By Bob Beanblossom
27 February 2018
The Constitution of the United States of America is one of the most amazing documents ever written. In addition to many other attributes, it shows that people of good intent, but diverse interests, can come together with productive results. It establishes and maintains a nation ruled by the ruled, with no kings, no dictators, and no theocratic potentates. It is a nation in which anyone from any background can achieve high political office—if that person can convince the ruled of his or her worthiness (real or perceived).
As it has so many times throughout its history, our country is again facing a crisis. It is an internal crisis. It is the increasing attack of the lawless on the law-abiding. We have always had a criminal class whose violence spills over into the law-abiding segment of our population who become targets of crime or unintended victims.
Today, we see a different sort of violent crime: it is the violence bred in hate and “hurt feelings.” It is the copycat violence of American citizens who mimic foreign terrorists intent on disrupting our lives and doing as much destruction as possible, even at the expense of their own lives. Foreign terrorism is real and ongoing. It needs to be addressed boldly and intentionally with our response exceeding the force brought against us. It needs to be addressed as we should any threat: with an intent to win, to defeat the enemy, and return to our lives of “domestic tranquility,” having provided for the “common defense” and “general welfare” of our citizens as the Preamble to the Constitution states.
This internal threat is different in many ways from foreign terrorism yet is hauntingly similar. In both, the threat is often a single person influenced by an idealistic sect, formal or informal. Each use the same tools and methods to bring destruction. They operate from a variety of influences ranging from misplaced allegiance to a foreign ideology to mental illness; they operate alone, on their own initiative. Anger and a sense of personal hurt and isolation is often cited in these cases: someone “hurt their feelings.” The death, pain, and suffering that either creates is the same.
Every threat requires Americans to unite to identify and analyze the threat and develop united powerful and determined solutions to stop that threat. This requires a realistic assessment of the problem and potential solutions. Simplistic, “quick and dirty” solutions are seldom successful. Unilateral answers are seldom effective. It is not only the actions of the “bad guy” that have consequences, it is ours, too. Instead of solutions, our elected and appointed officials hide in idealistic corners throwing darts and mud rather than coming together to do their job as outlined in the Constitution they have sworn to support. Their rantings are supported by the media and by vocal idealists in the social media—everyday citizens–who elevate ideals above reality, the “should be” above the “what is.” The Preamble to the Constitution is short and easy to understand; it, too is ideal, but it is also pragmatic. Designed to keep a nation running, it is the heart of our Constitution, the heart of America, of Americans. Not of hyphenated-Americans, but of Americans. It is the basis all that follows. Here it is:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Note that there is no THEY in the entire statement. The obligation to achieve peace, security, and the blessings of liberty is not vested in any THEY. It is all about WE the People. WE hold the responsibility for our peace, for our welfare, and for the blessings of liberty. WE elect others to represent us. When they succeed, WE have the right to re-elect them. When they fail WE have the obligation to remove them from office. When WE have a national problem, WE have the obligation to identify it and develop and implement a solution. The Constitution is a framework in which WE can operate in an orderly and effective way that protects the innocent, punishes the guilty, and moves on to the next issue. As magnificent as it is, the Constitution is powerless without WE who have the responsibility and authority to act together to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
America is disintegrating from within because WE do nothing but blame THEY for our problems. Politicians do it. The media does it. And WE do it. A politician or the media cannot be guilty very long unless WE hide from our responsibilities. WE are caught up in segmenting ourselves into little groups so that WE can blame others for the problems that WE collectively are charged with solving—and many times, that WE cause. WE hang on for dear life to labels that allow us to be divisive rather than united. Solutions to our problems do not come from skin color, religious affiliation, who WE choose to be intimate with, or which Amendment WE prefer.
If you are looking for a perfect system, which often means that I get my way, you need to look somewhere else. America is no better than you and I, both individually and as WE the People: not either–or, but both. It is no more responsive to the needs of the poor, the oppressed, the unborn, or the elderly than you and I are. It is no more effective in solving the problems of our society than you and I are. However, if you decide to live in this great land, the Constitution is your foundation and hope, the roadmap of WE the People. This land is as just great (and only as great) as you and I are. It provides equality of opportunity in the same measure that you and I allow. Justice, domestic tranquility, the general welfare, and the blessings of liberty are available to all in the same measure as WE extend these to each other daily. There is more, of course. Moral behavior by the majority was considered essential by our Founding Fathers. Our society is based upon the assumption that most people will fallow the rule of law. They looked to the Bible as a basis for that rule of law that brought equality of opportunity and treatment under the law. Principles such as don’t kill, steal, lie are essentially inherent. Our Constitution provides equal opportunity, not equal results. They understood that bad laws and new situations would arise that would challenge this nation but provided the path for solutions to be developed and implemented. America has not always been “fair,” whatever that is, and never will be, for “fairness” is an opinion based on personal desires. All of this, however, falls back on the WE that includes both of us, not either of us. Our government is not self-correcting—WE are responsible for the corrections. Unpopular words like consensus, compromise, and majority rule are at the heart of our system of government. Just as the Preamble has no THEY, it has no I. WE Americans are a great family. Like any family, we have ups and downs, agreements and disagreements, successes and failures. But family we remain as long as we put that family above ME and I and keep THEY in the right place. THEY are the threats to our system of government and our citizens, not each other as law-abiding citizens.
If we as a nation are to succeed, WE must accept the responsibility for maintaining the health of that nation. That happens only as you and I make it happen—day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. We are Americans because others before us have taken the yoke of duty and honor upon themselves for our sakes. We should do no less for those who follow us. For America, tomorrow is as important as today. It will be determined by you and I. If America fails to be all it should be, it is directly the fault of you and I. If it succeeds and grows as its People grow and prosper, it the result of you and I doing our part. There is no THEY in the Preamble.