MONDAY MUSINGS

July 7, 2008

Toward A More Perfect Union

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Those stirring words from the Declaration of Independence, 1776, boldly proclaimed that it was the intent of this nation, when it came into being, to be of a different sort than the pattern of European nations.  Instead of hierarchies of persons with the privileged few at the top supported by the many at the bottom, this small group of English colonies had a much different vision.  There would be a basic equality in this new nation, one reflective of the equality God had in mind when the Creator put this world in place.  The Revolutionary War was fought and endured to make such a vision a reality.

It has taken us more than 200 years to broaden the scope of this equality.  Initially the men who were all created equal were men, males, who owned property, those who had a financial and commercial stake in this new venture.  The Constitution of the United States, sufficiently ratified to become the law of the land in 1789, needed the additional Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, to codify the vision.  Subsequent amendments granted full citizenship and full equality to freed slaves, persons without property and women. 

So we are still a nation in the process of becoming a better nation, a union of 50 states striving to become a more perfect union.  While we may fault the nation of India for retaining inhumane remnants of the caste system, and chide the British for their acceptance of both royalty and commoners, we here have our work to do to assure the equality of all.  All of God’s children may be equally precious in God’s eyes, but not all of our citizens enjoy the same level playing field in their daily living.  Justice is not always even handed and some of us enjoy more opportunities and fewer obstacles than others.  The voices and concerns of some are heard more clearly in the halls of government, and advocates for minority opinions are sometimes hard to find.

It is my privilege, by the accident of birth, to be a citizen of this country, a blessing I do not take for granted.  I am aware that some of those who share my citizenship do not share the advantages that I enjoy.  On this Fourth of July weekend, we need to recommit ourselves to making this a More Perfect Union, one in which each of God’s children is valued and respected, and each enjoys the opportunities of this great and prosperous nation.  Peace.  John Krueger