CONSTITUTIONAL CONVERSATIONS
Generational Change & the Constitution
by
M. E. Boyd, Esq., “Miss Constitution”
Miss Constitution was going to describe the Doctrine of the Black Robe and the transformation that takes place in the robing room of judges all over the country that turns an ordinary citizen into a real judge. It is a type of mystery. It is the exact point where the “reasoning” of the 18th century Enlightenment and the “emotion” of the 19th century Romanticism meet, join, and put the trust of Western Civilization into human hands. Without the transformation that takes place from political appointee to impartial jurist, one might expect each Justice on the Supreme Court to rule as the President who made the appointment might wish. But no, once the robe goes on, an ordinary person becomes an extraordinary steward of our nation and our culture. The Founders envisioned seasoned, intelligent, wise old hands in the Senate who could weigh intellectual heft, character, and judgment and who would object only if the candidate obviously second-rate or compromised. Feel free to question temperament, legal reasoning, discipline, Constitutional philosophy, concepts regarding interpretive techniques, past opinions or writings, and judicial restraint, but do not break Unwritten Law regarding courtesy, manners, and respect – especially when a candidate’s spouse and children are present. It applies also to the President who made the appointment. This is how we teach civility to each generation.
But Miss Constitution wants to move past the Doctrine of the Black Robe and speak to the young adults of today. She wants to remind this new, intelligent, restless generation, that they are not the first to want real change. All generations want change and change is inevitable. It is exciting to think “we” could make a difference to our country and to the world. The Founders were young once and took on the most powerful nation in the world to secure a degree of Liberty for themselves and their progeny. They eschewed aristocracy and serfdom. The young in Lincoln’s day thought the Founders had had all the fun. But they, too, rose to great heights and abolished slavery in America. After World War I the young threw off the yoke of Victoria and Edward VII and jazz and the jitterbug were born. The young of the 1940’s sacrificed their very lives so that the Liberty won at earlier times could continue. Today’s young adults seem seriously concerned about Climate Change and Social Justice. And so the question must be asked, as it must be asked with each new young-adult generation, will you proceed within the boundaries of the legacy of your country and the Constitution or is it your desire to change the system itself – a kind of revolution? Miss Constitution would like to make the case for change within the boundaries of our Rule of Law and economic system.
Miss Constitution explains part of the system. It is fundamentally based on the development of the virtuous person and the development of the virtuous person begins with the family. Our parents teach us the values of productivity, of honesty, of humility, of fairness, gratefulness, and of rightfulness. It is these values from our family that become the habits we carry into life and into life’s relationships. It is these values that allow us the Liberty to pursue our interests and our own happiness without a police state. We voluntarily do the right thing in the right way to the right person in the right degree. Because these qualities are imbedded in us at a very early age, we do not need to be forced to be honest; to be forced not to injure others; to respect private property; and to obey the Rule of Law. So, in a real sense, Social Justice starts here. This is not a theory of Social Justice. The upcoming generation can help tremendously by helping all American families be the healthy and wholesome environments they need to be. The impact on our society young adults could have who volunteer to teach or read or mentor young children could be breathtaking. For large global issues such as pollution or rising sea levels America has the best private sector minds working in science, in engineering, in computer technology that, in partnership with higher education institutions and government actors, can experiment with ideas that work; can toss out those that don’t; can invent products that help; and can make the information discovered available to the world. None of this can occur in closed, tightly constrained and autocratic societies that do not value Liberty and its handmaiden, Law.
Gen Z is built on the shoulders of all past generations. It is important to learn what those generations did, what has been learned, and how our nation has grown but can improve. To know factual history and philosophy and civics and economics is the basis to add to, not re-invent, what has already been tried and failed. Sometimes the young leave home to attend institutions who feel it is their mission to distort factual learning for an ideological purpose. Some of our precious young are taught to look past their country and ignore or disdain the treasures and gifts of our civilization. Some young adults become cynical and mistrustful and feel “tricked.” This is unfair and very wicked. Critical thinking and open debate are positives in the development of a maturing mind. Creating toxic arenas of deliberate brainwashing, distortion, shutdown of ideas, and alienation is a form of abuse. No student or parent should pay for this exploitation.
Miss Constitution thinks positively that this generation is not burdened by prejudice and is “quick of head.” These are the gifts of your nation’s experience. You know no race or class. You know speed and efficiency and results. Marry these to a respect for our legal, cultural, and economic system; to a respect for your family and the blessings of this life; and you, too, can make your mark as one of America’s great generations. Before deciding where the truth lies, Miss Constitution would have all of you join the Coast Guard or Volunteers in America. She would have you start a small business or buy a Dollar General. After you do you will know your rightful path. Your nation will be grateful; as will the world.
Copyright© M. E. Boyd., Esq., “Miss Constitution”
APPLES OF GOLD – Voices from the Past Speaking to us Now by M. E. Boyd is available at
www.amazon.com
