, one of the others set to hang (Powell) said, "Mrs. Surratt is innocent. She doesn't deserve to die with the rest of us." She complained that the bindings about her arms hurt, and the officer preparing her said, "Well, it won't hurt long."

Bitches be bitches.

Why do we not learn of occasions such as this in history class? Is it because that may spoil our allegiance to the flag? We are being indoctrinated into the national cult, the history of which we are not even fully aware.

Please, take your time to learn a little about the hell some have gone through at the expense of liberty before you go around declaring America to be the greatest country in existence.

Omegle Featurette: Healthcare Opinions (AKA: Scream)

Today I decided to do something I deemed interesting. In light of the recent health care bill I know you all know has been passed, I've gone beyond my usual complaining. Beyond typing a few bad words. What sparked this, you ask? I wanted to know the varying opinions of people from not just my neighborhood- not just my state- not even just my country. I've gone beyond national borders. I've gone into a completely randomized, worldwide survey.

Of course, there were some limitations. For example, I could only reach people who have access to a computer and were online at the same time I was. How did I know I could get completely honest opinions? That's simple. I went to the most anonymous place I could think of.

That's right, internetters.

Omegle.

Here are some of the responses I received.

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: hello

Stranger: i love it

You: Why?

Stranger: now there is healthcare for the unfortunate of our country

You: Thanks for your opinion :)

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: i dont really care. wtff?

 

Stranger: hey

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: i dnt like it

You: Why?

Stranger: all our taxes are gonna go up

Stranger: and the health care is only gonna benifit those that caused the issue in the first place

You: Thanks for your opinion :) 

 

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: Asl

You: 14 f usa

Stranger: It's good

Stranger: The more like rngland you are the better

Stranger: Now old people won't die just ecause they can't afford drugs

You: Thanks for your opinion :)

 

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: hi

Stranger: i like obama

You: But what do you think of the bill?

Stranger: its good. we need healthcare.

You: Thanks for your opinion :)

 

You: What do you think of the fact that the healthcare bill passed in the US?

Stranger: it fuckin blows

You: Why?

Stranger: cause i work for a living

Stranger: what do you think of it

You: Thanks for your opinion, love :) So far, you're my favorite.

You: And I completely agree.

 

There you go. I believe that's an accurate representation of how the US- along with other countries around the world- is reacting in general. Right now, millions of people- even beyond those 32 million uninsured, who I know are jumping for joy- are acting like Obama is God, and everything he does will directly benefit this country. I think it's fine that you like Obama. I don't expect you to have the same political beliefs as me.

However, I do expect you to maintain a certain level of suspicion. I don't mean, "Oh, he's black, he's a bad person, watch him." I don't even mean, "He's un-American because he's a Democrat." I just believe that, quite frankly, 99% of politicians give the other 1% a bad name, and you can never know who's in which category.

I, personally, think that people should base their judgments not on what political party the suggestion came from, and not whether you like the majority of the ideas of the person who suggested it. I try to judge all of Obama's ideas on a, basically, idea-to-idea basis. I don't want to get in the habit many people I know are stuck in: "Obama suggested it, so it must be bad for the country."

I do believe that he is capable of doing good things for this country. However, I do not believe this- or, to put it bluntly, anything else he has done or plans to do- is his best attempt at showing this potential.

And as I sit here, in my living room, munching on fruit snacks, I leave you with this: if you're my age, you're a teenager. I hate to tell you this, but at some point, you're going to be responsible for electing the president of the United States. You will have a say eventually, and when you do, I don't want you to speak your voice.

I want you to scream, dammit. Scream for what you believe in. Scream for the good ideas; scream against the bad ones. Make sure you're heard. If you're like me, you're probably a minority in your school. Most people in my school couldn't tell you who the vice president is at the moment, and even more couldn't tell you what Nancy Pelosi's job is.

Don't be like them. They're going to be the ones in ten years saying, "Why does this matter?" And if the majority of people are asking that, then the voices of those who know why it matters will not be heard. Unless, of course, we scream.

Do a protest, make this the subject of your next class speech, write it on a bathroom stall; I could care less. I just take pride in knowing that there are people out there, my age, who know what they want and need from their government, and know when they are or are not getting it.

I really hope you're one of those people.

Scream on.