This is not meant to be a scholarly piece. I am no scholar. They are just my reflections as I sit here drinking my coffee this morning.
Our Constitution has been called a blueprint for revolution. Indeed most emerging nations in the past two hundred years have given at least some measure of respect to the U.S. Constitution. It is perhaps the most plagiarized national document in history.
It could also be referred to as a codified vision of liberty. Having just won independence from Britain and realizing the Articles of Confederation had become unsuitable, the framers were given a unique opportunity to construct a nation that would understand that power was indeed vested in it's citizens. Not in the ruling class where the transfer of power was through bloodlines or coup's. Or both. They wanted to demonstrate that a nations people could govern themselves and given a good economic model could prosper without the help of a dictator or monarch.
I think though that it is also something else. It is a portal into the hearts and minds of the men who set their imprimatur on it. Who fought, debated, reasoned and compromised to bring forth a document that would endure. It has indeed endured. Our nation has survived numerous wars. Some necessary some ill conceived. We've survived more than one great depression. We've even survived more than our share of bad presidents and and legislators although we still bear the scars. I hesitate to call the Constitution a "living" document because that which is living can be killed. But there is something vital about it. It is one of the few documents in human history that can boast having a continous daily effect on the lives of people it serves. I would venture to say that is because that we Americans as a people do not have the bloodline of a monarchy to ensure continuity in statehood. What we do have is a piece of paper. A paper that entrusts us with our own sovereignty and the responsibility to make sure it endures. As such we do share a national DNA with those who wrote:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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."
Just some thoughts, while sipping coffee on a Saturday morning.
