Declaration of Independence
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:39 pm
...from the annual theme discussion
When in the Course of post-playa events it becomes
necessary for burners to dissolve the discussion lists and message boards
connected by them with another and to assume among the
powers of the burner, the separate and equal station
to which the annual themes of Burning Man entitle
them, a decent respect to the opinions of Burners
requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to their opinion.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
themes are created equal, that they are endowed by
Larry Harvey with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are controversy, ambiguity and the pursuit
of creative license. — That to secure these rights,
Larry has instituted among burners, deriving just
powers from the implied consent of the participant, —
That whenever any theme becomes demonstrative of these
ends, it is the Right of the Burner to argue or to
endlessly discuss it, and to institute new
interpretation, laying a foundation on 10 principles
and organizing campmates in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their immediate
experience. "Old-School" Burners, indeed, will argue
that burner traditions long established should not be
changed for light and transient themes; and
accordingly all experience hath shewn that the event
is more disposed to suffer. But when a long train of
flamewars and fuck yous, pursuing invariably the same
Object evinces a design to reduce Burners to absolute
Fuckoism, it is their right, it is their duty, to stop
arguing such themes, and to provide new complaints for
their burs. — Such has been the patient sufferance of
every burner; and such is now the necessity which
constrains them to flood their local discussion lists
with flames and opinions. The history of the themes of
Burning Man is a history of repeated arguments and
flame wars, all having in direct object the lameness
or awesomeness of these themes. To prove this, let
Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Theme discussions have forbidden Burners to disucuss
issues of more immediate and pressing importance,
unless suspended in their operation till theme
discussion should be temporararily exhausted; and when
so suspended, utterly neglected to attend to them.
Theme discussions have made Judges out of every
burner, regardless of Willingless alone to attend next
year's event.
Theme discussions have erected a multitude of threads,
and sent hither swarms of Burners to harass our
discussion lists and eat out their substance.
Theme discussions have combined with other threads to
subject us to a discussion foreign to our
conversation.
For suspending our own discussions, and declaring
themes invested with power to hold our attention for
us in all cases whatsoever.
We, therefore, the Burners of Burning Man, in General
Congress, Assembledon our discussion list, appealing
to ourselves and our communities, do, in the name of
Larry, and by Authority of the good People of these
Regions, solemnly publish and declare, That these
communities, and of Right, ought to be Free of further
theme discussions, that they are Absolved from all
presence on our discussion lists and message boards, and that all
connection between theme discussion and our discussion lists and message boards, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that
as Free and Independent Burners, we shall each have
full Power to discuss something else, make our own
conclusions, talk about it somewhere else, and to do
all other Acts and Things which not arguing about
themes may of right do. — And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of
saniity and course of discussion, we mutually pledge
to each other our Plur Fur, our glowsticks, and our
sacred Art Cars.
Signed,
Jackass
When in the Course of post-playa events it becomes
necessary for burners to dissolve the discussion lists and message boards
connected by them with another and to assume among the
powers of the burner, the separate and equal station
to which the annual themes of Burning Man entitle
them, a decent respect to the opinions of Burners
requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to their opinion.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
themes are created equal, that they are endowed by
Larry Harvey with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are controversy, ambiguity and the pursuit
of creative license. — That to secure these rights,
Larry has instituted among burners, deriving just
powers from the implied consent of the participant, —
That whenever any theme becomes demonstrative of these
ends, it is the Right of the Burner to argue or to
endlessly discuss it, and to institute new
interpretation, laying a foundation on 10 principles
and organizing campmates in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their immediate
experience. "Old-School" Burners, indeed, will argue
that burner traditions long established should not be
changed for light and transient themes; and
accordingly all experience hath shewn that the event
is more disposed to suffer. But when a long train of
flamewars and fuck yous, pursuing invariably the same
Object evinces a design to reduce Burners to absolute
Fuckoism, it is their right, it is their duty, to stop
arguing such themes, and to provide new complaints for
their burs. — Such has been the patient sufferance of
every burner; and such is now the necessity which
constrains them to flood their local discussion lists
with flames and opinions. The history of the themes of
Burning Man is a history of repeated arguments and
flame wars, all having in direct object the lameness
or awesomeness of these themes. To prove this, let
Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Theme discussions have forbidden Burners to disucuss
issues of more immediate and pressing importance,
unless suspended in their operation till theme
discussion should be temporararily exhausted; and when
so suspended, utterly neglected to attend to them.
Theme discussions have made Judges out of every
burner, regardless of Willingless alone to attend next
year's event.
Theme discussions have erected a multitude of threads,
and sent hither swarms of Burners to harass our
discussion lists and eat out their substance.
Theme discussions have combined with other threads to
subject us to a discussion foreign to our
conversation.
For suspending our own discussions, and declaring
themes invested with power to hold our attention for
us in all cases whatsoever.
We, therefore, the Burners of Burning Man, in General
Congress, Assembledon our discussion list, appealing
to ourselves and our communities, do, in the name of
Larry, and by Authority of the good People of these
Regions, solemnly publish and declare, That these
communities, and of Right, ought to be Free of further
theme discussions, that they are Absolved from all
presence on our discussion lists and message boards, and that all
connection between theme discussion and our discussion lists and message boards, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that
as Free and Independent Burners, we shall each have
full Power to discuss something else, make our own
conclusions, talk about it somewhere else, and to do
all other Acts and Things which not arguing about
themes may of right do. — And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of
saniity and course of discussion, we mutually pledge
to each other our Plur Fur, our glowsticks, and our
sacred Art Cars.
Signed,
Jackass
[Standing up and applauding]
