The justification for the ideas found in the Constitution were published on July 4th 1776 . That’s when thirteen states joined unanimously to declare a separate and equal standing among the nations of the world. In respect to other nations, this document explained why the states had decided to voice their Declaration of Independence.
This document further develops why, today, many ask, “What do these words have to do with me? That’s the government, right?” Wrong, these words define your rights and your relationship to every other citizen of the United States. Most importantly, together, the documents explain why and how we are joined as a Nation, a Country.
With the emergence of globalism our political and corporate leaders have sometimes lost sight of the fact that this country stands independent of all others. Further, we are joined as a people for the common good of this nation.
We cannot improve on the wording but we can parse it to emphasize the context in what we refer as America’s Promise. Many cite the start of the second paragraph of the Declaration, most have seen it.
· “We hold these truths to be self-evident,
Although these truths were self-evident to the representatives of the thirteen states, the words were carefully selected to get the unanimous vote.
·that all men are created equal,
Indeed, as used in context men should not be assumed to mean men as humankind. The representatives could not agree whether this word should include women, indentured servants, African slaves, or Native Americans.
One truth self-evident today is that all are created equal under the law. We may not share the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, social status or gender persuasion as our fellow citizens, but we have a reasonably high expectancy that we will be treated fairly and equally in our civic associations and relationships.
· that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
· that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Rights of all, which cannot be taken away nor given up. And so, it followed that:
“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.”
We conclude, that the people of the United States who wrote these words and we the people of these United States that inherit them share the absolute duty to protect and preserve the union of these free people.
First by including all peoples living within our borders as equal under the law and, second, by taking the responsibility from whatever political or social standing to “promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”