POV David
June 7th 913 (2016)
I looked at the assembled masses before me, sitting as I walked the length of the thear's stage. "People of Aucterfilth, there is much change about, and i'm here to announce more. To help show you a brighter, prosperous future."
"I have a dream, that in these wide valleys and foothills, a verdant paradise of opportunity will await. I imagine that others will speak jealousy of that, and covet our rewards. I have a Dream that one day, every man, woman, and child shall be free of the injustice wrought upon them by this unjust government, and that I will strive to right that injustice." I spoke passionately, my words echoing through the theater, being repeated by a few hired magicians of the magicians guild across the city.
"Let today be the day they hear the song, my country tis of thee, this sweet land of liberty! Lands where our parents died, land of the adventures pride. From every mountainside, let Freedom ring." I shouted, I paused and looked out at the crowd, watching their faces.
"I have a dream, that one day my children will live in a nation judged not by the color of their skin, their race, or their sex, but by the content of their character and their deeds… So I dream."
"I dream, as Lady Aneria did when she tamed the first of the griffons, when Queen Vesta Vandame laid the first pavers of Simfurdur's grand boulevards. I dream of the Peace Hera Jullio did when she bested the Necromancer Nar`shallgul."
I started slowly walking the length of the stage again, speaking slowly and deliberately. "Let us not wallow in the valleys of self despair, nor in woe… So I say, even as we toil in the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. And this dream I hold to be the self-evident truths, that one day this nation will rise up, and hold these truths as I do."
"I do not believe the bank of justice is bankrupt. I have dreamed that now is the time to make right the promissory note of that bank, to restore the people's voice, and their rightful power. I have a dream, that one day our descendants will look back upon our struggles and toils, and be glad we cashed that check, and restored Democracy to the people."
"I have a Dream that one day, our names will be heard round the world, as those brave enough to make a difference. I have a Dream that all of us, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, may live happily till the end of our days.
"I have come to this hallowed spot, where the hero of the people, lady Aneria once stood twenty score ago. I stand here to remind all Monrovians of the fierceness and urgency of our time, that we shake off the tranquil drug of acceptance."
"Now is time to make real the promises of our Heroes. America, Hera, Vixen, William, and Paul. Now is the time to raise our nation from the injustice of its discrimination and onto the sunlit road of brother and sisterhood. To give voice to God's children, a voice long denied, to give the people their power, so long stripped, to give people their freedom, so long oppressed."
"I have a Dream, that one day. I will not be spoken of as a radical, but as a visionary. Of this future I dream."
The crowd, previously murmuring, broke out in cheers. I waved, smiling at the people. I glanced up at the rafters of the theater where Shyora stood. I gave her a nod and she threw several small pamphlets into the crowd, using a bit of magic to spread them around. People snatched them as they fell, though most could not read, those that could did so, relaying what was inside the pamphlets for all around them.
I slowly slipped out of the theater, Shyora appearing beside me from the shadows as I walked into the crowd, disguising myself like anyone else. "Will these… rights, and your speech make a difference?"
"Of course, as long as they are upheld and respected, and I uphold my promises, we will quickly find ourselves with the love of the people." I replied, watching as the people spoke excitedly.
I glanced at the magicians that were reading the pamphlets, smiling as I heard the oh so familiar words of the bill of rights. Slightly reworded and condensed to be more understandable, but without compromising their meaning. I snagged a pamphlet from the ground, reading from the freshly printed, slightly smeared ink.
1.A well Regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state. The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
2.Congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free practice of faith, neither to abridge the freedoms of speech or the press, to guarantee the right of the people to peaceable assemble to petition the government for redress of grievances.
3.No government shall in time of peace quarter its soldier in the homes of the people, nor in war but insofar as a manner prescribed by law.
4.The right of people to be secure in their persons, homes, effects, and papers against unreasonable searches and seizures and no warrants issued without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation and the place to be searched or persons seized without clear description.
5.No person shall be held to answer for a capital or other crime unless on the presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases of the military forces or militia during actual service in times of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense twice to be put under threat of life or limb; nor be compelled to be witness against themselves in criminal case; nor be deprived of life liberty or property without due course of law; nor shall private property be taken without just compensation.
6.In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trail, by an impartial jury of the state and district of where the crime was committed; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against them; to have compulsory process to obtain witnesses in their favor, and have the assistance of counsel in their defense.
7.Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fine be imposed; not cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted. In suits of common law, the right of trail by jury shall be preserved; and no fact tried by an accused may be reexamined in any court in Monrovia, than by those laws.
8.The people living upon or born on the land under the jurisdiction of the Monrovian government shall from the date of this article's ratification be considered citizens and henceforth all persons born upon the land be granted citizenship and those who come under it may be granted naturalization of their citizenship. The suffrage of all citizens aged 20 and more guaranteed and reason for removal of suffrage may not include race, sex, religion, nor may birth, status, or capital be reasons to exclude from their suffrage but by a fair trial by court of law.
9.The enumeration in the constitution of certain rights, shall not be constructed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
10.Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for criminal offense whereof the party has been duly convicted shall exist within Monrovia, nor in any territory under its jurisdiction for any reason.