Sunday, September 17, is Constitution Day. I’ve spent the last several weeks (and will spend the next week) talking about all things Constitution—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Last night someone told me I look like I’m having so much fun and enjoy my work. Of course I love my work! It’s so interesting, at least to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have selected it! But that gets at this underlying assumption that historians are bored by history or saddened by it or embarrassed maybe? I’m not entirely sure.
A good theme and reminder. There’s reasons the US became a magnet for immigrants. There is something attractive that still makes large numbers of people want to be here, rather than on Russia or China or Latin America or wherever. And it’s been that way from the beginning. Not perfect, nothing is. But better than what else is out there. Or has ever been out there.
I Twit in a circle of Christians that are fascinated by James Baldwin. And I think their and his estimation is right. You can't deal with the US without being honest about the wickedness and calling it out, but that it is worth, well, not "fighting" for but "citizening" for if I might verb a word with apologies to Calvin & Hobbes. Thank you for the note and the column.
Sep 17, 2023·edited Sep 17, 2023Liked by Lindsay M. Chervinsky
Intellectually, I prefer Constitution Day to Independence Day, the Preamble to the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence, the sober building of a workable, enduring nation compared to the 17 years of chaos & dangers represented by the Articles of Confederation, the passing of our people from juvenile passions to productive adulthood.
In his last online course, Clay snorted derisively when I referred to the DoI as “juvenile.” I never got to expand on my thoughts in class, but by my lights “freedom” is never sufficient for a nation. The test is what we build with that freedom.
Freedom, unchanneled, is self-indulgent, indolent, unfocused. The Preamble to the Constitution was the Framers “mission statement.” The Preamble takes a juvenile understanding of Freedom and gives Freedom adult purpose, direction, & drive. Decades ago, nearly every high school senior could recite the nation’s mission statement by heart. Now few can. And that is a pity.
“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.”
After thought....excise the Second amendment as originally written and write a new second amendment more clearly defined as to gun ownership and responsibilities.
Further emphasize that not one amendment of the first ten is and ABSOLUTE but relative.
Let us say I live in farm country in a non farm area where hoes are being built. The homes could be 100 yard or more apart. I have set up targets in my yard to shoot at with high velocity weapons. My closet neighbors yard is 150 yards from me. On a weekend day there is a multi-family picnic in that back yard.
Should I pick that afternoon to shoot at the targets? There is no obstacle between the two yards, ergo projectiles could reach the people. So which right prevails? People have a pleasant picnic or use my second amendment right to shoot at my targets ignoring the risk to the picnickers? The picnickers of course! My second amendment right in this case must yield.
The courts have not helped in this regard. Their ruling seem to enforce the believe that all rights are absolute especially the 2nd amendment as defined by the SCOTUS.
I read headlines for my radio station twice a day. Guns are being used by civilian and police indiscriminately.
Great Article! We must balance our presentations on our history and tell the unvarnished truth
While awaiting in a waiting room at Iowas City VA with a fellow veteran I had transported their for an appointment, a gentleman from Rock Island engaged me in conversation. I relating to him a story I had read about another military base having its name changed as it was named after a Confederate General.
I called it nonsense because ,most of those Generals came from West point. Union and confederate Generals knew each other. He countered with they were all in favor of slavery. I fired back that slavery was not the only issue. Economy was an big issue. The North was expanding economically while the South was dwindling. I told him that prior to the war General Lee was here in the Quad City area helping to improve the Mississippi channel. Well he fought for the Confederacy. Yes, true only because we were not yet a truly United States. Each person was tied to the state they were born in, hence they returned home to defend their state.
That really upset this man. LEE WAS A SLAVE HOLDER! I said no. He was not a a slave holder. Twas his father in law who left his slaves to free over a five year period. He never owned slaves nor was he in favor of slavery.....Dr. came out and took my fellow veteran and I into and exam room.
That shows a failure of our education system!
I am currently reading a book recommended by my boss: George Washington's First War. Fascinating
We were already stealing land from the Indians, killing and scalping them. We could not muster sufficient forces to fight the well organized French and the Indian allies they had. The Indians for their part were stringing the French and Americans along trying to protect their interests.
Again, I do enjoy your articles....thought provoking
A good theme and reminder. There’s reasons the US became a magnet for immigrants. There is something attractive that still makes large numbers of people want to be here, rather than on Russia or China or Latin America or wherever. And it’s been that way from the beginning. Not perfect, nothing is. But better than what else is out there. Or has ever been out there.
I Twit in a circle of Christians that are fascinated by James Baldwin. And I think their and his estimation is right. You can't deal with the US without being honest about the wickedness and calling it out, but that it is worth, well, not "fighting" for but "citizening" for if I might verb a word with apologies to Calvin & Hobbes. Thank you for the note and the column.
Intellectually, I prefer Constitution Day to Independence Day, the Preamble to the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence, the sober building of a workable, enduring nation compared to the 17 years of chaos & dangers represented by the Articles of Confederation, the passing of our people from juvenile passions to productive adulthood.
In his last online course, Clay snorted derisively when I referred to the DoI as “juvenile.” I never got to expand on my thoughts in class, but by my lights “freedom” is never sufficient for a nation. The test is what we build with that freedom.
Freedom, unchanneled, is self-indulgent, indolent, unfocused. The Preamble to the Constitution was the Framers “mission statement.” The Preamble takes a juvenile understanding of Freedom and gives Freedom adult purpose, direction, & drive. Decades ago, nearly every high school senior could recite the nation’s mission statement by heart. Now few can. And that is a pity.
“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.”
Happy Constitution Day.
After thought....excise the Second amendment as originally written and write a new second amendment more clearly defined as to gun ownership and responsibilities.
Further emphasize that not one amendment of the first ten is and ABSOLUTE but relative.
Let us say I live in farm country in a non farm area where hoes are being built. The homes could be 100 yard or more apart. I have set up targets in my yard to shoot at with high velocity weapons. My closet neighbors yard is 150 yards from me. On a weekend day there is a multi-family picnic in that back yard.
Should I pick that afternoon to shoot at the targets? There is no obstacle between the two yards, ergo projectiles could reach the people. So which right prevails? People have a pleasant picnic or use my second amendment right to shoot at my targets ignoring the risk to the picnickers? The picnickers of course! My second amendment right in this case must yield.
The courts have not helped in this regard. Their ruling seem to enforce the believe that all rights are absolute especially the 2nd amendment as defined by the SCOTUS.
I read headlines for my radio station twice a day. Guns are being used by civilian and police indiscriminately.
Great Article! We must balance our presentations on our history and tell the unvarnished truth
While awaiting in a waiting room at Iowas City VA with a fellow veteran I had transported their for an appointment, a gentleman from Rock Island engaged me in conversation. I relating to him a story I had read about another military base having its name changed as it was named after a Confederate General.
I called it nonsense because ,most of those Generals came from West point. Union and confederate Generals knew each other. He countered with they were all in favor of slavery. I fired back that slavery was not the only issue. Economy was an big issue. The North was expanding economically while the South was dwindling. I told him that prior to the war General Lee was here in the Quad City area helping to improve the Mississippi channel. Well he fought for the Confederacy. Yes, true only because we were not yet a truly United States. Each person was tied to the state they were born in, hence they returned home to defend their state.
That really upset this man. LEE WAS A SLAVE HOLDER! I said no. He was not a a slave holder. Twas his father in law who left his slaves to free over a five year period. He never owned slaves nor was he in favor of slavery.....Dr. came out and took my fellow veteran and I into and exam room.
That shows a failure of our education system!
I am currently reading a book recommended by my boss: George Washington's First War. Fascinating
We were already stealing land from the Indians, killing and scalping them. We could not muster sufficient forces to fight the well organized French and the Indian allies they had. The Indians for their part were stringing the French and Americans along trying to protect their interests.
Again, I do enjoy your articles....thought provoking