Who Are We Really?

I’ve been fairly quiet on social media lately — well, politically speaking — out of cowardice, restraint, or desire for harmony; I’m not really sure why. My perspective has always been that a person’s politics, like their religion, are their own, and those perceptions are usually overly passionate and self-aggrandizing at the best of times. However, when an idea is presented, published, or otherwise communicated it is not only the right, but the obligation of those with contrary positions to question the tenets of the idea. This does not mean attack, berate, or counter with derision; simply question.

With recent events on my mind, I’m reminded that the threads of American ideology are woven from two documents: The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution; one a statement of war, the other an enumeration on the limits of government power. A declaration to announce what we are willing to fight for and against, and a blueprint for keeping those things we are against at bay and maintaining those things we are for.

The Declaration of Independence was written during a time of duress, and both clearly stated our intent, as well as the reasoning behind that intent. The second paragraph of the declaration begins with:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” simply stated, the following is our collective common sense of reason, that cannot be argued or discouraged.

“…that all men are created equal…” all human beings are, at their core, the same. Neither condition nor geography of their birth, allow for exclusion from these “truths”.

“…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” the bestowment of these rights are the natural, intended course. By the virtue of being a human being, a person cannot be separated from these rights. This isn’t a condition of citizenship, it’s a matter of human existence that each person values not only for themselves, but for others as well.

“…among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” A person’s basic rights include, but are not limited to, their life, personal freedom, and the search for contentment and security. These emphasize elemental rights the colonies perceived as a natural course, and they’re denial was egregious.

Cornell University Law School’s Constitutional Studies program defines the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution as being a “succinct statement of the principles at work in the [Constitution’s] full text.” Essentially, a summation of the fundamental ideals that define the parameters of the laws and rights we, as a united people both born and naturalized, agree are a requisite for governance.

The colonies were making the point that change should not be frivolous, but instead thoughtful. Acts that would contradict the truths of unalienable rights should be unlawful, and not tolerated even when popular, or status quo:

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”

Citizens, both born and naturalized, of the United States not only support the articles and amendments of the Constitution - we authorize them.

“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.”

We often fail in upholding the spirit of the preamble, but constantly seek to step forward with both the pretense, and resolve of doing better. As Americans, “doing better” is the goal. With history as our compass, and the horizon as our destination, doing better.

As I’ve been writing this, I’ve watched and listened to the news of the day unfold through varying outlets, and I’m obliged to add an amendment to notion of simply questioning the tenets of an idea. The discourse of the question should rise to presentation of the contradicting idea to resist the diluting effects of overspeak. When the idea grows into an action, the question should evolve to an equal response, or be lost.