Pledge

"Because we fear the responsibility for our actions,
we have allowed ourselves to develop the mentality of slaves.
Contrary to the stirring sentiments of the Declaration of Independence,
we now pledge "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor"not to one another for our mutual protection,
but to the state,whose actions continue to exploit, despoil, and destroy us."
--Butler D. Shaffer
Professor, Southwestern University School of Law, June 9, 2003