Posted by
A Town Hall Progressive on Monday, February 05, 2007 9:03:38 AM
I posed myself a question the other day, well not really, a friend did while logged in as me. Under the comments on the post titled ‘Lincoln/Douglas debate,’ he asked why quote historical figures? How do they apply to the events of now? Why not discuss the issues of the day. These are valid and reasonable questions and they may lend to understanding the root of our societal ills today- - we have forgotten what made us great.
Current political events are irreverent. Whether you are looking at domestic or foreign policy, the battles between parties seem to take precedence over common sense. While I do believe one party to be worse than the other at exploiting divisions, both seem oblivious to the gradual decline from our previous stature. None of our problems will be solved with the current amount of divisions in our country. Waging war, either politically here at home, or literally in distant lands, has solved none of our problems.
The Constitution was specifically designed to break the grip of factions in our society. One group was prevented from forcing its will onto the rest of society through mechanisms built into the Constitution’s checks and balances. Regardless of the groups’ make-up, religious, business, workers, or politicians, no one group could operate under any rules other than the common law. But to live under a common law, we have to understand the necessity of giving every individual the ability to live free. The system of government our forebears created was specifically designed to protect this freedom. Our current leaders ignore our Constitution and system of government it created. Because of this, our government is failing in its responsibility of providing a just society.
While the Constitution is a set of rules designed to regulate the decisions in which we live as a society, it is more importantly a philosophical idea describing how to live in peace. It is a system that allows all the differing sections to acknowledge one set of laws and to abide by them regardless of religious beliefs or individual differences.
But, this lesson cannot be learned if we do not understand the origin of the Constitution and the reasons the Forefathers created the device they did. We can not only look back at what they said, but how they said it. The history of our differing debates is interesting and long, but there was only one time before this when it fell silent to divisions. If we don’t look back, how to we prevent following into those footsteps?
Our past is filled with brilliance. Historical figures from our inception, all of which are better suited to guide us than the bucket of bolts we now have in office, describe problems exactly as we face today. My attempt at quoting Lincoln was to show that he was against the Mexican War and stated it without being called a traitor. He could debate the war and still ensure our troops safety. He had a responsibility as a citizen and representative and did not cower down to political expedience. As an American citizen, he held a responsibility to speak his mind even when we were at war. Maybe I did not explain it well, but that was the intent.
If our current bucket is half full or empty, I don’t care. Our present state is running havoc on the only world we have. Defending ourselves against terrorism is not a reason to abandon the ideals of this country. We were described by Franklin as “the last beacon of light for the world.” If we are living up to this title today is debatable. The conduct of this war has fallen beneath us. That we even debated torture as a national law or practiced secret renditions, when neither provided real benefit, shows a vast misunderstanding of our purpose as stated by Franklin. Real historical perspective is lacking in today society and it shows. There is not one problem we face today, that we cannot go back to our founders and beyond to find some reason- - an ideal to guide us- - a principle to let stand.
On the last day of the Constitutional Convention, on Monday, September 17, 1787 Franklin addressed the convention about the importance of the Constitution they created:
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right…
Is it really ironic that on the last day of the convention, Franklin addresses the very political and societal environment we live in today? While he is addressing the eventual temperance of man, he is asking for the approval of the very device they created to prevent this temperance from breaking apart our society- - our Constitution.
If this administration has breached the technical law of our Constitution can be debated further, but their having failed to live up to our purpose of this country is beyond denial. If they understand anything of our country is a serious question.
Another great leader to look back on is Harry Truman. He used the most lethal weapon ever devised to perform his duties towards the preservation of freedom, but yet when he spoke, he used a mild language to explain his actions. In every speech President Truman gave, he expressed a profound understanding of our Founder’s intent. He was able to reconcile his actions and policies to be in the best interest of the country by respecting our system of government to achieve them. In an enduring speech delivered in Chicago in 1949, he spoke of the American process in a way that highlights the present administrations failures to gain any support for this current war. President Truman described our American system with these words:
In this Nation, foreign policy is not made by the decisions of a few. It is the result of the democratic process, and represents the collective judgment of the people. Our foreign policy is founded upon an enlightened public opinion.
The importance of public opinion in the Untied States is not always understood or properly evaluated. Public opinion in a country such as ours cannot be ignored or manipulated to suit the occasion. It cannot be stampeded. Its formation is necessarily a slow process, because the people must be given ample opportunity to discuss the issues and reach a reasoned conclusion. But once a democratic decision is made, it represents the collective will of the Nation and can be depended upon to endure.
Those that rule by arbitrary power in other nations do not understand these things. For this reason, they do not realize the strength behind our foreign policy.
The major decisions in our foreign policy since the war have been made on the basis of an informed public opinion and overwhelming public support….
Momentous decisions are the decisions not of the Government alone, but of the people of the United States. For this reason, it is clear that this country will steadfastly continue, together with other nations of like purpose, along the path we have chosen towards peace and freedom for the world.
The formation of foreign policy on the part of the democratic nations may be a slow and painful process, but the results endure.
In the lead up to the Iraq War, the Bush administration prevented us from following this American process. There was great effort to ensure the public’s opinion was kept uniformed. Security experts were viciously attacked for questioning the evidence supporting the stated reasons for war. Generals were fired for not supporting what we now know was an inadequate plan that was poorly orchestrated. Economic advisors were let go for questioning the stated cost that would be accrued as a result of the Iraq war. The opposition party and traditional allies were chastised and declared ‘against us.’ The congress was undermined. Constitutional checks and balances were ignored. A Unitary Executive was declared, and prior to the war, as now with the new talk of a surge, the general public’s opinion is deemed unimportant.
America is weaker today because we have failed to understand our own history and we ignored those elements of our history that make us strong. The Democratic Process created by our Forebears is our strength. The system they created was designed to find the best and most reasonable solutions to any of our problems. But we have to understand the importance of the Constitution to use this strength. Our leaders have to respect the system in which they operate and use it for just causes. And we, the people, have to demand that our Government is not undermined by a fraction of sour apples operating for the select interest of a few.
There are many great leaders in our past. Their words and actions can be used to guide us through any situation. Their vision for our nation is enduring, but we have to reach back and understand it. We have to learn the lessons of the past to forge a better future.