Why is the constitution viewed as sacred?

[2012 Wont Happen]

Before I get in to territory that will unduly offend my readers, let me state this. The constitution was, at the time of its authoring, one of the most just and free founding documents ever devised.

Now, to counter that idea.

The constitution, while being a great testament of freedom in its time, should not be given the level of worship it is given. It was a document written in a different world, 60 years before the advent of the industrial revolution in the United States. Not only was it written in circumstances that do not apply to our modern world, a world plagued by the evils, and blessed by the technologies, of post-industrial manufacturing, but it was a document that protected such evils as slavery.

While the constitution has been amended several times throughout the years, it still is, at its core, the same document it was at our nations founding. That is fine for the most part, it is a good constitution in the scope of the world, however, it is not sacred. People treat it as if some sort of god of democracy had personally authored it, but this is not the case. It was a document written over 200 years ago by flawed men, lucky to have any amount of relevance that it does today.

/rant

So, what do you think of the American practice of constitution worship? Do you disagree with it, are you accepting of it, or do you practice it?

 

[Aardvark]

If your people gave as much credence to the first amendment as they do the second, the world would be a better place for it.

If I had the power, I'd rip the first amendment off and stick it on our constitution. The problem is, freedom of speech also protects hate speech. If its your opinion, nobody is allowed to shut you up. All they can do is have their own counter-opinion and voice that. The various minority, religious and special interest groups would be dead against it, as would most of Government.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

If your people gave as much credence to the first amendment as they do the second, the world would be a better place for it.

If I had the power, I'd rip the first amendment off and stick it on our constitution. The problem is, freedom of speech also protects hate speech. If its your opinion, nobody is allowed to shut you up. All they can do is have their own counter-opinion and voice that. The various minority, religious and special interest groups would be dead against it, as would most of Government.

I am a supporter of the first amendment, although many people have taken the religious freedom of the amendment to mean that they can enforce their religion on the rest of the nation

 

[Stabber1010]

It's sacred because of blind patriotism.

And, as we all know, patriotism sucks.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

It's sacred because of blind patriotism.

And, as we all know, patriotism sucks.

blunt, but unfortunately accurate

 

[madcap2112]

It certainly has it's flaws, and I don't worship it like some people do, but it does provide our basic rights. It sucks having religious zealots and racists taking advantage of the first amendment, but that same amendment allows us to live the way we do. That being said, I do agree that it is a bit of a relic of a very different time and there are some things that could be updated.

 

[RobotNinja]

It may have been written hundreds of years ago, but it still applies today because human nature never changes. People will always try to take power, and the separation of powers is necessary to prevent any one person from becoming too powerful.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

It may have been written hundreds of years ago, but it still applies today because human nature never changes. People will always try to take power, and the separation of powers is necessary to prevent any one person from becoming too powerful.

Separation of powers is essential, but the Bush administration showed that perhaps the safeguards in the constitution are too weak in the modern world.

 

[A random person]

It's sacred because of blind patriotism.

And, as we all know, patriotism sucks.

Pretty much this.

As for my view, we should definitely have a constitution, what with keeping government from oppressing us and all, but we need to realize that it's a living document to be altered as needed. That was what the founding fathers intended.

 

[Srkkl]

You and these "should U.S. things be praised like they are?".

OT: YES, the constitution is the main thing that founded my country that I love therfore I love it and it deserves love.

 

[HentMas]

first of all

its the most amazing and well redacted piece of parchment that haves ever existed in ANY society, it deserves praise because it placed the basis of comon well-being and it is the begining of a new era for mankind where people could actually live free

and i am from MEXICO (we work with the "carta magna")

it definivelly deserves praise and worship only for that, and any ammends should be revised over and over again so hope you dont end up screwing modern life, and it serves as a shield for the people, i dont know about blind patriotism, but from an history point of view it is a frikken awesome piece of paper.

 

[RobotNinja]

It's sacred because of blind patriotism.

And, as we all know, patriotism sucks.

Pretty much this.

As for my view, we should definitely have a constitution, what with keeping government from oppressing us and all, but we need to realize that it's a living document to be altered as needed. That was what the founding fathers intended.

Well the document itself is actually pretty vague. For example, it gives the federal government the responsibility of the wellfare of the people, and so there is a lot of debate whether this means universal healthcare is constitutional or not. Ha, AP government is finally useful!

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

It is the longest-lasting Constitution in the history of the world. It is a well-written political article, and it is the supreme law of the land...

Frankly, I like many of the Clauses and Amendments it has... But it's not perfect, which is why it needs Amendments every once in a while.

 

[HellbirdIV]

The constitution, to me, is just another one of the long line of things that Americans love because it makes them feel special in the overall world, even in the face of the world either living in fear or hatred or both for the American government and its people.

In short, get over it. It's an outdated piece of legislation made by some guys who've been dead for centuries. Times change.

 

[tsb247]

first of all

its the most amazing and well redacted piece of parchment that haves ever existed in ANY society, it deserves praise because it placed the basis of comon well-being and it is the begining of a new era for mankind where people could actually live free

and i am from MEXICO (we work with the "carta magna")

it definivelly deserves praise and worship only for that, and any ammends should be revised over and over again so hope you dont end up screwing modern life, and it serves as a shield for the people, i dont know about blind patriotism, but from an history point of view it is a frikken awesome piece of paper.

You have summed up my view quite nicely. While the U.S. Constitution has its flaws, the general premise is the same. It is a (for the most part) a successful means of keeping the people free in a well-structured society, and it seems to work very well.

Amendments should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in society, but the document itself and the overall purpose should be maintained at all costs.

I would hardly claim that it is 'worshiped,' but it should be protected and defended for the good of the country. The ideas that created the document are prevalent in similar documents aroun d the world - The founding fathers of the U.S. must have done something right.

 

[dantheman931]

It's sacred because of blind patriotism.

And, as we all know, patriotism sucks.

Pretty much this.

As for my view, we should definitely have a constitution, what with keeping government from oppressing us and all, but we need to realize that it's a living document to be altered as needed. That was what the founding fathers intended.

Exactly. The founding fathers didn't intend the Constitution to still be relevant after 200 years; that's why they built in mechanisms to allow it to be changed as the society it represents progresses (or regresses, as the case may be). As for the First Amendment, I used to hate the fact that it protects hate speech; but then I realized that it protects my speech as much as anyone else's. If the Constitution were to be amended to outlaw hate speech, what would be next? I could probably go out on the street and find a hundred people who consider anti-Christian speech a form of hate speech, and as a non-Christian, I'd be screwed. So yes, I'm all for the First Amendment as it stands. Besides, it's the whole thing again about how good doesn't stand out unless there's an evil to compare it to.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

You and these "should U.S. things be praised like they are?".

OT: YES, the constitution is the main thing that founded my country that I love therfore I love it and it deserves love.

I see you were around for my "What's so good about the United States" thread

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

first of all

its the most amazing and well redacted piece of parchment that haves ever existed in ANY society, it deserves praise because it placed the basis of comon well-being and it is the begining of a new era for mankind where people could actually live free

and i am from MEXICO (we work with the "carta magna")

it definivelly deserves praise and worship only for that, and any ammends should be revised over and over again so hope you dont end up screwing modern life, and it serves as a shield for the people, i dont know about blind patriotism, but from an history point of view it is a frikken awesome piece of paper.

You have summed up my view quite nicely. While the U.S. Constitution has its flaws, the general premise is the same. It is a (for the most part) a successful means of keeping the people free in a well-structured society, and it seems to work very well.

Amendments should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in society, but the document itself and the overall purpose should be maintained at all costs.

I would hardly claim that it is 'worshiped,' but it should be protected and defended for the good of the country. The ideas that created the document are prevalent in similar documents aroun d the world - The founding fathers of the U.S. must have done something right.

The basic ideals of the constitution are good- I was more referring to its exact workings as being obsolete (example- electoral college).

 

[Caligulove]

Well obviously it's not entirely sacred since we've... you know, amended it... about 17 times since the Bill of Rights

The idea was to create something that everyone could agree upon, which is why the thing took so rudding long to finalize. But of course there are things about it that are older and carry less weight than others out there. I still do think that people do have a right to have a firearm... but people use the second amendment to show that they deserve guns and/or need them. And really, that's bullshit.
No one needs a gun. The argument could be made in Revolutionary times and around Independence when things were shaky and there was still a fear of reprisal from.... everyone.

But now. I don't think that guns are needed at all. Regulation should be there on dangerous weapons that have no place in civilian hands. Theres a right to bear arms... but when it comes to an assault rifle or something with high caliber armor-piercing rounds... Well what would you need that for? And unless you live in River City or something, I don't think anyone would listen to any 'justification' for needing it.

But by all means, if you can prove to me (me being the bloke in charge or licensing that shit, lets say) that you have a problem with bears with kevlar vests or something... then yea, I'll give you your permit.

 

[Canid117]

Little known fact but the original draft of the constitution (all written by Jefferson ironically enough) railed against slavery but certain white southern slave owners shot it down. Why is it worshiped? The entire country was founded upon it and for over 200 years we have held it to the world and used it to say "Look we are better than you." Tradition dies hard I guess. Though some of Those amendments Should never ever be touched or fucked with. The first being the most important.