Constitutionism - Secular Belief, Passionate Practice
Constitutionism - Secular Belief, Passionate Practice (Short Version)
For those who strongly believe in the Constitution and wish to defend it against ideologues and political hacks, there should be a proud label – ‘Constitutionist.’
Constitutionism is commonly defined as ‘adhering to the Constitution.’ But there should be a fervor, a semi-religious feeling towards the Constitution.
Constitutionism is to be defined as “to adhere to, defend, support and promote the Constitution.”
This could start in four (4) ways:
1. Help high school Civics teachers by ensuring that each student has a copy of the Constitution and sees it as a sign that they are now an adult.
2. Show everyone in America how they have lost monetarily and politically by illicit political activities and violations of the Constitution.
3. Demand that each political candidate answer specific questions about obedience
to the Constitution.
4. Create an “Enemies of the Constitution” list, including a “10 Worst” list.
America needs the Constitutionist Movement and it needs it now.
Constitutionism – Secular Belief, Passionate Practice (Long Version)
There are debates in the academic community as to the meaning and application of Constitutionalism and Constitutionism.
Much of these debates seem to an outsider to be the equivalent of ‘how many angels can sit on the head of a pin?”
For those of us who are committed to the Constitution, why not a new definition that would encompass our feelings for the founding documents and let it serve as our rallying point? While others may be stirred by the flag, or give their lives over to a political party or cause, we would be the militia for the Constitution, called upon to defend it from every attack.
The most common definition of a ‘constitutionist’ is ‘one who adheres to a constitution.’ Therefore, constitutionism would be ‘adherence to a constitution.’
But this is too passive, almost lifeless. A constitutionist should be someone who adheres to, defends, supports and promotes a constitution. And, since we are in America, a Constitutionist would be for the U.S. Constitution.
This may seem to be pedantic to all of you, but there is an essential point here. Those of us who believe in the Constitution and have it as our primary political cause, must become zealots in working for the Constitution, we must be evangelizers and promoters.
In fact, I am proposing that Constitutionism be a conversion akin to a religious zeal.
There is a category of beliefs that is called ‘secular religion.’ In most cases the term is applied to such ‘isms’ as Communism and Fascism, and there’s always patriotism for one’s country. These beliefs mimic religions in that they have an orthodoxy (ideology), idols and icons, and have an organization with ideological interpreters and cadres (equivalent to theologians, priests, and deacons).
In this case, the Constitutionists would have the same level of commitment, but would maintain themselves in accordance with the principles and essence of our Constitution. They would work within the constitutional democracy, respecting the rights and beliefs of others, obeying the law, and always acting with a Code of Ethics.
There are a few institutions that provide information and educational materials about the Constitution (U.S. Constitution Center, Bill of Rights Institute) that are relatively value-free. But these are dispassionate, non-evangelizing, and do not promote themselves.
There are plenty of web pages and organizations touting the Constitution, usually with a particular point of view.
What is needed is an organization that will go out and promote the study of the Constitution – make it prominent so that people begin to value the Constitution and think what it means as they apply it every day. Each time an American thinks about politics or issues, they should be measuring it against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
If we had this level of consciousness, it would be a lot harder for those in Washington to take away our freedom, for certain religions to impose their beliefs on everyone else, and for the Courts to be filled with political backs and ideologues rather than true Constitutionalists.
What can we do to get attention for the Constitution?
Lacking monetary resources, our direct actions are limited, but there are still things we can do.
1. Work with the local high school Civics teachers to determine which Seniors would want to receive a copy of the Constitution. It should be seen as a symbol of the rite of passage – “Now you are an adult with all the rights of a citizen.”
Local patriotic/citizenship organizations – American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, League of Women Voters – would be asked to fund this activity.
2. When regime change occurs next January, start uncovering all the wrong doing for
the past eight years – not just the deprivation of rights or the illicit electoral activities (election stealing), but the many cases where criminal prosecutions were made or not made dependent on political reasons, or contracts were not won based on lack of political connections. The cases of malfeasance will be overwhelming.
Then seek out those who were hurt by these actions and inform them how they were harmed. Tell them they need to demand political reform and that they can best protect themselves by knowing what is in the Constitution.
3. Whenever there is a political campaign, ask/demand of each candidate – “What have
you done, what are you doing and what will you do for political reform and to ensure that the Constitution is obeyed. (Give specifics.)”
We must put the pressure on each candidate to put words into action, and for those that will not promise or give false promises – call them out to the point of calling them liars, hypocrites and “Enemy of the Constitution.”
4. There must be a list of those who are “Enemies of the Constitution.” This would be
headed by a “10 Worst Enemies of the Constitution.” Right now, of course, it would
be extremely hard to determine who the 10 Worst are because there are so many
candidates, but some form of voting should derive a final number.
For those who strongly believe in the Constitution and wish to defend it against ideologues and political hacks, there should be a proud label – ‘Constitutionist.’
Constitutionism is commonly defined as ‘adhering to the Constitution.’ But there should be a fervor, a semi-religious feeling towards the Constitution.
Constitutionism is to be defined as “to adhere to, defend, support and promote the Constitution.”
This could start in four (4) ways:
1. Help high school Civics teachers by ensuring that each student has a copy of the Constitution and sees it as a sign that they are now an adult.
2. Show everyone in America how they have lost monetarily and politically by illicit political activities and violations of the Constitution.
3. Demand that each political candidate answer specific questions about obedience
to the Constitution.
4. Create an “Enemies of the Constitution” list, including a “10 Worst” list.
America needs the Constitutionist Movement and it needs it now.
Constitutionism – Secular Belief, Passionate Practice (Long Version)
There are debates in the academic community as to the meaning and application of Constitutionalism and Constitutionism.
Much of these debates seem to an outsider to be the equivalent of ‘how many angels can sit on the head of a pin?”
For those of us who are committed to the Constitution, why not a new definition that would encompass our feelings for the founding documents and let it serve as our rallying point? While others may be stirred by the flag, or give their lives over to a political party or cause, we would be the militia for the Constitution, called upon to defend it from every attack.
The most common definition of a ‘constitutionist’ is ‘one who adheres to a constitution.’ Therefore, constitutionism would be ‘adherence to a constitution.’
But this is too passive, almost lifeless. A constitutionist should be someone who adheres to, defends, supports and promotes a constitution. And, since we are in America, a Constitutionist would be for the U.S. Constitution.
This may seem to be pedantic to all of you, but there is an essential point here. Those of us who believe in the Constitution and have it as our primary political cause, must become zealots in working for the Constitution, we must be evangelizers and promoters.
In fact, I am proposing that Constitutionism be a conversion akin to a religious zeal.
There is a category of beliefs that is called ‘secular religion.’ In most cases the term is applied to such ‘isms’ as Communism and Fascism, and there’s always patriotism for one’s country. These beliefs mimic religions in that they have an orthodoxy (ideology), idols and icons, and have an organization with ideological interpreters and cadres (equivalent to theologians, priests, and deacons).
In this case, the Constitutionists would have the same level of commitment, but would maintain themselves in accordance with the principles and essence of our Constitution. They would work within the constitutional democracy, respecting the rights and beliefs of others, obeying the law, and always acting with a Code of Ethics.
There are a few institutions that provide information and educational materials about the Constitution (U.S. Constitution Center, Bill of Rights Institute) that are relatively value-free. But these are dispassionate, non-evangelizing, and do not promote themselves.
There are plenty of web pages and organizations touting the Constitution, usually with a particular point of view.
What is needed is an organization that will go out and promote the study of the Constitution – make it prominent so that people begin to value the Constitution and think what it means as they apply it every day. Each time an American thinks about politics or issues, they should be measuring it against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
If we had this level of consciousness, it would be a lot harder for those in Washington to take away our freedom, for certain religions to impose their beliefs on everyone else, and for the Courts to be filled with political backs and ideologues rather than true Constitutionalists.
What can we do to get attention for the Constitution?
Lacking monetary resources, our direct actions are limited, but there are still things we can do.
1. Work with the local high school Civics teachers to determine which Seniors would want to receive a copy of the Constitution. It should be seen as a symbol of the rite of passage – “Now you are an adult with all the rights of a citizen.”
Local patriotic/citizenship organizations – American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, League of Women Voters – would be asked to fund this activity.
2. When regime change occurs next January, start uncovering all the wrong doing for
the past eight years – not just the deprivation of rights or the illicit electoral activities (election stealing), but the many cases where criminal prosecutions were made or not made dependent on political reasons, or contracts were not won based on lack of political connections. The cases of malfeasance will be overwhelming.
Then seek out those who were hurt by these actions and inform them how they were harmed. Tell them they need to demand political reform and that they can best protect themselves by knowing what is in the Constitution.
3. Whenever there is a political campaign, ask/demand of each candidate – “What have
you done, what are you doing and what will you do for political reform and to ensure that the Constitution is obeyed. (Give specifics.)”
We must put the pressure on each candidate to put words into action, and for those that will not promise or give false promises – call them out to the point of calling them liars, hypocrites and “Enemy of the Constitution.”
4. There must be a list of those who are “Enemies of the Constitution.” This would be
headed by a “10 Worst Enemies of the Constitution.” Right now, of course, it would
be extremely hard to determine who the 10 Worst are because there are so many
candidates, but some form of voting should derive a final number.
posted by Jack Cormode at 11:40 AM
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