Category: Usurpation - Bryan William Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere On Our Way: Bertha

12/21/2018

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank: Bertha

Part I of XIII

“Reb?”
“Yeah Gus.”
“Who’s Bertha?”
“You hearing that too?”
“And why don’t they want her coming around anymore?”
“It’s a metaphor.”
“For what?”
“Bertha I suppose.”
“That doesn’t help Johnny.”
“Maybe for us?”
“How?”
“Round and round we go.”
“Like the usurpation.”
“Right Yank.”
“And we’ll just try to see what’s going down.”
“The representation usurpation is going down.”
“I like the bended knees part too Johnny.”
“Noble.”
“Taking a knee for the Constitution.”
“Taking a knee for something greater than yourself.”
“Let’s visit Captain Downs again Reb.”
“Let’s Yank.”

Next Up: 4 January 2019 and part II of the winter series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere On Our Way: Up.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

In Honor of the Seventh Amendment: A Usurper’s Preamble

7/20/2018

Amendment VII.

7/20

Usurped States! Today we honor the Seventh Amendment to the US Constitution (and its “twenty dollars” right) with a Usurper’s Preamble:

We the People of the Usurped States,
in Order to form a more perfect disUnion,
establish inJustice,
insure domestic unTranquility,
provide for the common offence,
promote the general nonWelfare,
and insecure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Usurped States of America.

Next Up: Part 10 on 1 August of the summer series Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Somewhere On Our Way: Equals.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Usurpation Day 2018: Ex Falso Quodlibet / From a Falsehood, Anything (Follows)

4/9/2018

We the People

Willis and Millie

The phrase ex falso quodlibet / from a falsehood, anything (follows), is known as the “principle of explosion” because it blows-up (makes trivial) how true and false work.

The book Farm Boy by Archie Lieberman (1974) depicts my maternal grandparents, Willis and Mildred (Evans) Hammer, as they farmed and raised a family. I’m pretty sure Willis and Millie didn’t know any Latin other than what they learned in Bible study; they would have understood “from a falsehood, anything (follows)” though, and even taught a similar lesson: two wrongs don’t make a right.

There are two great wrongs involving We the People and the usurpation of representation according to numbers. The first involves the usurpation that happened 9 April 1792, when, in response to President Washington’s veto of the first bill sent from Congress regarding the enumeration (census of 1790) and representation, the House of Representatives usurped a shall; the House ignored Washington’s veto and the constitutional ratio of "one for every thirty Thousand" and passed a number more likeable to the usurpers: one for every 33,000.

Veritas

The original constitutional ex falso quodlibet may appear small and perhaps harmless, but consider this: it created the conditions for the second great usurpation, the one that began in 1920. With women getting the vote and other social disruptions within the WW1 era, the House of 1920 did something extraordinary for the second great wrong: nothing. Since the first usurpation, Congress had at least kept using a number, they just kept increasing the ratio in favor of the usurpers; instead of using the census as intended, the counting of We the People for representation, the 1920 House openly ignored Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of our Constitution. It wasn’t until 1929, with the next decennial enumeration looming, that a law was passed setting House representation at 435, regardless of number, thus counteracting the definition of We the People.

Things tend to end as they began. The original usurpation of 9 April 1792 was a fill-in-the-blank moment; the bill was prepared with a blank left for a number and then the usurpers wrote in 33,000. We the People might follow a similar plan, one of mimicry; the 1792 usurpers read the Constitution and acted with pen and paper: nowadays, it feels like We the People are beginning to do the same thing.

Veritas.

*Next Up: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb begin a summer series on Juneteenth 2018, Somewhere On Our Way.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

We the People and Others: What Would Jesus Do… Deport the Catholics?

3/1/2018

Romans 12:17-21, The Book of the Is (page 40)

Reductio ad absurdum

Sure, the Jesus reference in the title is absurd, but there are defining similarities between Jesus and the Dreamers: because of their parents, both were born somewhere and then live somewhere else.

A Roman Immigration Officer might have asked Jesus some interesting questions, like:
“Who is your father?”
“Immaculate conception?”
“Where is your papyrus showing a Bethlehem birth?"
“You say ‘Three Wise Men’ were witnesses?”
“And what kind of work are you doing in Nazareth these days?”

Or one could read Romans for a Jesus-inspired Christ-like teaching that a constitutional We the People might try to enact; others, Martin Luther for example, have found inspiration and reverence in Paul’s counsel.

There is also the parable Jesus told about The Good Samaritan: this parable supports The Great Commandment (how one should live).

So what would Jesus do?

The teachings of Jesus are a political goal not represented by usurpation. Something like “The Good ‘Merican,” given the Great Commandment, seems the logical goal of a Christian United States of America. By representing We the People in Congress according to numbers, that is, by the law, we would find out what Jesus-inspired ‘Mericans would do … good and/or otherwise.

*Next Up: 9 April and Usurpation Day 2018, Ex Falso Quodlibet / From a Falsehood, Anything (Follows).

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

2020 Update: Movement

2/1/2018

Movement 2020

Movement is a noun.

1. An act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.

2. A group of people working together to advance their shared political, social and artistic values.

*Next Up: A commentary on 1 March, We the People and Others: What Would Jesus Do… Deport the Catholics?

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way Memories

12/10/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Boys

XI of XIII

“Now that was some music Reb.”
“Thought you might like that.”
“I did, and I think The Boys here did too.”
“The Boys?”
“Adult Johnnies were all young once, right?”
“Right.”
“I thought I heard some sniffling is what I mean.”
“Memories.”
“Me too.”
“And it was a bit misty Gus.”
“Yes … a bit misty.”
“People from the past gave us a remembrance.”
“The monument?”
“Right.”
“It looks old.”
“Put up after the war.”
“We’re in West Virginia.”
“We are.”
“This monument worked.”
“In a ‘lest we forget’ kind of way?”
“More in a ‘made me remember’ kind of way.”
“About?”
“Let’s visit one of The Boys from Antietam first.”
“Sure ~ step this way.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Doctor

“Doctor?”
“Dr. William S. Parran.”
“Husband too.”
“Yes.”
“‘Born July 5th 1835, Killed at Sharpsburg, September 17th 1862.’”
“Antietam.”
“Look at his age.”
“Young.”
“A 27 year-old doctor.”
“Making me remember Gus.”
“The other day it was all about deserters and cowards Reb.”
“I know.”
“We didn’t mention doctors and martyrs.”
“We didn’t.”
“Mrs. Parran stood here.”
“Easy to imagine.”
“Just ‘cuz the war ended, that wouldn’t mean Mrs. Parran thought-less of her William.”
“Of course not.”
“Or that he wasn’t a martyr to a cause.”
“I hear ya.”
“Before, by the monument, I was thinking of the Confederate Dead as ‘Merican Dead too (or as well).”
“Makes sense.”
“How do The Boys feel about that?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat 'Mericans

“The Boys would like to hear an example from the Yank.”
“Sure: will The Doctor do?”
“Yes.”
“So we all know things fell into civil war in April 1861.”
“Go on.”
“And The Doctor here died 17 months into the war.”
“He did.”
“So 17 months in rebellion, let’s say, and 25 years living under usurpation.”
“It takes time to create a Doc Parran.”
“I was thinking something like that too Reb.”
“Meaning someone born under the laws of the United States of America …”
“… Was killed by the laws of the Usurped States of America.”
“Indeed.”
“The Doctor was as unrepresented as you, me and –”
“– The Boys.”
“They agree?”
“It wasn’t a yell, but it was a solid yes.”
“I’m sort-of-glad they didn’t yell Reb.”
“Me too Yank.”
“What’s next?”
“Another Johnny to visit.”
“Who?”
“The most complicated Johnny I know.”
“Let’s go then.”
“This way Yank.”
“With ya Reb …”

*Next Up: Sunday 17 December and Thereat part XII, Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Mysteries.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way Now

11/26/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat On

IX of XIII

“Talking about Mosby helped Reb.”
“How so Gus?”
“Me getting to know the lay of the land around Berryville.”
“Good.”
“Is Snicker’s Gap for real?”
“For real.”
“And you talked with a different ease Johnny.”
“Right.”
“You even used ‘we.’”
“When describing the raid?”
“Yes.”
“I felt that.”
“It sounded right.”
“Yeah?”
“Sounded like you.”
“How so?”
“On.”
“Had to be.”
“You were Reb.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Our

“Those were desperate days Yank.”
“Perseverance was a trait George Washington admired.”
“Indeed.”
“Johnny Reb persevered.”
“I hear ya.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Not all Johnnies persevered Gus.”
“Deserters.”
“That, and stragglers, feigned-sickers and cowards.”
“Complicated.”
“Always been that way Yank.”
“It’s our strength then.”
“Say more.”
“You, being complicated, that makes our work stronger.”
“’Our work' needs a name Gus.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Way

“Sure does.”
“Operation ‘Journeying to End the Representation Usurpation’ doesn’t flow so well.”
“Agreed.”
“Got one in mind?”
“Not yet.”
“Let’s work on that on the road.”
“You sound ready Reb?”
“I think so.”
“Whatcha’ thinking?”
“About making a stop or two before Berryville?”
“In for that.”
“I want to visit some Johnny Rebs.”
“Sure.”
“You with.”
“With you.”
“Nice … Then let’s go Gus.”
“Where are the Rebs?”
“Near those railroad tracks in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.”
“Alright!”
“We’ll rally there.”
“Up now Johnny?”
“Up now.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Now

“Woohoo Reb!”
“Woohoo Yank!”
“Up we go!”
“Us and We the People!”

*Next Up: Sunday 3 December and Thereat part X, Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Johnny Rebs.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way Not Tumid

10/29/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Events

VI of XIII

“About the gain Reb?”
“Yes.”
“The states weren’t sectional about Article the first.”
“Correct.”
“You said states as different as South Carolina and Vermont passed the amendment.”
“They did.”
“We the People was alive and well.”
“I hear ya Yank.”
“And then in 70 years, them two states, South Carolina and Vermont, they was at war.”
“And all the others.”
“Why didn’t people in our time see that?”
“People get sideways Gus.”
“Lost.”
“And then they create a way again.”
“Back into constitutionalism.”
“That’s the promise; it’ll be like this Gus.”
“Like what?”
“Look ahead of us.”
“Okay.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Great

“Hear that?”
“No.”
“That’s the sound of a sun rise.”
“Sunrises are great.”
“The sound of greatness is not tumid.”
“Does tumid mean bombastic?”
“It does.”
“Great is sound timelessness.”
“That’s the same sun that we witnessed in April 1861.”
“Reb?”
“Yeah.”
“We were not smart.”
“Say more.”
“We didn’t really read the Constitution.”
“Morgan would agree.”
“And for not defending We the People.”
“We let a fraction tear our We apart.”
“We were slaves to an idea Johnny.”
“Slaves to the usurpation.”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Dew

“So great moments are quiet moments?”
“‘The dew falls on the grass when the night is most silent.’”
“I like the sound of that.”
“A German’s words, someone from our time.”
“Nice.”
“He also said: ‘It is the stillest words that bring on the storm. Thoughts that come on doves’ feet guide the world.’”
“So if states like South Carolina and Vermont started asking questions …”
“… The usurpers would have to give answers.”
“They couldn’t be silent, could they?”
“Not like the dew.”
“So any of the eleven states that have passed Article the first could ask?”
“Any state can ask questions Gus.”
“And asking questions is basic.”
“It is the traditional right of the free.”
“A right we should have used better, back in our day Johnny.”
“Agreed Yank.”

*Hempoween Up Next: A celebratory note on Tuesday, 31 October, Toast Them Hemp Seeds This Hempoween.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way A Gain

10/22/2017

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Steppin'

V of XIII

“Steppin’ Johnny.”
“With ya Gus.”
“On our way again.”
“With a gain.”
“Which one?”
“Clarity.”
“Regarding the paths?”
“Yes.”
“Agreed.”
“The two paths to 2020 step differently.”
“Say more.”
“One is already law.”
“Article 1 and its thirty Thousand.”
“And the other path is in the hands of individual states.”
“You talking states’ rights Reb?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat States

“More like amendment rights by states.”
“So We the People have options.”
“We do.”
“To be constitutional, we can enforce the representation ratio in Article 1.”
“True.”
“And the other option, the one involving states: how would that work Johnny?”
“Complete the ratification of Article the first of the Bill of Rights.”
“How many states have ratified Article the first?”
“Eleven.”
“Indiana?”
“No.”
“Virginia?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know the other states that have already ratified Article the first?”
“Sure.”
“Which ones Johnny?”

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Fulcrums

“New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina.”
“Okay.”
“Then New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.”
“That makes eight.”
“Then Vermont, Virginia and Kentucky.”
“Eleven.”
“Of the original 13, only Delaware voted no on Article the first: Massachusetts, Georgia and Connecticut never voted.”
“That’s interesting.”
“What are you thinking Gus?”
“About fulcrums.”
“Fulcrum states?”
“Yes: fulcrum states shift the weight.”
“Good point Gus: by ratifying Article the first, those eleven states reveal evidence of the representation usurpation.”
“Otherwise why did they vote for the amendment Johnny?”
“Exactly.”
“So We the People have eleven state allies against the usurpation.”
“We do.”
“That is a gain Reb.”
“Yes it is Yank.”

*Next Up: Sunday 29 October and Thereat part VI, Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Not Tumid.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way Happy Constitution Day

9/17/2017

Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka Thereat Happy

I of XIII

“Here Gus.”
“This is On Our Way Reb.”
“Thereat.”
“Where’s Virginia?”
“There.”
“Ahead of us.”
“Directly.”
“So this is a threshold moment?”
“For We the People.”
“Good for us.”
“Might be what Morgan meant.”
“Our Teamster’s ‘What are you two doing?’ moment?”
“That one.”
“Asking two citizens what the hell they be fighting about.”
“Right.”
“We ‘Mericans.”
“We are.”
“We’re not … what are the people called who take rights not granted in the Constitution?”

Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka Thereat Constitution

“Usurpers.”
“We’re not Usurpecans.”
“Usurpecan: an American citizen who supports the usurpation.”
“That.”
“It’s Constitution Day Gus.”
“Nice: must be about 230 years ‘eh?”
“Yes.”
“We can also call it Smudge Day.”
“That’s right, thanks to George.”
“Did he just tell’em to make the change Johnny, and they made it – changing the ‘forty’ in forty Thousand to ‘thirty’ in thirty Thousand?”
“It was a request.”
“And the vote?”
“Unanimous.”
“Then they made the change and left the smudge.”

Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka Thereat Day

“Yes.”
“Nice of George to do that.”
“Strengthened We the People.”
“That and leaving us some physical evidence.”
“The smudge is in Washington DC Gus.”
“Okay.”
“Maybe that’s where we go after Berryville?”
“Us in DC: I like your thinking Reb.”
“First though we have to get back to Virginia.”
“Threshold you said.”
“Yes I did.”
“Happy Constitution Day Johnny.”
“Happy Constitution Day Gus.”

*Next Up: Sunday 24 September and Thereat part II, Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way ‘Mericans.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner