The power of words

In eighth grade in New York State, my Social Studies class had one joint assignment. The entire class had to first memorize the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Then, on the appointed day of the assignment, each student walked up to the chalkboard and wrote a word or erased a word and placed the correct one in. We could continue as long as we wished until we decided together we were finished.

We missed one word. The correct phrase is “a more perfect Union,” not “the more perfect Union.” I still remember classmates furiously erasing “the” and placing “a” while others would switch it back. Eventually, we compromised. A 98% or 100% didn’t matter. We had done a good job and an argument wasn’t worth it for something so minor. For the record, I was with the “a” crowd.

What our 13-year-old brains didn’t realize was that we weren’t just memorizing words to get a good grade. We were using critical thinking skills, learning and understanding sometimes archaic words, and understanding the grammar of why certain words were capitalized. When we were finished, we fully comprehended what the Preamble was, what it meant, and how powerful the words are.

It’s one of the most simple, effective, and powerful lessons I’ve ever had. Visiting the National Archives to see the founding documents is one of my cherished memories. Being able to also see one of the surviving copies of the Magna Carta there was also a delight. It, too, is of historical significance, especially since the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process clause of the U.S. Constitution traces its lineage to it.

When I woke up today, I saw Cheetolini wants to have the extremely fragile Declaration of Independence moved to the Oval Office. His brain doesn’t think past “I want it. Give it to me.” There is no thought about how the document is for all people from all over Earth to see and read and think and ponder. His selfish impulse is as far as he gets.

Fortunately, at least for now, his advisors have talked him into copies. Since he likes Sharpies so much and making everything bold, I think he should have the following in front of him every day with an advisor to explain the warning to him. Words in bold below are by me.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

This is revolutionary rhetoric. We know the result, that is, if you paid attention in your U.S. History classes. We overthrew a king, who ruled by divine fiat. It’s time to be reminded of it once again through the powerful, beautiful words of men who had enough and took action.