Ignorant society is its own enemy

Published 12:01 am Thursday, June 9, 2011

Regarding the Monday letter, “What is so hard to understand?”: In a few short months, I intend to embark on a path that will see me become an officer in the United States Army. Part of the oath that officers must swear to states: “…I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” The average reader will, in a modern context, interpret this statement as a directive to combat global terrorism, put down domestic insurrection, and wage an occasional war.

Outside of this definition, however, lies the greatest domestic enemy: an ignorant society in a democratic republic. The simple truth is that we do live in an ignorant society when it comes to understanding purpose and function of our government — an ignorance propagated and encouraged by individuals with little understanding of their country, and a lesser appreciation for the vital freedoms protected by even the most “archaic” sections of the Constitution. That the vast majority of our population is eligible to vote should reinforce the importance of understanding our history, our legal framework and the political process.

Certainly, technological advances have changed the world since the 1700s, but human nature and the role of legitimate self-governance have not. So, the “right-wing constitutional myth” that the writer complains of does not exist. That I, or others of like mind, insist that our elected officials adhere to the Constitution is not lunacy. Until amended, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, not a mere collection of “considerations,” and should be respected as such.

Encouraging average citizens to learn more about their country is a noble pursuit that can only make America stronger from within.

Daniel Donnelly
Everett