Just a few weeks after the cover of TIME magazine asked if the US Constitution was valid for our generation and for generations to come, I worked through a catalogue of other important Documents in our nation's relatively brief history. This list is just 100 of thousands of documents that have helped define our nation and, upon your reading, I guarantee will you pause to consider their place in your life and in world history. TIME illustrated its cover by showing a reproduction of the Constitution as if it had begun its path through a shredder. I got the design intent, but the significant part of the document, the bottom, is home to the signatories who took their stand and placed their lives and fortunes in jeopardy to nurture our country beyond the powerful Declaration Of Independence. Signing either document was treason against Great Britain. I'm glad they had the courage, parchment, quills, ink and courage to put their names and lives on the line for us.
Many of the most ancient treaties were settled with ceremonies, marriages among neighboring tribes and were not written down. However, we do have tablets, scrolls and letters patent that have helped our world civilization come to terms with the nature of power, law, civility and societal survival.
Torah, the additional books of Wisdom and Prophecies, the New Covenant, the the Acts, Letters and the Revelation are words that form the heart of the Judeao-Christian faiths. Other faiths have their own wisdom and intention of making good people better and making bad people pay for their crimes.
Fordham University has catalogued a massive library of ancient works by region, language and source. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook-law.html We must understand the relationship between rights and freedom, the source of authority and the consequences of accepting the rule of law.
America is enigmatic, has been and shall be. Our constitution guarantees our right to protest – even to oppose established law. We agree to be governed as we are. That is why elections are important. We bow to no king or queen but we can prosper or suffer at the hands of the leaders we elect.
A teen character on General Hospital is asserting her right to independent actions. “I am 18!” “It is not your business”, she declares to her parents and concerned friends. She does have right to be foolish and stupid, but when your mother is a lawyer and your father always packs heat, patience and silence may be a very wise choice of action – at least until she turns 21, 25, 30 or so on.
In addition to happy celebrations, I urge some thoughtful study and reflection of how we got to this moment in history. For perspective, a visit to a National Cemetery may be the lens through which you could look. I have and there are images from my visits in my photo gallery. It would be interesting if, in addition to the exciting fireworks in the sky, the firing of our collective synapses might also be an even brighter light.
Enjoy the 4th and join me in a long and deep study of the precious documents that help us continually redefine and better our nation and our world. ©tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
