...a more perfect union...
I walked into the National Archives last weekend when I was in Washington, DC and looked up and saw this inscription from the United States Constitution. I was humbled. It made me think about our election, our economy, our nation and our future. It gave me hope. In the midst of a terribly negative campaign season, I found a glimmer of hope in 4 words written over 200 years ago.
I have read the Preamble of the Constitution hundreds of times as a student, scholar and teacher. Not until last week, however, did these words impact me so much:
Perfect - without fault; flawless. To pretend that we are flawless is a flaw in itself. But to strive for perfection is human nature. Perfect is not what we are, more perfect is what we seek to be.
Union - something that is made one. A union is differing opinions and ideas of different people that are bound together. That's America. We may not always look the same, dress the same or think the same but we are bound together by a union, or confederation, of this common goal to be more perfect.
We the people of the United States
In order to form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestice Tranquilty
Provide for the Common Defence
Promote the General Welfare
and Secure the Blessings of Libery
for ourselves and our prosterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
I have read the Preamble of the Constitution hundreds of times as a student, scholar and teacher. Not until last week, however, did these words impact me so much:
A - an article used to distinguish something-- in this case, our fledging nation
More - means greater or additional. Not to be confused with most, which means greatest. The purpose was not to be the greatest, but to be better and strive to improve. When you are the most, you have reached the pinnacle. When you are simply more, you've attained something but have not accomplished everything. Perfect - without fault; flawless. To pretend that we are flawless is a flaw in itself. But to strive for perfection is human nature. Perfect is not what we are, more perfect is what we seek to be.
Union - something that is made one. A union is differing opinions and ideas of different people that are bound together. That's America. We may not always look the same, dress the same or think the same but we are bound together by a union, or confederation, of this common goal to be more perfect.
We the people of the United States
In order to form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestice Tranquilty
Provide for the Common Defence
Promote the General Welfare
and Secure the Blessings of Libery
for ourselves and our prosterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
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