How many roads have you crossed,

Mr. Traveler?

How many riddles have you solved,

Mr. Unraveler?

How many hearts have you seen broken,

Mr. Teary-Eyed?

How many have you seen awoken,

Mr. Relieved Sigh?

How many monsters have you encountered,

Mr. Vanquished Foe?

How many have you seen raptured,

Mr. Forgiven Soul?

All these inquiries I ask of thee,

Mr. Before and After

For one whose wisdom matches yours:

Of deaths and lives,

Ropes and knives,

He should surely have all the answers.

What is life,

Without its counterpart death

What is strife,

Without the decision of happiness

Can life or strife be forced upon,

The silent unsuspecting

Who have chosen whether dusk or dawn,

To live 'til death, as happy

But oh, says he who is contradicted,

Caught contemplating the freedom in prison,

If there is no life without death,

No suffocation without breath,

How then can any choice be chosen?

No choice can possibly matter,

If matter does not counter

Antimatter, which does not shatter,

Without its counter counting the latter

Truly, 'tis a paradox,

Its solution worth millions

And yet nothing at all,

Could solve its dastardly appearances

Its appearances which conquer,

Every thought, bright or somber

That if life can dwell,

With death as well,

Time cannot go onward.

Dear Sirs:

   You may consider this the formal appeal of the United States of America, as representatives for this planet you have come to. We can easily register your technology and knowledge of the universe greatly ahead of ours, for while we still have not explored the entirety of our local system, you have visited us from we know where not. However, our ideals are not in alignment, regardless of our technological advances, and we would thus like to demonstrate them to you.

   You come to us not with a show of peace, but that of terror, and it will not be accepted here. It may seem impetuous, but we refuse to live among you as servants or slaves. We refuse, for our ideal of freedom, demonstrated to all among us, will not be put aside and forgotten in haste at your show of power. Nevertheless, while you wish to teach us your ways and how to serve you, I say allow us to teach you what you seem not to understand.

   This country is free. Free as though anyone may do whatever they wish. However, along with freedom, comes the reservation of consequence. Any man who steals from his neighbor is free to do so, but cannot and will not do so without repercussions. The same is for all constant and unchanging morals that we have attempted to build this great nation on. Whether we have failed or not, we do not know, but we wish to lead by example either way; to warn, or to guide others.

   Many countries and peoples among us (and surely out there in the universe as well) do not acknowledge these freedoms. They decree that one group or even one man be empowered by their people and left to control them. Such tyranny is not freedom, and it will surely fail. Simply look to our past here on Earth as the human race and you will see plenty of examples of failed dystopias.

   This is the ideal you have come to us with, and we warn you not only for our freedom, but for yours as well. Do not follow such structures of government over your or anyone else's people! This road leads only to ruin! It will lure you into a false age of flourishing, leading you to believe it is the right way to govern your people. Must I say again, to look to our past? The age of flourishing will fall, and you will be left nothing to rebuild with. The people will know they have been betrayed, and you will fall to them. Do you think they will accept you after the causes you pursued, after the false assurances you provided? Surely there is no way for this ideal to be successful.

   But you will say to us, "You list problems, yet you produce no solution." To which I, on behalf of the U.S.A. and of the Earth reply, indeed we do! Look again to our past, and see where we did not fall! See how we are still standing strong to this day! That must be here, in the United States and in countless other countries worldwide, driven by our ideals of freedom. That no man be enslaved to another, that both man and any other great race of the universe are created and treated equally, and that the way to rule over your people is surely to be of the people.

   Here is our message to you, visitors. May it find your favor, and may you understand the ruin you may bring upon yourself with your ideal of ruling over and above. The ruin that we know only from experience. We teach this to you, not just to save ourselves from what we despise, but to also save you from a near definite fall of your empire.

   Hearken and heed, that we will not allow ourselves to be taken by these false forms of governing that we built our nation to flee. Surely death would be the better option than to live life without our own purpose that is freedom. So, to phrase it as our great founding fathers, "Give us liberty, or give us death!"

Sincerely,

J. Calmer, Representative of Earth