Thoughts Upon Visiting The Constitution
Three weeks ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC for a day. While there, we made it a point to visit the National Archives, where the original copies of the “Charters of Freedom” – the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution – are housed. We had both been to see these grand old documents before, but this time, as I gazed down into the glass case containing the Constitution, a thought struck me that never had previously.
It occurred to me as I looked upon the Constitution that I was looking at pieces of paper. The Constitution is an inanimate object, with no life in and of itself. It has no power to compel anyone to give heed to its words. I was reminded that the only thing that gives that document any power at all is the willingness of the people of this nation to live and abide by it and its principles – even when doing so is inconvenient for a portion of them.
For over two centuries, our nation has survived, due largely to the fact that the people and their leaders have been willing to play by the rules. If doing so meant that some didn’t get their way because they were in the minority, then those people recognized and accepted that they simply needed to get out, work hard, win elections, and gain a majority – all the while playing by the established rules.
In recent times, however, this commitment to abiding by the established rules has been thrown into doubt. Attempts have been made to change election rules after elections were already conducted, because some were upset that their side didn’t win. Ongoing attempts are being made to subvert our democratic institutions by elevating the one non-democratic branch of our government over the other two. And even within the democratic/political branches of the government, an attempt is being made by a minority in one-half of one branch to undermine the constitutional authority given to another branch. All this, because the outcome of playing by the established rules – the Constitution – has not produced the results that some wanted.
Our Constitutional Republic was framed in such a way that there could never be a tyranny imposed by the majority that would compromise the rights of the minority. And if the Founders didn’t intend a tyranny imposed by the majority, they certainly didn’t intend for there to be a tyranny imposed by the minority to deny the rights and privileges of the majority.
The problems being dealt with by the American leadership in Washington are problems that go to the very heart of the Republic and spirit of the Constitution. They call for men and women of character and principle to be elevated to positions where they can deal effectively with these problems. If the people of the United States would see their Republic long endure, they must be willing to pursue their goals and objectives within the framework provided by the agreed-upon rules. And they should require the same of the leaders they elect to work on their behalf. If we fail in this regard, then the Constitution will effectively be rendered a powerless relic, and the rule of law that regards all men as equals will give way to the rule of men – something that generations of Americans before us were willing to resist to the point of death.
It occurred to me as I looked upon the Constitution that I was looking at pieces of paper. The Constitution is an inanimate object, with no life in and of itself. It has no power to compel anyone to give heed to its words. I was reminded that the only thing that gives that document any power at all is the willingness of the people of this nation to live and abide by it and its principles – even when doing so is inconvenient for a portion of them.
For over two centuries, our nation has survived, due largely to the fact that the people and their leaders have been willing to play by the rules. If doing so meant that some didn’t get their way because they were in the minority, then those people recognized and accepted that they simply needed to get out, work hard, win elections, and gain a majority – all the while playing by the established rules.
In recent times, however, this commitment to abiding by the established rules has been thrown into doubt. Attempts have been made to change election rules after elections were already conducted, because some were upset that their side didn’t win. Ongoing attempts are being made to subvert our democratic institutions by elevating the one non-democratic branch of our government over the other two. And even within the democratic/political branches of the government, an attempt is being made by a minority in one-half of one branch to undermine the constitutional authority given to another branch. All this, because the outcome of playing by the established rules – the Constitution – has not produced the results that some wanted.
Our Constitutional Republic was framed in such a way that there could never be a tyranny imposed by the majority that would compromise the rights of the minority. And if the Founders didn’t intend a tyranny imposed by the majority, they certainly didn’t intend for there to be a tyranny imposed by the minority to deny the rights and privileges of the majority.
The problems being dealt with by the American leadership in Washington are problems that go to the very heart of the Republic and spirit of the Constitution. They call for men and women of character and principle to be elevated to positions where they can deal effectively with these problems. If the people of the United States would see their Republic long endure, they must be willing to pursue their goals and objectives within the framework provided by the agreed-upon rules. And they should require the same of the leaders they elect to work on their behalf. If we fail in this regard, then the Constitution will effectively be rendered a powerless relic, and the rule of law that regards all men as equals will give way to the rule of men – something that generations of Americans before us were willing to resist to the point of death.
posted by JeffreyH | 9:20 AM
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