Uh-Merica?
by Thomas Neumann

Was there a stutter in the room, because there certainly wasn't one in the Constitution? Yet today we the people of the United States of America stutter over who we are. The halls of debate are riddled with arguments from Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals, defining what is "American and seeking to qualify themselves as leaders using buzzwords like Bi-partisan to secure votes as though compromise is the only way to effect change. Where can we look for the glimmering arrow of truth that will ignite the golden path for America? The Constitution is that arrow, purposefully set in our quiver by the men of old who foresaw our challenges and left us with the wisdom of their victories. That we would define ourselves in any challenge, so that no challenge may define us.

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union." This statement sets the stage for the entire Constitution. It contains the who, what, when, where and why of America. Who? We the people. Why? To form. What? A more perfect union. Where? Obvious. When?

There is no definitive time in the Constitution because it is assumed that it would be the rutter from which all American eras were steered. The Constitution is not outdated as some argue, because it was purposely left undated. It was not a bill signed into law that would expire because that would allow the persuasions of time to define our nation. The Constitution was written after an army of ill-equipped pilgrims defeated one of the largest empires of the world at that time. This fact alone, ought to make it our most relevant article of history as we seek counsel through present adversities.

That brings us to how. How do we as Americans, define ourselves through the Constitution in order to align our nation with its proven principals and govern ourselves as such? The answer lies in the statement, "to form a more perfect Union." This statement is the mission statement of our government, the people of the United States, that we should look to in order to put our governing principles into action. And herein lies the debate between the increasingly separate viewpoints of America.

The Constitution does not explicitly tell us how to settle our differences. Instead it provides a basis of engagement through which America can govern itself towards a more perfect Union. The Constitution does not explicitly define what an American is. Instead it assumes that Americans would maintain their identity and living out of the the principals hidden within the makeup of our founding document: truth, justice, equity, wisdom, courage. The problem today is we have defined ourselves through history by our differences. If we would define again what it means to be American, we would show every person in America again, the spirit within us that has shaped history.

Forty-three presidents have served our nation, the sum of their governing principles leading us where we are today. Regardless of their political alignments these men have all been great at some moment. Most got it right some of the time, some get it right most of the time, but never did any get it right all of the time. When looking at snapshots from the lives these men we see glimpses of the foundations of America.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "Walk softly and carry a big stick," displaying mercy and justice. Harry Truman said, "A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." reminding us of our great aspirations. Ronald Reagan persuaded us that, "A great change in America always begins at the dinner table," beckoning us to see the greatness in our seemingly small lives. Dwight Eisenhower called on us to have courage when he said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." And finally, Woodrow Wilson inspired within us that, "America is not anything if it consists of each of us. It is something only if it consists of all of us."

These were ordinary men with the shortcomings of all ordinary men. What this proves is that ordinary men can do extraordinary things. We do not deny their shortcomings but instead, chose to dig deeper to see the glowing ember of American spirit that we all have. Notice how I didn't mention what these men's political alignments were. That's because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter anymore what your party is. What matters is that you, you the people, each individual, stand up for the ideals that made this country great: truth, equity, justice, wisdom, courage. We the people of United States, unite ourselves once again over all great virtues, that we may see what our forefathers intended us to have: a more perfect Union. Did I stutter?