A New Preamble for The Constitution of the United States of America: Is it time?

2023-10-05T20:56:11-04:00

{Note: What follows is a thought. Enjoy the language. For some I have spoken to there may be something to the notion. Before responding, read the words TWICE then take a deep breath. It is ONLY an idea. As I continue to listen to the divisiveness in today's heated rhetoric I began to wonder there might be way to quell the nuttiness we are all feeling today. So, I took a swipe at something I have been thinking about for > 20 years. Enjoy!}

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Purpose: As the Founders attempted to do in framing the Constitution the Preamble offers that common vision designed to shape the kind of government, we want to work for all and not just the few conveniently or in the shadows making self-serving decisions.

New Language Proposed: The following is the proposed rewrite of the Preamble to be changed by Constitutional Amendment designed to recombine the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, the themes that are currently in the Preamble of Constitution of the United States and other moments in our collective history because our nation has grown in the nearly 250-years since its founding that should be reflected in a future we can achieve – collectively - as a unified and purpose drive people.

"We the people of the United States of America hold these truths to be self-evident that in order to form a more perfect in the hearts, the minds, the spirits, and the purpose driven efforts by the inhabitants of this nation by whatever power they individually or collectively choose to call their creator that for all human beings this nation will offer them the dignity to which they are entitled as their basic civil rights with humility, integrity, and selflessness so they are able to have an equal chance to lawful opportunities that are provided under the rule of law for equal and non-politized justice, so that they and future generations can enjoy the domestic tranquility to pursue their unique dreams via their equally unique talents when their common defense in the places where they live, they work, they learn, and they play are assured as functionally safe so that in so doing it promotes the general welfare allowing for their ability to secure the blessings of liberty to themselves, for others, and for their collective posterity as their unalienable rights that among these are Life, are to exercise Liberty with Personal Responsibility and Accountability, and to the pursuit of Happiness, so that they can mutually pledge to each other there Lives in hope and there sacred Honor as a matter of unshakable trust in principles that underscore of this republic, then we therefore do ordain and reestablish as a new birth of freedom this Constitution of the United States of America because the only thing we have to fear is fear itself and in having the courage to face fear collectively as a diverse people we can as all the people establish and sustain a new level of justice with integrity - for all." (New Preamble word count = 295 words)

Reasoning for Update: Our Constitution was in fact created by imperfect men with prejudices incurred by the times in which they lived, yet they with great clarity understood that freedom, real freedom, has a price, always has and always will. Real freedom requires concentration on the mission that is the uniqueness of the United States of America. The E Pluribus Unum, out of many - one, that while a nation of individuals we are one people – Americans. Proud of the best of our unique heritages, and willing to share the best of those heritages with others so they may be enriched in that sharing of the food, the culture, the lifestyle, the shared values, and the unique philosophies that when examined wholistically form the basis for a framework for creating a greater common good because we have a great common understanding upon which to engage the human capacity for greater understanding, without giving up the disciplined required to achieve national success at the community level every-day.

The offered language of this new Preamble forges the way to remake our nation into a bastion of harmonious individuality in ways all people dream about yet have been unable to effectively articulate in recent years with the undertones of willful ignorance, bombastic rhetoric, and prejudice that is NOT the dream so many have fought and died to preserve as an - ideal. In writing this idea for a new preamble, I began to realize Thomas Jefferson and James Madison the framers of the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America respectively that they from other writings seem to secretly hope for such unified language someday that is - enlightened. I also realized that to achieve the Dream of Dr. King that the preamble as Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address required would need to be a “…new birth of freedom…” and that in providing that new birth that each American could see themselves as part of a future built upon a past that informs the path forward that has yet to be charted. This new Preamble is a brighter beacon to shine on that emerging path in the words of Poet Robert Frost so that we can collectively travel down the “road less travelled by (that) will make all the difference” and in so doing forge stronger unbroken bonds of genuine human fellowship.

Expected Benefits of New Language: Simple -

- It brings together all the best ideals we want to aspire to and place as an Executive Summary before the American people that who we are and what we can as a nation become.

- It says in clearer language with purpose what the Founders may have individually thought but may not have been able to be as expressive about at that point in history in writing.

- It puts for a better framework to be inclusive and equitable that can fundamentally reshape how we begin to love toward a more perfect union.

- It says what is expected of everyone to take responsibility for their actions and seek to be better within themselves and within their communities, in so doing begin to extend a hand up with dignity and not the handout that seeks to kiss the ring(s) of power to become submissive to the few or the one.

- It creates a new framework that We the people to endorse the overhaul of laws and systems in such a manner as to be more just in support of the ideals of this new Preamble language. This new Preamble would then force law makers to disassemble laws once enacted with “subtle” malice to attempt to satisfy hidden agendas.

- When followed by other amendments of consequence provides strength to the opening statement so We the people a more engaged and inclusive as a “civil society” retooled for mutual benefit.

- It provides the language that pledges our lives to each other because in making such a pledge as a people we are committed to establishing mutual trust over time with those that had been disenfranchised who can now – breathe the fresh air of freedom!

So, is new language for the Preamble required or not?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2023 9:02 PM

2023-10-05T21:02:16-04:00

While I like it, it seems to cater to weaker minds. But maybe that is what is needed. I know it is tough, hard even, to understand the language and grammar of our forebears! ;)

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Oct 6 at 2023 11:46 AM

2023-10-06T11:46:03-04:00

I think the current Preamble is fine IF we educate our citizens to the actual intent of it. Perhaps it could use updating into today's vernacular. Same with the Amendments.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 7 at 2023 5:33 PM

2023-10-07T17:33:34-04:00

Not a fan of what you have here. For one, it is one of the worst run-on sentences ever. Seriously. For another the language is inflated.

If the goal is clearer language, you didn't get there.

Personally, I am a fan of a Constitutional Convention. Scrap the whole thing and start over. You can use the existing Constitution as a baseline, but update the language and, as necessary, cur or add stuff.

And at all times, have 4 people in the room: 1 propagandist and one red hat from both the left and the right. Every proposal, their job is to look at the language and explain how they would twist that language to push an agenda (propagandist), or how they would interpret the language to block the other side's agenda (red hat).

Then the rest of the people in the room decide if/how to tweak the language. And if they are OK with the input from the 4 advisors.

IMHO a large part of the problem we have today is that the founders assumed that people would take them at their word, rather than twist things for their political ends.

At the same time, a record is kept of exactly what was meant, what was proposed and deliberately omitted, and reasoning for the selected language. This will leave plenty for the courts to study and use to judge future conflicts.

But that is just me.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 27 at 2023 1:52 PM

2023-11-27T13:52:43-05:00

Folks need to keep in mind the language of the time- they had wise men, educators, and clergy who helped draft/vote it in place. It is the intent that is truly important. Wanta shock- read the Bible before the King James version- we changed "Thou Shalt not kill to "Thou shalt not murder" Damn big difference from the Bible that was written long before Christ was born. When it was the Commandants to the Jewish tribe roaming the Sinai desert. It was to keep peace and civility among the tribes and killing tribe members had punishments as well as atonements. read- God in giving the Jews Israel sometimes they had to eradicate several tribes done to and including the livestock. Our problem is we have dumbed down so much that if don't put things into simple words, folks are too dumb to look up what they are reading.

Response by Maj Ronald Illingworth made Dec 11 at 2023 6:59 PM

2023-12-11T18:59:40-05:00

No, the current Preamble is just fine.

Response by CPT Endre Barath made Dec 17 at 2023 12:32 AM

2023-12-17T00:32:05-05:00

Just to be clear I can to this country in 1967 and served as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Captain in the US Army... people like you are the problem with making comments like this.... I came from communist Hungary where they rewrote history.... to go further than that I see another problem and sadly many who are now in power and serve as high ranking members of the military forgot history or never learned it... and they are weak too... and playing into the Socialist & Communist who infiltrated the media and the teacher in the early 1960's and they are winning...

Response by SFC John Skaarup made Dec 20 at 2023 6:36 PM

2023-12-20T18:36:52-05:00

Chief Szejniuk; With all due respect, IMO, the Preamble is fine as it is; as it has been since 1776. The proposed language adds hubris that what was original can be improved upon. Additionally, it highlights the 'flaws' in the founders rather than recognizing the amazing paradigm shift of history that was made by their hand. It's an interesting conversation, no doubt. However, for me, it just highlights what an amazing document the Constitution, in its entirety, truly is.