Ch. 48 Ordain and Establish

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." - The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America

These are the words that begin our nation's founding document. They are not merely an introduction or a stylistic flourish, they are a declaration of purpose and promise. 

But what does it mean to "ordain and establish?" The nature of these words offers us an insight into our role and responsibility as citizens.

To ordain means to order or decree.

But it also carries the weight of predestination. Something decreed, predetermined, or inevitable. 

When the framers used this word, they were setting forth not just a government structure but a vision. A promise of what America could and should be. 

These promises have already been ordained. The blessings of liberty, justice, tranquility, security, and welfare are our birthright as Americans

But to "establish" requires action. 

It is the practical implementation of what has been ordained. 

The Constitution does not establish these ideals on its own, it provides the framework through which we, the people, must secure them. The framers knew this reality. Words on parchment, no matter how eloquently crafted, require the continuous commitment of citizens to bring them to life.

It is, was, and will always be up to We the People to 

"Secure the Blessings of Liberty". 

How, then, do we establish these promises? 

First, we must stand for them. 

Not passively acknowledge them, but actively insist upon and demand them. This isn't just a matter of petitioning distant figures in government, hoping they will do the right thing. But with building these principles into the fabric of our own communities, starting with ourselves and working outward in expanding circles of influence.

When we speak of establishing justice, we must ask, "Is justice present my daily life?  Are the people I interact with, my family, friends and co-workers treated with fairness and dignity? Do I speak up when I witness injustice, even when it's uncomfortable? Justice is not merely a system of courts and laws, it is a commitment to rightness in all our dealings.

To insure domestic tranquility is not just the absence of violence but the presence of peace. In our homes, our neighborhoods, and our discourse. Are we contributing to a culture of respectful dialogue, or feeding the outrage machine that profits from our division?

The founders ordained these principles, but they entrusted us (all of us) with their establishment. It is our sacred duty to take up this work in each generation.

To establish what has been ordained, we must work to change our culture, one conversation at a time.

Culture is the sum of our collective beliefs, values, and behaviors. 

• Old beliefs that no longer serve our highest ideals must be questioned. 
• New values aligned with our constitutional promises must be adopted. 
• Most importantly, our behavior must change to reflect these evolved understandings.

The pandemonium of our media-driven attention economy attempts to hijack our focus, to keep us distracted and outraged. 

We must resist this manipulation. 

Instead of allowing outside forces to dictate our feelings, beliefs, and actions, we must intentionally choose which of the "blessings of liberty" we are personally committed to ensuring.

Is it education? Racial justice? Civic participation? Equal opportunity? LGBTQ rights? 

Whichever aspect speaks most deeply to you, that is where your power to establish lies. 

Take a stand. Take action. Start in your immediate sphere of influence and work outward.

The preamble does not say "The government shall..." or "The president will..." It begins with "We the People." The power to ordain and establish rests with us. The framers knew that a republic can only endure when its citizens actively participate in making real the promises ordained in its founding.

The question before each of us today is simple...

Which of these ordained promises will you help establish? 

How will you, in your corner of America, work to form a more perfect union? The answer to that question—multiplied across millions of committed citizens—is how we continue to establish the great nation that we were ordained to be.