I don' think any politician has explained "We the People" more concisely.

It seems as if libertarians and Tea Party folks want to go back to a society of very limited human relationship where small tribes constantly bickered with each other ... or where you have to labor all day just to keep a roof over your head and your family fed ... or where you are susceptible to every disease know to the human race ... or where natural dangers and human-created threats lurk around every corner.

If these “movements” succeed in getting their way, then humanity is doomed.

"We the People" is about our relationship with each other. Independence is a fallacy. We became an independent society because a group of enlightened wise men had a vision of a country where our relationship was not one of oppressive top-down rule nor one of each-for-himself anarchy. They codified that vision into a framework — our constitution — within which a positive, constructive relationship with each other is absolutely necessary.

We are a society of people who have become too superficial in our relationship with each other. Unless we wish to destroy the hope of our forebearers' vision of over 200 years ago, we need to reconstitute a more perfect union — a union that cares for one another while respecting individual initiative and contributions to the whole.

Concerning the individual, Ayn Rand has been used to justify libertarianism and rampant "individualism." My take on her philosophy is that the creative power of the individual is to be respected, encouraged, and welcomed — a good thing. For sure, the individual needs to receive just recompense for their contribution to the whole (didn't another wise teacher named Jesus say the same thing?). But this does not preclude constructing social institutions that take a portion of that recompense beyond what is just to benefit the whole of society. Ayn Rand's argument was, in part, one of what "just" means, whether for the individual or in a social “contract”.

Unfortunately, some in society insist on twisting Rand's philosophy as I see it, and in a very superficial way use it to stress individual "freedom" over all else. Unfortunately, their "philosophy" is resulting in greater inequality of opportunity and as a result less freedom for all U.S. citizens — even the very rich. Unfortunately, this demagoguery screams with all it's might, "It's just to keep it all for myself; ain't no one gonna take it away from me!" (Apologies to the late blues singer, Ruth Brown.)

Our relationship with each other as fellow citizens of a society crafted in wisdom is severely damaged. Stop yelling. Listen to each other. Debate with respect. Strive for the perfect.

And don't forget that we are created in One's image; we are a part of that whole, too. That is the “under God" part. Our relationship with The Eternal — however you define it — informs our relationship with each other.

"We the People": not guided — top-down — by a ruler, but strengthened by our striving for the Best Within Us, in relationship — in Love.

Remembering 9/11

We have a lot to remember from a rather eventful summer, I’m sure, like memories of pleasant vacations and summer outings. But also we are remembering heavy rains and flooding, fires in the Southwest United States, an earthquake, and a prolonged, unwelcome visit from Hurricane Irene. Which is it – The Rapture?? Or more, relatively pleasant days on our earthly realm?? Only God knows, I’m sure.

However, foremost on my mind during the past couple of weeks was not earthquake or tempest, but an event that happened ten years ago. I was in my apartment, asleep in bed, when three planes hit, respectively, WTC Tower #1, WTC, Tower #2, and the Pentagon; another plane went down in a farmer’s field in Pennsylvania after the passengers voted to sacrifice their lives to save many others. I missed the whole thing, broadcast live on the only television station on the air (WCBS–2; I still don’t have cable), but I did not miss the impact of this horrific event on me and others.

I’m sure you all can recall the impact 9/11 had on your lives. The silence in the sky — no airplanes, only the occasional fighter jet. The neighbor who never returned home that evening. The friend, or even you, suffering from post traumatic stress and other ailments. The responses — from Afghanistan to Iraq to the Patriot Act to “See Something? Say Something!” to the loving care we show toward those who, to this day, are still significantly affected.

I wish to remember 9/11 in a meaningful, personal way. However, finding 9/11 tenth-anniversary memorial events in my neighborhood in Astoria, Queens was difficult. Of course there’s the Big One at the yet-to-be-completed World Trade Center memorial, but because of security it won’t be easy to get near enough for participation in a meaningful way. Still, with some digging and help from others, I found and listed some memorial services in the newsletter that I edit for my church, Trinity Tidings.

One of the tenants of the Jewish tradition is tikun olam — in essence, recreating/restoring/rebuilding our world. Remembering results in reactions which then result in responses. Our remembering/response/reaction of/to 9/11 is somewhat like what we may do for events in our every-day life. Hopefully, we respond with something like tz’dakah — acts of loving kindness — not because we have to but because we are happy to do so. But we also respond with security measures and violent suppression of the “enemy” not because we want to but because we have to.

Whether it be tempest, flood, horrific events, or everyday happenings, it’s good to remember where we’ve been, plan for the future, and implement those plans with love — as much as we are able to do so. May the legacy of 9/11 be not one of destruction, but instead one of building up.

Never Forget — Remember in Love.