Gerson neglects the entity We the People of the United States

Referring to Michael Gerson’s, “Which is worse, bigotry or cowardice in the face of bigotry?”, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sure-not-all-republicans-hate-outsiders-but-many-defer-to-the-hater-in-chief/2019/12/12/6bb61b58-1d16-11ea-87f7-f2e91143c60d_story.html. Gerson divides fellow citizens into white-Christian excluders and the emotional in-crowd and blames me among Trump voters. Gerson, instead of arrogating, could promote a civic culture long-proposed in the U.S. Preamble.

Introduction

It seems amazing that so many columnists and other writers for the press hate Christians, love social scientists, and don’t promote We the People of the United States. Michael Gerson castigates we Trump voters. I voted for Trump twice: to protect We the People of the United States, first from conventional Republicans and second from Hillary Clinton. I accept Trump’s psychological maturity, and think he intentionally developed integrity. Why do writers disparage the U.S. Preamble’s proposition, when they should be encouraging responsible human liberty and journaling its progress?

Hating Christians

Just as human beings are diverse, the human-faction that calls themselves “Christian” is diverse. There are factions from persuasion in order to pick fellow citizens’ pockets to feudal Jesus disciples to developing civic integrity and privately hoping for spiritual afterdeath to honest pursuit of whatever-God-is.

The Holy Bible has historical roots in both Judaism and Christianity, and is thus Judeo-Christian. God’s eternity is common to the two religions, but the doctrine of the trinity is exclusively Christian. Similarly, African-American Christianity seems exclusive. The doctrine of transubstantiation divides Roman Catholics and reformed Catholics from Protestants. There are thousands of Christian institutions. Also sharing the historical roots are the various “enemies” portrayed in the Holy Bible, the major one being Islam in its diverse doctrines. Biblical doctrine seems divisive.

Perhaps disciples of Jesus take seriously hate accusations like John 15:18-23 while other Christians ignore extremes. Perhaps many Christians are not too rigid about doctrine so that they can practice civic integrity by practically admitting to the mystery: whatever-God-is. Some Christians may privately ignore false ideas in the Holy Bible so as to benefit from the-literal-truths found therein. Some Jews may have the same practice.

The partnership of two groups who tacitly admit to whatever-God-is may be the foundation for a civic culture. By joining pursuit of whatever-God-is, Judeo-Christianity could empower responsible human liberty as proposed in the U.S. Preamble.

Social science

                Gerson practiced social science in constructing his column. He began with the falsity “[Trump’s] racism, misogyny and dehumanization — the assault on migrants, Muslims and refugees — have only begun. And those who enable it are equally responsible for it.” (I am among 14 million citizens who voted for Trump/Pence in the GOP primary, giving 63 million voters the chance to elect Trump/Pence. I hope 2/3 of voters will approve Trump/Pence for a second term.) Then Gerson looked for support for his claims against the 14 million responsible voters. He thought he found it in another exercise in social science.

                Three scholars studied a Democracy-Fund survey and assessed the Democratic Party emotional for the-in-crowd, using a term from my youth. In contrast, the 3 amigos deem Republicans (normally fiscal conservatives) haters led by Trump-supporters. Gerson falsely claims fiscal conservatives connect on Christian-white favor. Based on the social survey, the 3 amigos said, “Trump support is uniquely dependent upon out-group hatred.”

                The term “social science” is an egregious, scholarly hoax. Science discovers physics and its progeny on ineluctable evidence and continually improves the understanding by inventing new instruments. Science discovers rather than constructs reality. Social studies assume a concern then use statistics to construct confirmation of emotions. Former journalism schools have partnered with social scientists based on the proposition that public policy is based on poles; social studies can be designed to support heartfelt opinion; and the press can use the opinion to effect government policy. The press’s abuse of social studies is an affront to responsible human liberty.

Each citizen, including writers for the press, may join We the People of the United States

                The U.S. Preamble proposes responsible human liberty, leaving emotionalism to privacy. That’s my view, and Gerson, like every fellow citizen, has the opportunity to express his view, if the U.S. Preamble is important to him.

                My interpretation of the U.S. Preamble’ proposition for my practice is:  We the People of the United States consider, communicate, collaborate, and connect to maintain 5 public disciplines in order to encourage responsible human liberty to the continuum of living citizens. The 5 public disciplines are integrity, justice, peace, strength, and prosperity (actually Union, Justice, Tranquillity, defence, and Welfare, respectively). Fellow citizens who defy the 5 disciplines risk liberty under statutory law. Religion is not among the 5 disciplines, because it is a private practice. The U.S. Preamble does not specify standards, tacitly leaving it to progress toward responsible human liberty by which to judge national performance.

                The literal U.S. Preamble excludes religion from the 5 public disciplines yet proposes responsible human liberty. The proposition is neutral to religion, race, gender, ethnicity, and emotions. With attention to the U.S. Preamble’s responsible human liberty, a civic culture can be developed in the USA rapidly. If not here, elsewhere.

Conclusion

                Gerson and many other writers for the press seem to miss the American dream, responsible human liberty, as expressed in the U.S. Preamble. In 1787, the framers of the U.S. Constitution split 2:1 signers vs dissident-delegates. Delegates to the 9 ratifying states were also split 2:1. Recent presidential elections indicate citizens are split 1:1.

Promotion of the U.S. Preamble’s proposition would serve the nation well. The reform to civic integrity rather than Judeo-Christianity or any other “religious freedom” seems essential to responsible human liberty to “ourselves and our Posterity.” Always, fellow citizens are the “ourselves.”

Copyright©2019 by Phillip R. Beaver. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the publication of all or portions of this paper as long as this complete copyright notice is included.