Our Constitution is not Just a Piece of Paper

There has been a phrase going around lately and, while it is true in spirit, clarification is required. The statement is this: “Our Constitution is just a piece of paper.” The sentiment here is that the Constitution (or really any Constitution) will not protect you from tyranny and all of the checks and balances on the government and corrupt institutions only matter if people keep standing up for them. This is true. The Constitution does not protect you from tyranny, in fact, it’s the other way around. It is your responsibility as a citizen of a civilized country is to protect your Constitution form those who would disregard and destroy it, whether they are politicians, public servants, or fellow citizens.

That being said, the Constitution is much much more than just a piece of paper. The Constitution (specifically our US Constitution, which I point out here because it is the one I know the most about) is a based on a series of universal truths. It is based on reality and the question we have to ask ourselves as a society is whether we will adhere to reality or not.

We are not defending arbitrary concepts here. A Constitution, which is a legal agreement that is accepted by a government, cannot simply be tossed aside by the whim of a ruling party. Any group that does so, any group that disregards the current sent of laws and principles accepted by themselves and their people or any group that would stand idly by and allow such disregard to happen, will pay a high price in both image and integrity. It is a steep cost and a reputation once lost can take a great time indeed to rebuild.

This seems like such a small point, but it is important that understand. Make no mistake, we are either representing truth or “not truth”. If we choose, as a nation or as individuals, to recognize, uphold, and live by truth, especially by a truth we have accepted and enshrined into law, then we shall prosper. If we don't, we shall faulter, fail, and eventually (if no correction is made) we will collapse. It is that simple.