Reader Email: You're Wrong, Duke, the Constitution is a Perfect Document!

By Selwyn Duke

Recently I wrote a piece titled "Obama the Justifier," which exposed President-elect Uh-change's contempt for the Constitution.  In it, while I defended the supreme law of the land, I also stated that is wasn't as if people such as myself believe the Constitution is infallible.  My purpose in doing this was to point out that while, like the left, we might have ideas about how the document could be even better, unlike the left, we have enough discipline, respect and honor to accept the proposition that if you live in a constitutional republic, you should abide by its constitution (unless its dictates are tyrannical).  While I think this is reasonable, a reader took exception to one element of my position, writing:

"I am at total odds with you regarding the constitution.  The Constitution given to us by the shedding of blood is a perfect document and contains absolutely no flaws.  Every problem facing this Country is due to the fact that we abandoned it's principals 100 years ago.

E.H."

Dear E.H.,

Since we both obviously agree that Americans should abide by the Constitution, I very much doubt that we're totally at odds.  However, your assertion that the Constitution is a "perfect document" is interesting.  Do you really believe that?

First, the claim that any human document is perfect is not very tenable.  Perfection, my friend, is not a thing of this world.  But there is also a logical fallacy in your statement.

As we know, you can't improve upon perfection.  Thus do you believe that the Constitution doesn't need to be changed, for a change from the perfect renders the thing in question imperfect.  But if you believe the document is perfect now, this means that it could not have been so when the founders created it, as it has been changed since then.  In fact, it has been altered numerous times, with  27 amendments having been added. 

Moreover, if you believe the Constitution is perfect today, then it only became so in 1992, since that's when the 27th Amendment was ratified.  So, do you believe then that it was flawed for virtually all of our history?  You must, since it has never remained static for all that long.

Do you believe it was perfect when adopted in 1787?  If you do, then it ceased to be so in 1791 because that's when the first ten amendments were ratified.  So when was it perfect?  After the 13th, 17th or 22nd amendments or some other?  Then, of course, in 1919 we ratified the 18th amendment which instituted Prohibition but then repealed it with the 21st in 1933.  So which was the flaw in the Constitution?  The prohibition against selling alcohol or the allowing of it?  Was the document only perfect between 1919 and 1933 or flawed during that period?  I think you get the point.

This is why, E.H., you have to look before you leap, think as opposed to reacting emotionally.  We also err gravely when we deify things of this world, be they a presidential demagogue or a noble document.

The Constitution deserves our respect, but perfection, the divine, resides only in Heaven.  It's not found in the Oval Office or even in the dark interior of a safe in the State Department.               

© 2008 Selwyn Duke -- All Rights Reserved

Comments

[Ed Hayes]

The author of the constitution of this nation was none other than the creator and God of this world Jesus Christ. The constitution given to this nation through these great men contains devine law, or in otherwords the Laws of Natures God which are eternal. The founders fully understood they principals and stated so. Men have tried since Adam to alter or change these laws with exactly the same outcome, they were simply destroyed. Since these laws are eternal there is nothing that man nor groups of men, nor governments, nor dictators etc. can do except that fact and abide by them

[Maureen]

Ed, well, then I suppose God must change his mind at least as much as He has changed the Constitution! Must have not gotten it right the first time, eh? And then there was that Prohibition thingy . . .

Did you even read the piece?

[W. Tieff]

Ed, the constitution is not the Bible. The Bible is the Bible. And even that has an "amendment" called The New Testament, which was written not by Christ, but by His disciples. Now you seem to be confusing the Constitution of the U.S. with The Declaration of Independence. My opinion is that the two work in Tandem, as the Constitution has no real authority without abiding by principles set forth in the Declaration that was drafted in 1776. Feel free to defend the Declaration as God's word, as Jefferson clearly presented the case for divine absolutism. The U.S. Constitution, however, is an expounding framework meant to institute the system by which the principles of the Declaration can be met by a self-governing people. It's in the Preamble. The Preamble clearly states who writes it (the People), who it's for (the People), and who administers it (again, the People), and goes on to detail the aims set forth by those people. It is an elegant document, yet written by the people, nontheless, and therefore imperfect. The United States intends to be a perfect Union. The Constitution forever guides us toward being "a More perfect Union".

[Walt]

The Constitution and Declaration are certainly God inspired documents with the intent of providing a foundation of order for self governance of moral men. Self governance is not possible without moral men. The moral foundation the Constitution and Declaration were built upon are those Truths found in the Holy Bible. I do not say that because I feel it, or my heart tells me, but because it is evidenced over and over by those who participated in the drafting and signing of each of them. For a compilation of the evidence visit WWW.WALLBUILDERS.COM.

If we are to depart from the Judeo Christian principals from which the Constitution was designed to work within, it may as well be scrapped. The Constitution and Declaration are worthless to a Godless people. History has shown us over and over in absence of a common Truth man can only be ruled by the sword. Most do goodin' far lefters see the world as Gene Rodenberry of Star Trek fame, fictionalized it. For that to happen; for all men to think and act and produce for the "common good," those who do not wish to comply must die and those who are young must be conditioned. That has been tried before and failed. The human spirit craves liberty and free will. Without free will and the responsible exercise of it, as our Creator intends, a human is just a bag of guts, blood and bones. And it is very easy to rationalize the extermination of tissue mass as evidenced.

[elle pipes]

The constitution and bill of rights were not given to us by God, they were given by the philosopher John Locke. The American constitution is based on his social contract stating that everyone has the right to defend their "life, health,liberty, and possessions".

No man is free who is ignorant.
No man is free who is hungry.
No man is free who is sick.
No man is free who out of work.
No man is free who is homeless.
No man is free who cannot join with the one they love.

That’s what the human spirit craves.
That is freedom.

The rest is bunk.

[Mick]

A person who didn't give his name said
"No man is free who is ignorant.
No man is free who is hungry.
No man is free who is sick.
No man is free who out of work.
No man is free who is homeless.
No man is free who cannot join with the one they love.

That’s what the human spirit craves.
That is freedom."

Congratulations, no name. You just described a well-read, well-fed, healthy, kept-occupied, housed with their wife, slave.

Excuse me Mick; my name is for my friends, of which I count few on this site. Let me tell you what slavery is though:

Slavery is working two part-time jobs to pay the rent because employers can structure their employment rolls with part time staff so they don’t have to offer benefits. Slavery is working for the minimum wage, knowing if they could pay you less they would. Slavery is not having health insurance, so the concept of preventative medicine is not something for you and you can only see a doctor in an emergency. Slavery is not eating every day. Slavery is being foreclosed on and out in the street. Slavery is being the Child Left Behind. Slavery is being ignored as a spouse because you are gay. Slavery is being broke and not able to find a job. Slavery is something you are born into, something many Americans are locked into as surely as if there were chains on their legs. Slavery is getting up in the morning and seeing junkies throwing up on the corner. And going to sleep with hookers walking down your street. Slavery is hearing gunshots in the night and being afraid to let your kids out after dark.

Don’t be so idealistic. Don’t kid yourself with concepts of opportunity and the notion that hard work is the answer. Freedom is just a word. I want a government that does not allow slavery to exist.

[John]

Ha-ha-ha, no name dum dum got owned. Good job, Mick! He's just upset because you used his stupid little attempt to sound deep against him! He can now write all he wants - but he LOST. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha---------------

[S.H.]

John,
I’ve been reading your posts for some time and I can tell you’re a cretin. Keep it up though; you represent your side very well.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha” Maybe, I’m wrong, are you twelve years old?

[W. Tieff]

Hey no-name. You keep right on equating and labeling the natural struggles of everday life in a free (albeit over-legislated) country as "slavery". I'm sure that will go a long way toward diminishing the meaning and the memory of our Nation's horrendous inheritance of a systemic brutalization of Africans and blacks for the purpose of agrarian economic advantage. No one's forcing you to work at shitty jobs, or relegating your existence to mandatory acceptance of urban blight and crime, or requiring you to embrace a sexual persuasion against your own free will. A nation of laws and freedom DOES require you to obey society's foundational structure and morality, and to vigorously defend it against tyranny and violence. 150 years ago our Union splintered and offered it's men and boys up to be slaughtered, in order to settle these "idealistic" aims once and for all. Are you prepared to do the same in order to live in a better neighborhood with fuller cabinets and a paper Marriage license?

[Shaun]

Just a thought for the no name guy: Im not trying to sound all idealistic and chest pounding here but I am free regardless of what our government does or does not do. Cant find work...learn new skills or work around it. No insurance: Well, I am my primary health care provider and for emergencies having sound knowledge of first aid and nutrition goes a long way. I don't need some half-ass, inefficient, bloated bureaucracy to provide for me cradle to grave..maybe Im mis-interepting your message but sounds to me your representing the very slavery you write against. Every condition you wrote about is self inflicted..except maybe the gay marriage thing but thats a whole other issue. And what a funny closing sentence about government keeping you free!! OMG do you really think our government is what keeps us free. Governments do not keep people free..they enslave you..at least that is my point of view. For all the undriven lazy masses, I guess thats a different story!

Shaun
UCA

Hey W. Tieff. John Locke said that the reason for the existence of the state was to protect those who have property from those who do not. I’m sure you’d agree. However, I do not.

[W. Tieff]

John Locke didn't write our Constitution. Men who had read his words and also the words of their Creator wrote our Constitution. And here's a quote from another scholarly fellow:

"Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."

- Abraham Lincoln

W. Tieff. Very good! Look, I’ve read your posts before and you always at least have an interesting take on things and appear to be an intelligent person. You also appear to be a pious one. Needless to say, I am not. I have never been spiritual in any sense. I would be honored to hear from you why you are and how you are able to reconcile the existence of God in this mad world. I know that is an imposing request and one likely not suitable to this forum. But still I would invite your response.

[W. Tieff]

is not necessarily suitable to this forum, and very difficult to answer, though not at all imposing. I've been trying to reconcile such things for a while now, and will continue to do so, but you are definitely the first ever to ask such from me, personally. "God in this mad world", eh? Can't answer that one, yet. Still working on it. At this time my journey involves the philosophy of Faith, which I believe must inevitably lead to the Name of God. It is not an easy journey, which is precisely why one must endeavor upon it. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.
(I have some ideas about this journey, and someday I think I would like to get them down on paper. Maybe write a book. I could title it "The Audacity of Faith".. lol!)
Anyways, the establishment vehicles of this journey are your major religions; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Shintoism, and others.... The tenets of all these religions present guidance. Guidance that to the average modernist seems like an enigma stew bubbling in a conundrum cauldron with metaphore as the main ingredient.
But all of them, even Atheism, for that matter, also present a core contract that provides an answer to the unanswerable.
Science and reason and technology all seek to provide answers, and so far all have failed to satisfactorily answer the question of the end of sentient life. And even if the question was definitively answered, that would in effect remove the question. It is not in man's Nature to relinquish questioning. This, alone, explains the metaphore of Adam & Eve's expulsion from Eden after tasting the fruit of the tree of Knowledge. It also explains Nietzsche's idea of "if God did not exist, it would be necessary for man to invent Him".
FAITH, however, has no basis other than the provision of an answer to the unanswerable. If an individual can make a "leap of Faith", then that person has empowered themselves with a kind of strength that has no easy quantification, or even worth, in this day and age......
Then again, it could just be a matter of 2 parts CONVICTION, 1 part humility, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sides are golden brown.....................................