Writing the Constitution... Completion Stalled - Continuing Discussion of Eric Metaxas' If You Can Keep It!

 

The Promise: 

Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.

—Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

In the heart of Philadelphia, in a Georgian brick building that still stands, one of the most extraordinary events in the history of the world took place. There, in what is today called Independence Hall, over the course of about one hundred days in the summer of 1787, some of the most brilliant men of that or any other era created what would become the Constitution of a new country. They were creating the legal foundation for a form of government that had never been tried before; and they were creating the possibility—and the golden and glorious promise—of something called the United States of America.

The key to the entire book is given to readers on the very first page! Did you pick it out... Did you think to yourself, "I didn't know that..." I did, and so did the author. In fact, my guess is that the majority of Americans don't know. And those that do are into history--big time! The United States is the first-ever democracy in America!

One person knew--Martin Luther King, Jr., in his "I Have A Dream" speech spotlighted it... the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence before it constituted a “promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.”

Centuries have passed and much had been accomplished. However, the fact is that that promise had not been accomplished immediately. Dr. King did not see it... And it has still not been accomplished, has it?

I didn't know, because as far as I am aware, it was never highlighted in public schools.  So, what about our country was different? It was a simple fact that never sunk in to most of us. Yes, we are the first country to have actually established a democracy! By now, we all know that a democracy means freedom--freedom for all... But, really, Metaxas confirms that the goal, freedom for all, has not yet been accomplished. In fact, could it be that we are now in danger of ever accomplishing complete freedom for all? Or, can we say that there has been a major stall...

Each of us--each American is given the responsibility for creating, and sustaining freedom... So, how did the Founding Fathers determine that now was the time to begin to formalize and create a government that would oversee what was largely expanding and already had been governing ourselves at the local, colony level? Indeed, there were already power struggles by those who wanted...more... 

One key factor was that the Founding Fathers gathered... believed...

It was a nation held together by an idea and by citizens who bought into that idea. They were of different backgrounds and different religions. Some of them lived in Maine and others in Virginia and others in Georgia—and others in all the colonies in between. But they all were Americans because they voluntarily believed in that idea. That a nation could be held together by people believing in an idea was unprecedented, as I have said. It had never happened before... And the idea in which they believed was...

Liberty

And one of the reasons they believed was that they had gained experience... Decade upon decade showed that no matter that there were different ethnic groups, or religions, still there was no real division within the colonies established by that time. Self-governing became routine. To me, that was important. We needed the time to watch and see what was to happen in America. Would it fail? Or, would it succeed... And, the entire world was watching...

Still, there were so many issues and so many people who had immigrated from other countries.  What would enable a group of people to be trusted to govern themselves and then actually to do so? I wasn't surprised, but had not really considered the ramifications of what Metaxas carefully pointed out... Maybe that's why each citizen needs to learn what he says? For, perhaps, these days, as we ask the question, can democracy survive? We must undoubtedly turn to the present division among America... And we must also look as Ukraine, a democracy, is facing an autocratic leader of another country who is waging war on it citizens...simply because of power and greed. We all know it; we see it there. But do we also think, is this where America might end up? Fighting for a democracy that is no longer able to say that we are all self-governing...together...

So what enabled the Founding Fathers to trust we could be self-governing?

Religion

...Religious freedom was paramount. It was always understood that one’s religion was truly free, which is to say not coerced nor mandatory nor affiliated with the power of the state in any way. This was also unprecedented...

Let's look at this subject as it, first, relates to what happened.  What we know is that many who fled their countries for America was for religious freedom. It was the norm at that time that most countries named a specific religion for its population. What we also know, though, is that all religions in the world have a basic form of accountability. It is that which had already developed in us to love, to care for our neighbors, to be trustworthy, to follow the words of that religion to which we belong. So, while we as a nation wanted liberty, we also, in our religious lives, answered to a deity. Indeed most of our moral training came from gatherings and teachings of our religious groups. 

Here's my first "yes-but." The reason is very clear, at least for me, that we no longer have those basic moral beliefs. At this time in America, we have many who escaped for freedom from murder or worse, enslavement, and have been turned away. We know that all religions are no longer given liberty to worship... Muslims, Jews, and those with Eastern religious backgrounds are now being personally attacked... We know that groups such as Proud Boys, the KKK, White Supremacists, QAnon--specifically all those who conducted an insurrection on the United States Capitol, and many others, no longer are willing to share liberty, freedom... or especially religious liberty... in our democracy. Fortunately, they are not the majority of citizens in America, as evidenced by the last election. But politics for political power's sake is now running rampant in America, again, in my personal opinion...

So what happened when the Founding Fathers work stalled... The document had been written, but consensus could not come...

Next: A Stalled Body of Founding Fathers Moves Forward...

Hi Again, I hope you will feel comfortable enough to question, to respond, to share your thoughts about this book (or my interpretation of what was happening or is happening)! Jot them down, or leave thoughts or questions as comments!

God bless,

Glenda