Saturday, July 04, 2009

Independence Day: Would You Have Signed?

The document is on the table.

Although some of your colleagues are making jokes, each one knows that the signature places the signer's head in a hangman's noose. To sign means you will be regarded as a traitor by the nation that has held your loyalty since birth. Your livelihood may be destroyed and your family doomed to a life of isolation and poverty. Many of your friends and associates will be under suspicion. Others will shun you. Your side, which has feeble and poorly-trained forces, will be fighting the greatest military power in the world. Despite all of the grand talk, the odds of success are small. Even if your side is successful, your new nation will be vulnerable to internal disputes and attacks from predatory powers. This theory of self-government, however attractive, might not work.

It's your turn. Will you sign?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

We read this out loud and talked about it. What a great post!

Richard (Rick) Georges said...

I have linked to this great post at Futurelawyer. Michael, you are a bright guy, and this post is one of your best. Maybe we all should be wearing bracelets saying: "What Would You Do?"

Michael Wade said...

Anonymous,

Thanks! A review of the potential cost can bring some pause as well as appreciation for the courage of those who signed.

Richard,

I deeply appreciate your kind remarks. "What Would You Do?" is a pretty challenging question. We all hope we would have signed.