Many people already know this, and it seems it should become part of the normal political discussion: Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should be a living document, a product of the current generation's will. In a letter to James Madison, he suggested that all laws and constitutions naturally expire after about 19 years. Jefferson and his peers believed in progress. Although he loved his pleasures and comforts too much to advocate for the end of slavery, he and many others knew there would eventually come a reckoning. The Founding Fathers were attempting to lay out principles, not write an unchanging, sacred text. The principles are sacred, so to speak; the document is not.
There are principles from which the Second Amendment derives its power. Hopefully there are politicians who are genuinely trying to encourage productive work to reform our culture on this; if so, may more join them. Even though I don’t own a gun, I have common ground with gun-owning NRA members. Finding common ground is the essence of a working system. I think and hope and believe that we’ll eventually get leaders who love people more than their own power, who rise to be worthy of the trust we have given them.
It’s so bizarre that anyone would think of the Constitution any other way. That is literally what the intention was and why the Supreme Court exists. We have revised and repealed many amendments. I wouldn’t be able to vote if not for the 19th amendment. We can criticize the Founding Fathers all day long, and there are criticisms to be made, full stop. One thing they got very right is the understanding that they had no way of knowing what was coming, and whatever articles of organization they created for this new government, they’d need to be able to change with the times. I think the one thing they never imagined was the rampant greed and disregard for the greater good and…well, everything we’re seeing today. But I also hope this is a moment in history that we will overcome, and that we will be better for it in the long run. I hope that with my entire heart, because the alternative is not pretty. Thanks for being here, Robert ❤️🩹
It’s fascinating to consider: what would the FF think of this present moment? While acknowledging that their minds would be blown by the advances we’ve made, and that they would not know what to do with the demographic march of history that increasingly decentralizes the power of white, European men, I think their real horror would be to see how broken our political system is and our creep towards authoritarianism. And I think they would point to what you and I are discussing here, that the Constitution needed to be malleable to the times.
Incidentally, I also think they would be pretty shocked at the level of ignorance in our culture more generally. They valued education above all else.
That said, I’m not sure some of them wouldn’t be on school boards voting to remove DEI initiatives. But maybe this is unfair, since I’m sure the spirit of book-burning would be anathema to them.
I want to send this all around this country… what is the best format?! You have written what your heart, mind and soul are speaking and feeling and this latest experience is it.
This is insanity! I too have had it. And of all places a church. How these children will carry this fear all of there lives. The most immediate impact to saving lives and understanding is your description of the change in
Guns since the 19th (?) amendment. I wouldn’t have been able to quote the amendment #… Restart and yes back to the beginning!!
Many people already know this, and it seems it should become part of the normal political discussion: Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should be a living document, a product of the current generation's will. In a letter to James Madison, he suggested that all laws and constitutions naturally expire after about 19 years. Jefferson and his peers believed in progress. Although he loved his pleasures and comforts too much to advocate for the end of slavery, he and many others knew there would eventually come a reckoning. The Founding Fathers were attempting to lay out principles, not write an unchanging, sacred text. The principles are sacred, so to speak; the document is not.
There are principles from which the Second Amendment derives its power. Hopefully there are politicians who are genuinely trying to encourage productive work to reform our culture on this; if so, may more join them. Even though I don’t own a gun, I have common ground with gun-owning NRA members. Finding common ground is the essence of a working system. I think and hope and believe that we’ll eventually get leaders who love people more than their own power, who rise to be worthy of the trust we have given them.
It’s so bizarre that anyone would think of the Constitution any other way. That is literally what the intention was and why the Supreme Court exists. We have revised and repealed many amendments. I wouldn’t be able to vote if not for the 19th amendment. We can criticize the Founding Fathers all day long, and there are criticisms to be made, full stop. One thing they got very right is the understanding that they had no way of knowing what was coming, and whatever articles of organization they created for this new government, they’d need to be able to change with the times. I think the one thing they never imagined was the rampant greed and disregard for the greater good and…well, everything we’re seeing today. But I also hope this is a moment in history that we will overcome, and that we will be better for it in the long run. I hope that with my entire heart, because the alternative is not pretty. Thanks for being here, Robert ❤️🩹
It’s fascinating to consider: what would the FF think of this present moment? While acknowledging that their minds would be blown by the advances we’ve made, and that they would not know what to do with the demographic march of history that increasingly decentralizes the power of white, European men, I think their real horror would be to see how broken our political system is and our creep towards authoritarianism. And I think they would point to what you and I are discussing here, that the Constitution needed to be malleable to the times.
Incidentally, I also think they would be pretty shocked at the level of ignorance in our culture more generally. They valued education above all else.
That said, I’m not sure some of them wouldn’t be on school boards voting to remove DEI initiatives. But maybe this is unfair, since I’m sure the spirit of book-burning would be anathema to them.
Idle speculation…have a happy holiday!
I want to send this all around this country… what is the best format?! You have written what your heart, mind and soul are speaking and feeling and this latest experience is it.
This is insanity! I too have had it. And of all places a church. How these children will carry this fear all of there lives. The most immediate impact to saving lives and understanding is your description of the change in
Guns since the 19th (?) amendment. I wouldn’t have been able to quote the amendment #… Restart and yes back to the beginning!!