Saturday 27 February 2010

A More Perfect Union

The creation of our United States Constitution was truly an incredible feat. There is no doubt in my mind that men like James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin were divinely inspired, and were preserved to come to the earth at that particular time. The innovative ideas woven into this conceived document would change the way man viewed himself as an individual forever. In watching the movie, A More Perfect Union, I was especially intrigued by the essential role compromise played in the development of our nation’s government.

As I watched the bright, stubborn James Madison fiercely struggle as he watched his ideas be debated, rejected, and altered into a form of government upon which all of the state delegates could agree, I learned a great deal. I sympathized with the frustration he felt. Human nature causes man to have difficulty in coping with criticism of his ideas, especially after putting so much effort, thought, and research in those ideas. How could the delegates expect to form a “more perfect union” if they could come to no conclusive agreement?

The wisdom of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin concerning this manner was truly inspiring to watch. They wholeheartedly supported Madison’s plan, yet they saw the importance of compromise. In Madison’s mind, his plan just needed the support of the majority. Washington and Franklin, however, understood the danger of winning by such a small margin. The states were practically equally divided on their opinion of how the government should be set up. I hadn’t realized before what a big fight the smaller states put up against the idea of a state’s population as the determinant for their representation in the legislative branch of the government.

I found Madison’s eventual acceptance of Sherman’s Compromise at the end of the movie a most intriguing insight. I saw the importance of never lowering your standards, expectations, or beliefs, but in still being teachable, even adaptable. Sometimes we get so set that our idea is the best, to the extent of pride. I loved that James Madison realized that the compromise was essential to the development of the government. Despite initial frustration and anger, he discovered that combining his ideas with the insights and experience of others would make for an even better government.

I still find it absolutely remarkable that those men were able to accomplish such an incredible feat in those sweltering weeks in Philadelphia that summer of 1787. They all came from such different backgrounds and experiences, represented different motives of the extremely diverse states, and all brought very different ideas about how a national government should be set up and run. How did they do it? I am grateful for the heated debates, the struggle, and the eventual compromise that at last led to the writing of the United States Constitution. Their arguments are a testament to the establishment and significance of liberty and freedom. The writing of the Constitution was truly divinely inspired.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Principles Behind the Constitution

Though the Constitution of the United States came to be written as a collaboration of comprise, debate, and philosophical reasoning, nothing like it had ever been before written. As such, many of its ideas and principles were novel and were not thought up and written down over night. The Founding Fathers of our nation wrestled in heated discussion and debate over several essential principles of this country, before they even began the writing of the Constitution.

The most basic, underlying, and foundational of these essential principles was the concept that the United States must have a government. Though they agreed on this, the Founding Father wrestled with a key aspect of this principle. How were they to form a government where they could enjoy the benefits of structure and organization while avoiding the effects of the natural tendencies of human nature for corruption. Having recognized this, next was the arduous task of choosing a form of government that fit their needs.

In examining various types of governments, one of the core elements addressed was the issue of sovereignty. Who would ultimately have the final say? As one writer expressed, “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” From very recent experience the colonists were well aware of the danger of placing so much power in the hands of one individual. Though some expressed desire for a strong central government, many of the Founding Fathers took into consideration the need for a balance of political powers.

In wrestling with the principles necessary to create the Constitution, the Founding Fathers had to grapple with three essential concepts. These were government, freedom, and human nature. Through significant research, they examined the structure and possibilities of four types of governments, including autocracy, classical republicanism, libertarianism, and liberalism. Each one of these options presented incredibly important points of view and ideas for consideration. Yet, not one of these alternatives of governmental form answered all the questions the Founding Fathers had concerning the principles they had established as necessary to create the Constitution. In short, the system of government for which they were looking, did not yet exist.

Another principle the Founding Fathers wrestled with before writing the Constitution was that of political economy. They recognized that government set bounds for people by laws, courts, and police. In bringing political theory and economics together, they had first looked and structure, analyzing why certain governments work better than others. Participation was decided as a key component of this principle. This would inevitably result if the citizens were able to attain a sense of ownership. The importance of laws was also addressed. It was agreed that laws must be by common consent, but that they must be implied impartially. This would especially come to play a significant role in the conflict over the “Rule of Law.” Rule of Law is the idea that no one is above the law.

Other significant principles considered by the Founding Fathers before they drafted the Constitution included custom and tradition, a moral sense, and leadership. Custom and tradition is what binds people together in a society, as one nation. It brings unity and loyalty, which are essential to the success of any governed group. The Founding Fathers recognized the critical need for a moral sense to exist among the people. If government was to structured upon the consent of the governed, it was then absolutely essential to establish common ground as to what people view as right and wrong. Finally, leadership is one of the fundamental keys to progression in any society. Leaders must possess the quality of vision, to lead the people forward to a successful future.

Before the Founding Fathers could even begin to write the Constitution for the United States, they wrestled with several principles upon which the revered document would come to be built. They intended to tackle the problem of government once and for all. Through the fundamental principles they examined, the Founding Fathers recognized that they would not be able to anticipate everything. They would have to develop a form of government requiring the possibility of adaptation.

Saturday 13 February 2010

John Adams

I absolutely loved the movie, John Adams, based on the biography by David McCulloch. I have such a passion for this time period in American history, and this film just really brought it to life for me. I enjoyed comparing the John Adams I have been taught with how he was portrayed by this particular actor, as well as seeing how certain key phrases were used by the characters to get across very specific messages.

When I learned about John Adams in my early schooling, I was taught that he played a role in the First and Second Continental Congress, that he signed the Declaration of Independence, and that he eventually became the second president of the United States. I also was taught about his relationship with Abigail, and the significance of their faithful correspondence. As far as his personality was concerned, I was taught in eighth grade how he had a very hot temper, was easily offended, and often let this volatile anger get in the way of relations with others. For example, he and Thomas Jefferson, who began as very close friends, quickly became the worst of enemies during their respective presidential terms (although it would be very difficult to have the man you ran against for president serving as your vice president).

Through my reading of the excerpt from McCulloch’s book, information in our text book, and from watching this movie, I was amazed at how I have seemed to slightly overlook just what an incredible impact John Adams had on our nation’s achieving their independence. He was a brilliant man, yet, still a family man as well. I am so impressed with his love for Abigail and in what high esteem he held her and her political opinions. The movie portrayed Adams just as I’ve pictured him: rather small in stature with a round frame, and a quick temper apparent from a face that could turn bright red in an instant.
Watching the movie really helped me get an inside view of his perspective. How frustrating it was for him to try and convince the others to take action. His family was on the very edge of the conflict erupting in Massachusetts and he sought action against Britain but understood the very treason he was committing in even mentioning it. Meanwhile the other delegates were all from diverse backgrounds, different motives, and very different views. His inexhaustible determination to do whatever it would take to convince these other delegates of the necessity for action is truly inspiring.

It was very interesting to watch the development of his relationship with the ever-wise Benjamin Franklin, the reserved yet passionate Thomas Jefferson, and the humble and dependable George Washington. I liked the foreshadowing when Jefferson said he had not spoken because he is not eloquent in speech. Despite this weakness, Adams acknowledged and utilized his remarkable gift of the written word. Watching the movie also helped me to see what our textbook describes of how Adams chose and helped to make Washington general of the Continental Army. I had previously thought it was mostly because of his reputation as a military genius. It was that, and much more. Adams saw the advantage of gaining the support from the other delegates by heavily involving Virginia, the most prominent of the colonies. He also recognized his humility, determination, and willingness to serve.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. I really feel I have come away with a heightened understanding of the phenomenal process of America achieving her independence from Britain. Truly, men like John Adams were divinely inspired.

Saturday 6 February 2010

Types and Shadows Exhibit at Museum of Art

I had such a wonderful experience on our excursion to the Museum of Art on Wednesday. I love art anyway, but so intrigued by the insight we received on the tour. It was especially neat to hear all of the comments of my classmates and their perspectives coming from different backgrounds and academic interests. I gained a lot from the exhibit, both academically and on a spiritual level.
The portion of the Types and Shadows exhibit that stood out to me the most was the section with the paintings detailing the Savior’s parable of the Prodigal Son. There were two paintings in a row and across from each other that I especially focused in on and compared with one another. One of them of them seemed very abstract; it was divided into three panels and had apples, grapes, glasses of wine, a miniature “fatted-calf,” and blue cloth, all different shades and gradations of color. At first I was confused by its meaning. My first impression of the painting was quite a different interpretation than several of my fellow classmates ended up mentioning; however, my ideas opened up an important insight for me personally. I viewed the three panels instinctively as the three phases of our life: the pre-existence, life on earth, and life in the world to come. The dreary, dull, vague colors of the middle panel made me think of this, especially when compared with the images of the vibrant, ripe fruit in the adjoining panel.
I then turned my attention to another painting depicting the father embracing the prodigal son with such sincere love and tenderness. The prodigal son has one foot on the stair, and his father has come down one stair to meet his son. A deeper meaning of this piece suddenly dawned on me. I immediately saw the connection between the father and our Savior. He is reaching out, ready to receive the son and even comes part of the way down to embrace him with open arms. A flood of thoughts connecting the scriptural story and these two paintings flowed through my mind and resulted in quite the spiritual epiphany.
As simple as it seems to me now, I realized an important application I have always missed with this parable of the prodigal son. Whenever I have studied it in Sunday School or in my own personal study, I have always heard it applied to wayward children, or those who leave the church and need to be welcomed back into the fold with open arms. I guess I’ve thought about it, but it’s never completely occurred to me that each of us is the prodigal son. It has a very real personal application. We all fall short, we’ve all gone astray. Jesus Christ is there the whole way through, waiting to welcome us home. Through his atonement, we can be forgiven, and He will welcome us with open arms into His sincere, loving embrace.
I thought it was an amazing experience that the types and shadows represented in these two paintings really brought me to the realization that I have been missing a very significant personal application in a parable I have studied all my life. I appreciate the beauty and the deeper understanding that this terrific experience brought to me.