AMENDING OUR THINKING ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

On July 4, 2010 I wrote a poem called, "Happy Birthday USA, the Fourth of July is your day." I liked what I wrote and you can check it out if you are interested in my patriotic poem. In the meantime a year has passed with all our country's ups and downs, and I find myself wondering where we are going, what will happen, and whether I should be optimistic or afraid for the future?

One thing I do know is that some people become so passionate about our country and where it is headed that civility goes out the window. Each side argues loudly and vehemently, and we see poor behavior modeled for us on talk shows and in congress itself. One side thinks we are " going to hell in a hand basket," and our forefathers would be " rolling in their graves" if they could see what has happened to the intent of the constitution. Another side says our country and life today is now so dramatically different that modern problems could not have been imagined or addressed in the 18th century. What would the founding fathers say? Surf the internet and you can find an opinion to match every position.

One person I know is so bonded to the original constitution that he nearly froths at the mouth when hearing about it being called a living document. In simple terms he feels that people should go live in one of the countries that have welfare-like states if that's what they want. Another might say in return, hey, if you don't like all the benefits gained by higher taxes, and the security provided by laws and rules, you go to a third world country where there are no taxes, roads, mail, internet, or schools, and see how you like it. It's unwinnable, because we have so many different people with as many differing viewpoints. Without common ground there can be no understanding.

I guess the words "common ground" are key here. Our common ground should be a love and appreciation of our country and a caring for each other. Recognizing that our constitution, whether one believes in a living or traditional view of it, is the oldest written constitution still in use is truly amazing. If you research what life was like then as they attempted to wrestle with the problems of the day, you might have an "aha" moment, thinking it sounds like what's going on in the USA today. Below is a snippet from Wikipedia you might find informative and enlightening.

"Congress could print money, but by 1786, it was useless. It could borrow money, but it could not pay it back.^[8] Under the Articles, Congress requisitioned money from the states. But no state paid all of their requisition; Georgia paid nothing. A few states paid the US an amount equal to interest on the national debt owed to their citizens, but no more.^[8] Nothing was paid toward the interest on debt owed foreign governments. By 1786, the United States was about to default on its contractual obligations when the principal came due.^[9]

Most of the US troops in the 625-man US Army were deployed facing British forts on American soil. They had not been paid; they were deserting and the remainder threatened mutiny.^[10] Spain closed New Orleans to American commerce. The US protested to no effect. The Barbary Pirates began seizing American commercial ships. The US had no funds to pay their extortion demands.^[11] States such as New York and South Carolina violated the peace treaty with Britain by prosecuting Loyalists for wartime activity. The US had no more credit if another military crisis required action.^[11] In Massachusetts during Shays' Rebellion, Congress had no money; General Benjamin Lincoln had to raise funds among Boston merchants to pay for a volunteer army.^[12]

Congress was paralyzed. It could do nothing significant without nine states, and some legislative business required all thirteen. By April 1786, there had been only three days out of five months with nine states present. When nine states did show up, if there were only one member of a state on the floor, that state’s vote did not count. If a delegation were evenly divided, the division was duly noted in the Journal, but there was no vote from that state towards a nine-count.^[13] States, in violation of the Articles, laid embargoes, negotiated unilaterally abroad, provided for armies and made war. ^[14] The Articles Congress had “virtually ceased trying to govern."”^[15]

For people who like to argue about a living versus traditional constitution, click on this article from helium.com to get opposing views.

It seems that the founding fathers had a great deal of wisdom, but no crystal ball. They did the best they could and their work has stood the test of time. Realizing that there might be changes needed, they made room for those changes through the amendment process. Since its inception there have been the first ten amendments which comprise the Bill of Rights followed by twenty seven other ratified amendments plus some which are not ratified. Certainly, from a feminine point of view, the amendment which made it possible for women to vote, was huge.

Our forefathers would be filled with "shock and awe" at our life today, but probably wouldn't have solutions. Our job is to make the best decisions we can with society's complex problems, and treat our constitution with respect. Freedom is a fragile thing, and I think those who would destroy us cheer our divisive and sometime destructive behaviors. Let's understand that our unparalled freedom is fragile, and not cast in stone. Let's guard it zealously, accepting our differences and making life better for all our citizens, even if we have to make amendments to our own positions and viewpoints.