A couple of mornings ago, I saw Glen Beck on CNN. In a surprisingly rational conversation with the host, Glen stated his undying devotion to the Constitution. This is certainly not surprising but, I have come to understand, it is not a viable position.
Do not misunderstand me. I love the Constitution, just as I love my memories of small town America and my memories of our Nation's simpler times. However, to stubbornly cling to the past is foolish. I can say that because I have, at times, done just that. When you do, you grow stagnant.
My Dad loved the old days and spoke fondly of them often, but as he grew older, he grew more accepting of change and realized that things would not hold still for him. He slowly, but inevitable, came to enjoy, not all, but many of the changes in our culture. I, slowly, kicking and screaming at times, have come to understand that change is inevitable, and you cannot fight everything. This does not mean cheerfully accepting everything, but many of our changes, are for the better.
The Constitution was never intended to be eternal. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote much of it, said that he hoped it would be changed often lest, as he put it, it became nothing but 'dead leaves.' The document was a product of a time when America was sparsely populated and had a largely farm based economy. Jefferson lived long enough to see the first signs of the Industrial Revolution and knew that much of the Constitution would not work as time went on. In fact, he, seemingly quite seriously, said we should have a revolution about every 25 years, that an occasional blood letting was a healthy thing.
I once read a comment, and I wish I could remember who said it, that all politics is ultimately theological. Our view of God determines our view of government and many, such as Mr. Beck are stuck in the traditional Christian view of God as unchanging. They believe that everything God, according to Bible, has said is etched in stone. Thus, the Bible is always correct, and if you believe as they do, that the constitution was written by God-inspired men, then it must be unchanging. Jefferson and many of his colleagues would be amused at this since they were rational Deists. By the way, there are other interpretations of Christianity that are far more valid.
The World will change, that is inevitable. If you wish to remain a contributing member, you must change and guess what, that is not only fine, it is wonderful, because you stay engaged. Again, you do not have to follow every idiotic fad. You can retain many traditional values, adapting them to the current world. If you do not change, you will become irrelevant and isolated in your nostalgia. If you adapt, you can temper change with wisdom. If all of us who remember the past opt out, then the future will take a rudderless direction and God help us all. Then you will see a future society that will likely be a blend of Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. The poor and uncooperative will feel the wrath of Big Brother and will be crushed under his boot, while those who play along will be treated to a mindless existence, numbed by the best drugs and rigid programming, mixed with a bit of genetic manipulation.
Traditional Christianity is no longer viable in a World where Science has disproven much of the Scripture and History has dealt much of the rest a crippling blow. Likewise, the Constitution cannot stand as is. The World is small now, there are vast numbers living in urban areas, and, thanks to the manipulations of the mega-corporations, there are too many poor folks lost in a poverty that will soon become hopeless. Something must change because I can guarantee you that there is no more dangerous creature on Earth than a human with nothing left to lose, and. since I see no hope of businesses willingly changing, the Government must step in and begin to balance things. If not, before long, this Nation will be swept with a violence that will make ISIL look like church mice. and do not speak to me of the Churches as instruments of change; the little ones are remnants from an ignorant superstitious past and the big ones have become little more than a blend of social club and big business.
So, to Americans who remember the traditional ways, I say, get over it, and move on. Cheer up, it's not that bad. Change keeps you alive.
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