Saturday, January 22, 2022

“CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC”; “NATION OF LAWS”; & “OATHS OF OFFICE” — A “REFRESHER-101”


In a country basking in envy-of-the-world liberty “entrusted to” federal/state/local government, judicial courts, law enforcement, etc.—rational thinking would suggest that the meaning and importance of “Constitutional Republic,” “Nation of Laws,” and “Oaths of Office” would rank high among that which its citizens keep relatively fresh in mind. Especially given the hundreds of billions of dollars spent yearly on taxpayer-funded education, and untold time and fortune consumed with an array of 24/7 state-of-the-art media.

But not so, as much to the contrary “we the people” become ever-the-more self-destructively overwhelmed by the many faces of Marxist-rooted “divide, conquer, & control” weapons,” such as: Racism, Wokeism, Transgenderism, Fair Share, Reparations, Climate Change, Identity Politics, White Privilege, Gender Neutrality, White Supremacy, Victims, Oppressors, so-called “somewhat peaceful” Protests, Insurrection, Gender Pronouns, Equality, Critical Race Theory, etc.

Therefore, and in an effort to prevent crucial liberty-sustaining foundations such as “Constitutional Republic,” “Nation of Laws,” and “Oaths of Office,” etc., from totally crumbling into America-destroying obscurity—the following “Refresher-101” is offered for consideration:

(1.) “NATION OF LAWS”: The United States of America is often referred to as a “Nation of Laws” . . . in lieu of men [or women]. Meaning that, from the unprecedented wisdom, courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of America’s Founding Fathers, “we the people” have been gifted a most unique and envy of the world nature of government, wherein we are (supposed to be) governed by “laws,” and not by the emotional or otherwise irrational mindset of “people.” And not just any laws, but by those stated in and otherwise legislatively supported by the U.S. Constitution. A most unique and precious Constitution that includes a “Bill of Rights” (first ten amendments to the Constitution) specifically added early-on by America’s Founding Fathers to ensure the liberty and freedom of American citizens.

(2.) “CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC”: Hence, and furthermore, the U.S. is by wise design and with liberty-ensuring intent a “Constitutional Republic.” And, NOT a “pure democracy”—where the view of 51 percent can determine the fate of a 49 percent minority. This being a “highly relevant distinction” that unfortunately, through ignorance and/or intent, a shameful many of the occupants of all branches of our government; the administrators and other staff of our educational institutions; and our so-called mainstream media; etc., too often fail to responsibly acknowledge . . . as they continue to spew misleading utterances about “our democracy”! Seemingly unaware, for example, that there is sound reason why our U.S. Pledge of Allegiance refers to our country as a “Republic,” and why our Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution do not mention the word “democracy.”

(3.) “OATHS OF OFFICE”: Oaths of office and allegiance have of course been aspects of an array of governments for countless centuries. For example, when the United States were colonies of Great Britain, government officials swore allegiance to the King. While Colonial and state legislatures also used various oaths requiring members to swear allegiance to the state, and to often also profess a belief in God.

Ultimately, America’s Founding Fathers decided to require in the U.S. Constitution an oath for federal and state officials that did not include a “religious test.” However, the specifics—such as wording of the oath—were left to the First Congress (1789-1791). As a result, in its first legislative act, the Oath of Office bill, specifying the following simple text, was signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives on May 21, 1789, and signed into law by President George Washington on June 1, 1789: “I do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.”

The form of the oath has changed many times since the “first legislative act” of Congress. However, the oath used today by the U.S. Vice President and Members of Congress has reportedly not changed since 1966; is prescribed in Title 5, Section 3331 of the U.S. Code; and reads as follows: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

And then there’s the somewhat different and much shorter oath used by the U.S. President. One specifically prescribed in Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the Constitution; contains 35 words; and reads as follows: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Yes, the above being the same U.S. Presidential oath to which President George Washington reportedly added the words “so help me God”; a practice thereafter and so far included “traditionally” by every U.S. President except Theodore Roosevelt. As, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, all but two presidents have also placed their hand on a Bible while saying the oath. Reportedly, Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible for his first inauguration; and John Quincy Adams took the oath upon a book of the law. Whereas, in 2013 Barack Obama took the oath using two Bibles, one once owned by Abraham Lincoln and the other by Martin Luther King Jr.

=    =    =

And, as (1.) through (3.) above fall deeper into the abyss of anti-America obscurity . . . more and more of “We the People” continue to self-destructively encourage and tolerate being governed not by the U.S. Constitution, but by shouts; screams; cries; hurt feelings; accusations of uncaringness; so-called “mostly peaceful” protests (riots, looting, and arson); corrupted elections; the expressed wishes and/or votes of illegal aliens; real and/or imagined prejudice; the anti-America agendas of so-called Big-Tech; political activists posing as so-called mainstream media; etc.; etc.; and by the otherwise many faces of ignorance, apathy, complacency, denial, greed, and counterproductive fears.

As the Founding Fathers of our U.S. Constitutional Republic—our Nation of Laws—are no doubt painfully turning over in their graves. In agonizing sorrow and disbelief of the growing many who willfully disregard their sacred Oaths of Office. As, through ignorance and/or intent, many other of today’s so-called adults-in-the-room otherwise destroy, or tolerate the destructions of, humankind’s “best hope” for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
                                                              
                                                              —William James Moore

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