“We, the People.” It’s just three words. Eleven letters. It can mean many things to many different people. To individuals who are not steeped in the American culture, it may have no meaning at all, but, in America, it resonates with many of our citizens. Those three words may be the most important words ever written, or spoken, to some.
“We, the People.” It is the first three words of the United States Constitution. It clarifies that the citizens of this country stand paramount. And to be clear about which citizens it is referring to, the next four words are clearly written—“of the United States.” Yes, the United States.
“We, the People of the United States.” Those following cherished ideas that were about to be shared in the Constitution were for the Citizens of the United States. They were not written for any other country or any other people. There is nothing in these words that indicates that “We the People of the United States” was intended to compel anyone other than citizens of America be part of this great experiment if they did not want to participate.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union.” Those words are true, those words are pure, but, most of all, those words are honest. The Framers of the Constitution were aware they were not creating a perfect union. They did not see themselves as creating a document that would make us perfect. They knew they were trying to help form a more perfect Union. And Union is capitalized. It was not a union as related to a collection of people. It was a collection of people that was to form a real country or government. A genuine Union.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice.” Contained within the word “Justice” is another, even more important word, “Just.” We strive to be a “Just” people. Not a perfect people, not people without fault, but “Just” people. Justice should be blind, but sometimes it stumbles and becomes also deaf and dumb. It is “We, the People” who have to stand up and make that correction. It is “We the People” who must stand up against injustice. “We, the People,” are the individuals who have to fight injustice. Not the government, but the people.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility.” Our country is designed to be a safe and secure place. And we are assured of Tranquility. Tranquility is greater than a feeling of peace. It is more than a concept of stillness. It is the right to live a life where we can be free to raise our families the way WE feel is appropriate. It is the freedom to think, speak, and live in accordance with our beliefs, without being censored or condemned.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense.” We are a people who will fight together to ensure that our freedoms are secure. A common defense suggests that we are a United country that is willing to fight for the rights of all, and when one person’s rights are crushed, all our rights are crushed. Our freedom and our liberty are what we, as Americans, hold most precious, and we will defend it as a country and as individuals. It is our right as Americans.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense, promote the general Welfare.” We promote the general Welfare. We cannot ensure that everyone has everything that they need. We can, however, ensure that the general Welfare of each citizen is respected. We can give people the opportunity to shine, knowing that the Welfare of each citizen is respected. Respected by the government and by other individuals. It is implied that our Welfare would not be hampered by outside forces. Never and in NO WAY.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves.” The Framers of our Constitution were men of sophistication. When they used the word, “Blessing,” they understood that they were implying that rights and liberty came from a higher source. They could have used the words; “truths,” “privileges”, or “opportunities.” But they did not. They choose the word, “Blessing.” Our Liberty does not come from men or from a government. It comes from a higher source and greater authority than any earthly organization.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Our Posterity, not the governments or the state’s posterity but the individual’s posterity. We are entitled to build our own personal future. We are mandated to build not only a future for ourselves but for our family. It is expected that we see our families as an extension of the future. And the government should not be finding ways to destroy the individual’s personal potential. It is our Posterity, not the government’s.
“We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is the “Preamble of the United States Constitution.” It is ordained and established by whom? By the Government? By the Rich? By Corporations? By special interest groups? No, it is ordained and established by “We, the People.” The Constitution is made valid by the people, the Citizens of the United States, who make up this country.
The Government is a tool that helps elected officials serve the people. Yes, the government serves the people. The people do not serve the government. The government is accountable to “We, the People,” not the other way around. The day the government is the power, and the people are the pawns, is the day that America no longer exists. It is the day the Republic is dead.
“We, the People,” are America.
Joseph St John