We know the Constitution is working as originally intended when we see masked white supremacists in formation walking proudly through the streets of Washington, D.C. Since the advent of Donald J. Trump and his now total of five years and six months in the Oval Office, racial bigotry and misogyny has come to the forefront of the American political landscape. In short, the KKK are back in business and business is good. This is what happens when a group seeks to systematically tear down the progress made in those areas where the original founding documents of this country were lacking. Especially under attack today is the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
In the opening sentences of both the document announcing to the world our intentions and reasons for wresting control of our country from an oppressive monarchy and in the document designed to guide the fledgling nation, we find the roots of what is today known as the MAGA movement. The Declaration of Independence declares “all men are created equal” and have unretractable rights, three of them “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This sentiment was in direct contradiction to the Constitution’s opening words “When in the course of human events …”, then in a few sentences we went from all humankind to half of humankind. Just men, and as we find out 11 years later when the final draft of the Constitution is completed in September of 1787 (final ratification May 1790) that not all men within or without the national boundaries were included; just white men of property.
The ways of achieving the goals laid out in the preamble of that document were not to be voted upon by all the people of “We the People …”; natives to the land are dismissed as human, labeled as “savages” where ultimately many tribes were eradicated and others suffered a genocide that left them in poverty and despair. Other men were Blacks, and if not a free Black person or indentured servant they were slaves and considered only 3/5 human and not allowed a ballot. And as for women; not even mentioned. Not white, Black, Native or Other, no women at all. No vote, no positions in government available. The legislations designed to form a more perfect union or ensure domestic tranquility or promote the general welfare in America were to be in the hands of only white men of property.
The justification of this patriarchal dominance came from religion, most notably sects of the Christian classification, that held that women were not equipped to negotiate the tough and tumble world of politics, business or clergy and were best suited to domestic duties. It is a fact of history that many Blacks and some Natives had been granted the right to vote decades before women were given access to the national ballot box in 1920. And by that time, the right to vote given to Blacks in the aftermath of the War of Succession had been all but eradicated and Jim Crow laws had taken their place.
Cultural changes came slowly with monied white men running the whole show, but eventually two civil rights bills were passed with the purpose of making life more equitable for Blacks and marginalized people, and cases heard before the Supreme Court established educational equality and gave birth rights to women. These rulings were necessary to correct inequalities that were based upon interpretations of Christian doctrines, which the Founding Fathers were dead set against should exist within government. But it took time. In the case of women, it was slow; after being granted the vote, it took another 54 years before they could open banking accounts without a male co-signer. There were exceptions along the way to these changes in individual states, but America as a whole took a couple hundred years to begin living up to the ideals expressed in our founding documents.
And then along came Trump and Project 2025 and America began a quick about face and Roe v. Wade was scuttled and with it a women’s right to choose what is best for her family, voting maps are being redrawn with specific purpose of disenfranchising Black voters, and detention centers hold hundreds of residents without due process only because they are people of color. At the present time, we know at least 19 people have died at the hands of Trump’s fascist troops and not a single reason or person responsible for any of these deaths has been investigated. The government was greatly weakened by the removal of many qualified people because the white boys in charge are fearful of diversity of any kind, so people of color, people within the LGBTQ community and others not aligning with the White Christian Nationalist’s ideal of what an American citizen should look, act and, most importantly, worship.
And that is why these zealots will hold to the idea that America is a Christian nation, knowing full well it was not founded as such; a look at the writings of Thomas Jefferson supports this position without vacillation. The early Europeans to this continent were godly men, but they certainly were not true followers of the preachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The genocide of Natives, the enslavement of Blacks, the repression of women is not Christian but surely is godly if that god is Yahweh. Take a look at that god’s actions in the books of what is known as the Old Testament and it is easy to understand the oppressive, controlling model. (To be continued).
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The original subject of this week’s column was supposed to be about the Greenfield Fire Department, what I recall about the department of my youth compared with today’s modern facility and professional staff, but my planned visit to the firehouse was thwarted at the last minute. I mention this so that Arlene understands why she is not reading about the fire department this week as she was told she would.
Take care. Peace.
Steve Wilson may be reached at sc**********@***oo.com.
