I’ve noticed a growing trend in many of the conservative leaning figureheads and public speakers. I’ve seen some of the most respected and well-known voices continually working to discredit the Democrats and pump up the virtues of the Republicans.
While I do find it important to point out the various inconsistencies and increasingly violent and dangerous ideologies of the left, working to discredit the Democrats and build up the Republicans isn’t really the fight we should be engaging in. That is group think and group rhetoric and still doesn’t address the most important issue.
Are we following the Constitution?
Because, frankly, it doesn’t matter if we’re Republican or Democrat or anything else. What matters is that we’re American and we respect our Constitution.
Arguing about how great one political party is when compared to another does little to promote the Constitution and, in fact, increases the divide between the two parties.
What we do need to do is point out the egregious tendencies of both parties, and yes, exceptionally on the left today, to throw out the Constitution for their own agenda and end goals.
Are we American? If we are, we have, either by birth or by choice, taken on the role of an American citizen and the duty of holding our representatives accountable to our Constitution. Anything else misses the mark.
George Washington said in his farewell address:
that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.
With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.”
The difficult position those of the right side of the political spectrum are now facing is the feeling they don’t really don’t have anything in common with many on the left anymore. The radical left doesn’t appreciate America. They proudly want to destroy our past and revolutionize our present—-ultimately they want the Constitution eliminated. This is a problem. And no amount of pumping up the Republican Party (a party that has also, many times, gone against the Constitution) will help anyone deal with the reality that a large portion of our nation is cheering for the destruction of the shared “religion, manners, habits, and political principles”.
We’re never going to be able to rationalize with those who do not operate within the same realm of reason or principle that the Constitution exists upon. So, no amount of arguing that one party is better than another will suffice. In fact, it merely opens Republicans or Independents up to critiques and exposed hypocrisy.
We need to stand upon simplicity when those around us rage. Don’t stoop to that level of rage.
Stick to this simplicity: you are an American and you stand for the principles that America represents. You stand for the Constitution.
Radicals can rage, call for the end of capitalism, tear down statues, spew insults and accusations of racism and the like. Don’t rage back about how great your party is in comparison to some one else’s because they will always find a flaw.
Shrug and say that you stand for one thing only, The United States Constitution. If they want the Constitution eliminated and destroyed and arbitrary power unleashed, then they’ll have to own that and go through you and every other American who shares the title of “American” proudly and willingly.
Conclusion
For those who want to see America and the Constitution eliminated and replaced, no amount of party fervor or passion will help prevent that. Only the following can…
Using George Washington’s own words: We have to fight and triumph together around a common cause, because the independence and liberty we possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.
The Constitution and liberty—not “being Republican”—is that common cause.
The Liberty Belle
Thank you for this article Christin! At last! A detailed, yet condensed article regarding the MOST important topic today in the United States! A reminder of the utmost importance of OUR beloved “law of the land”, OUR constitution! For those who really want to understand the fine details of why this topic is so important to the “free world” go back to 1215 and read about the era of King John and the framing of the Magna Carta (Charta). Thank you so much for your brilliant work Christin!
I don’t know if it’s my Madisonian view of human nature or looking over the political landscape for a number of years that has mellowed my opinion of trusting politicians not to mention mellowing some of my views. As I have said before there are numerous politicians and right wing media people who talk a good game and will instigate questionable deeds be done on your part but will never stand beside you at the barricades when push comes to shove. Perhaps it’s because I have mellowed that I especially enjoy your informative yet unbiased blog. It covers the basic ideas of what our government was founded on and how it SHOULD work. It expresses the ideas that Conservatism, which I still deeply believe in was originally built upon. It is intelligent, refreshing and sorely needed in these times where flawed information can be accessed in a heartbeat. You have a wonderful talent and a deep interest in a topic that is vital for every American to understand properly. Thank you for sharing that talent with us.
I especially enjoyed your last two columns and this excerpt from President Calvin Coolidge 1926 4th of July speech in Philadelphia came to mind:
“About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.”