With Liberty and Justice for All
December 9, 2008The last phase of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag says “With liberty and justice for all.” It’s a lofty idea and a noble promise, but it hasn’t always been such in America. There have been whole people groups who have been denied liberty (at least for a time), and there have been whole socio-political groups who have been denied justice (and/or have escaped the arm of justice). But the promise and ambition still stands. We want to be “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
I believe in that very pledge and promise. I believe in that ambition. And that’s why I’m a Conservative—because I believe that the very best way to create “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all” is to create a nation that is colorblind (but not colorless), a nation that is protected by a small government whose primary purpose is blind justice (punishing those who do evil and rewarding those who do right, per Romans 13:3-4), and a nation where people have the freedom to make their own way in the world without the fear of government intervention or intrusion. That’s Conservative because that’s clearly the kind of government that the Founding Father’s (with all of their strengths and some of their weaknesses) aspired to build.
Somewhere along the way, however, our Government has turned into a kind of “Big Brother;” although not so big, not so corrupt, and not so oppresive as Orwell envisioned in 1984. I still respect our government, and will continue to honor our leaders, nontheless I fear that it will someday evolve and progress into something akin to the Orwellian Vision.
I’m not an anarchist in any way (I believe in the rule, righteousness, and importance of Law) but I do have some libertarian leanings. Nor am I Republican, because I no longer believe that the Grand Old Party that liberated America from slavery has my values and interests in mind (our President, whom I believe is a good man who makes his decisions based on his conscience, has built the biggest federal government in American history and has failed to fight many of the battles I hoped he would). And the DNC is even further from my values than the RNC/GOP.
So where does that leave me?
It leaves me as a Conservative without a viable party. It leaves me as a citizen still willing to die for the right to vote and still willing to believe in the promise of the Pledge. It leaves me as a minister of the Gospel wondering if the future will continue to protect my right to live, express, share, preach and “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). It leaves me to contemplate the fates of George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich (one corrupt Republican governor of Illinois and one allegedly corrupt Democratic governor of Illinois)—anecdotal evidence that big government has the power to corrupt leaders and empower corruption. But if they can end up in prison where they belong (allegedly), then we can still have some hope for justice.
About liberty for all? Only time will tell.
I believe ‘justice’ for illinois governors (along with those in similar power roles) is just an illusion. Worse case scenario they have their powerful friends/attorneys get them little jail time. And even that time is probably a nice cell with plenty of protection, food, and heat. Something those on the street would kill for. Or those who can’t afford attorneys would love to have.
Ryan, OJ, and probably Rod have most likely caused numerous people to die because their power was corrupted. And yes even a nice jail cell does not compare to a mansion, but they fortunately get out of never having to repay their debts.
Though one day we will all answer for our sins- both big and small.
on Ryan – The Mr. Potter of time no doubt has a punishment that rightly fits his crime. He is incarcerated, his pension cancelled and what ever money he had saved over the years has been largely squandered on lawyers.
on Rod – Crazy…? maybe, or maybe he is a bit more confident b/c he knows who else is involved in this sleazy mess…surely he was not the top of this food chain. If his intel is solid, he may indeed escape justice or at least the Justice he deserves while others will twist in the wind no doubt.
on OJ – I find the comparison of Mr Potter and the current crook with clown hair bizzare when juxtaposed to the hall of fame running back turning his Ex-wife into a life sized pez dispenser…
on my prayer for justice-
That our President (current) free those 2 border agents whose lives, families and careers have been destroyed for geopolitical purposes.
All three men are just a small of sampling of people who have power, money and abuse it. Many people rarely see the justice they deserve in this time, because power and money make justice elusive.
Those without power, money, and who are not of majority ethnicity often face injustices on a daily basis and rarely live to see the day when they are treated as an equal to all of God’s children.
Our justice system is far from perfect alas I would challenge anyone to provide a better example of a just society . Our best efforts will always fall short, but they still beat the heck out of every other place on EARTH.
Thankfully we have a promise from God that trumps our greatest socioeconomic, technical,cultural, and legal achievments and also heals our less admirable eandeavors and traits… availble to all who accept.
On another note I am curious as to which examples of justice evaders you might be thinking of. In the end OJ got it, and Rod may have a trump card but somehow I still see him in an orange suit down the road…
In my oppinion Rod’s true crime …. the hair.
Honestly though Ryan does look like Mr. Potter, ya gotta gimme that…
I’m not trying to get the last word, but can you start a new blog about hair?? Perhaps Mike is onto something- its all in the hair. I could resurrect my 9th grade science project that went all to the to the Ohio state science fair. It was on the tensil strength of hair (not sure what that says about the state of ohio- well at least we have a great football team- but not as great as Oklahoma this year).
Perhaps I could use the tensil strength of hair to predict how corrupt people will be. I could get rich and retire at 35! (oh wait i’m already 35- never mind).