The Leveller: A modern day regulator

Of Ghosts and Apparitions

We often hear it argued that the founding father’s sentiments are mere echoes from a time and place in the distant past. A time that does not belong to us but simply to address those that lived contemporaneous to Colonial American times. Typically this argument comes about when the person speaking needs to ‘bend’ the meaning of the founding generation’s intent in order to suit their own present day needs.

The Constitution is/was simply too restrictive. It must be ‘bent’ in order for the present day person to interpret it in such a way that is congruent with the objective. These arguments can be heard by those that profess to be either liberal or conservative and democrat or republican.

It seems clear to me that the founding father’s sentiments were intended to not only address their time but to stand the test of time for all times. There is nothing new under the sun. Not technology nor government or society has changed that warrants a newer, modern interpretation of the Constitution or the founding father’s intent, whichever you prefer. Not even a change in the genetic code of humans should necessitate a different reading.

Granted, there was never a consistent agreement on the original direction for the country. It was a perilous journey with those that argued for more centralized power and those that argued for less.

It can be said no clearer even if you do not agree with what was said by John Quincy Adams in 1821 when speaking about the United States:

She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own.

She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.
She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example.

She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force….

She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit….

[ America’s] glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence, Peace. This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice. Adams

What more should be said? How can anyone honestly have a different reading here. We should all agree on what is said and let those who still wish to engage in even the most sincere defense of freedom abroad admit that although he may feel it is the right thing to do that it is the very wrong thing to do in America’s own self interest.

The current wave dominated by neocon types and conservative beatnik’s claim that freedom is so valuable and precious that we should indeed send our very own off to fight in foreign wars equating that the foreign lands freedom equals our very own freedom. Never mind how this looks in the eyes of the world who sometimes often call for the aid of America to defend their land as in WWI or WWII.

John Quincy Adams addressed all of these reasons better than anyone in the address noted above and still none can stand up against his justification to avoid a conflict.

This position was not so arduous to defend against a typical conservative and perhaps liberal prior to 9-11. Except for the neocon that has been haunting, waiting ever so patiently to galvanize one of the party’s to marshal the American empire into open conflict. Once allied with the democratic party the neocons found leverage to appropriate the machinations of the modern conservative party adopting the new appellation, neocon. So that since 9-11 a terror which spread itself over the whole nation some years since and is still fresh in most people’s memories are like those Ghosts and Apparitions which frightens the whole empire and its inhabitants.

Meaning whether by invention or other perceptions of reality it makes no difference how in time the Ghosts and Apparitions take on new life where the formerly scared are embodied with designs of irrational and unprovoked violence, a bogeynation with which to frighten other nations into good behavior.

We have become in the eyes of the world what Adams warned against. But without believing his original intent how can one even see this inevitable outcome? Instead of viewing Adam’s wise words in the distant past we should at least view them as if in a distant mirror.