A People on Constitution Day ed

Declined letter to the editor of The Advocate: 3 versions rejected since 8/11/14, regarding a people on Constitution Day, 2014; revised on September 8, 2015:

                Schools observe Constitution Day, September 17th, but unfortunately the people don't celebrate the constitution for the USA.  The world is overwhelmed by governance under theism, which is miserable, because a civic people who fulfill the preamble could collaborate for the achievable personal liberty and domestic goodwill (PL&DG) throughout most inhabitants’ lifetimes by not imposing any deity into civic morality.

                Fortunately, on September 17, 1787, 70 % of the delegates to Philadelphia signed the constitution for the USA. The USA would emerge upon ratification by nine of thirteen states (70%). Some delegates to Philadelphia withdrew after governance under the people prevailed for both the states and the nation. George Mason left when there would be no Bill of Rights. Others resented that the delegates declined both practicing daily prayer and claiming divine authority.  

                Pauline Maier (book, Ratification, 2010, Page 431), explains that a few state conventions stalled after delegates proposed amendments. More states simply ratified. On June 21, 1788, nine states (70%) had ratified, with 70% of their delegates affirming. Two states promptly joined the USA to influence amendments. Two more states joined after learning the draft amendments by the first Congress, seated on March 4, 1789. The Bill of Rights, ratified on December 15, 1791 by 75% of then fourteen states, completed the original, complete constitution for the USA. The First Amendment implies governance under theism, contradicting the civic preamble of 1787 through today. The privilege to establish governance under A Civic People of the United States remains, because prior generations passed it to us.

                During ratification and subsequently, Thomas Jefferson proposed that a people replace the Constitution every nineteen years. Successive generations would reform obsolete civil order. Twelve generations later, this generation may voluntarily employ the preamble, without amending the constitution.

                The signers debated many tyrannies, especially religion and slavery, but only facilitated justice--did not effect domestic justice--left that to us. In 1790, 100 % of citizens were Christians, with only sectarian division: today, only 70% are Christians, but sectarianism is more divisive than ever. In 1790, only 6 % of the population could vote: today, 100 % can vote. The 94% overcame suffrage denied, but the tyranny of governance under theism persists despite contentious sects and a large non-theist minority: 23 % or 74 million Americans. Also, the Christian divide is so extreme James H. Cone debates the Christian god's skin color! It's a question, but the answer is: No god yields to men's intellectual constructs.

                Tradition falsely labels the preamble “secular,” meaning “non-religious.” But the preamble is civic: A civic people mediate collaborative autonomy and mutual accommodation among citizens who privately practice wonderfully diverse cultures. Civic accommodation of each person’s private pursuits can be as cooperative as and nobler than civilly facilitating expedient, safe vehicular traffic. By removing the civil imposition of theism, the civic beauty of each person’s factional culture may flourish yet contribute to an over-arching culture of a civic people. A 70% majority that fulfills the preamble may establish civil order in domestic justice yet facilitate each person’s pursuit of the no-harm liberty they perceive during the ever changing decades of their lives. With civic morality rather than imposed "religious freedom" domestic justice could finally emerge!

                A besieged world awaits mutual accommodation of persons. Let’s become the American generation that establishes a people who update and commit to the preamble as a statement of shared goals.