Will There Be Peace in America?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is peace. This Monday is Christmas Day, the day that we celebrate the Prince of Peace who is Jesus Christ. America was “discovered” by people who were looking for a place to worship God according to their conscience. The Declaration was written by men who believed in God, and the United States Constitution was organized around Christian principles. So how did it happen that Americans are divided as badly as during the Civil War.

The situation in the State of Colorado is one example of how much division there is in the United States. The Supreme Court of Colorado ruled Tuesday evening that former President Donald Trump’s name could be on the state ballot – for both the Primary and the General Election. Their reason is the “insurrection” that took place on January 6, 2021.

Of course, they did not mention that the “insurrection” began before Trump completed his speech, and they do not mention that Trump told his followers to go to the Capitol peacefully.

Nor do they mention that the unarmed people participating in the so-called “insurrection” did not strive to take over the government.

Nevertheless, the Colorado Supreme Court cited Amendment 14, Section 3 of the Constitution, which says that people are not eligible for office if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution of the United States. Ben Shapiro posted an article in The Daily Signal discussing the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court. 

It is unclear whether the provision applies to presidential candidates; it is even more unclear whether such a provision is “self-enforcing,” meaning that any electoral official in any state can simply declare for himself whether a candidate has been an “insurrectionist.”

Nonetheless, the court said it is qualified to determine who is guilty of “insurrection” under the 14 Amendment without any criminal case or impeachment case. And the court says that “the events of January 6 constituted an insurrection and … President Trump engaged in that insurrection.”

On a legal level, this is extraordinarily strained. Section 3 was designed to prohibit those who had served in the Confederacy from holding public office in the United States.

The Confederacy, as we know, was an armed rebellion against the United States that ended in the deaths of some 600,000 Americans on both sides. Trump, by contrast, made a series of legal challenges to the election, all of which were denied, and then claimed – on the basis of specious legal reasoning – that the vice president could simply throw out electoral slates that had already been certified. He then called for his supporters to protest at the Capitol building and a riot broke out.

This hardly qualifies as an “insurrection,” let alone proving that Trump engages in one. Trump, let us not forget, has not been charged with insurrection. He was not even convicted in his impeachment trial over Jan. 6.

Yet the Colorado State Supreme Court says it can bar him from electoral eligibility anyway.

Shapiro continues by saying that the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court is “mildly, unbelievably dangerous” and “sets up a perverse set of incentives for both political sides. He wrote that Trump can rightly claim that “lawfare has been used to thwart the workings of democracy – that a slate of judges in any state can simply negate the will of the voters.” In addition, the Biden Department of Justice “has been attempted to drag [Trump] into court before the election in order to stymie his shot at the presidency.”

Even worse, the example set forth by the Colorado Supreme Court encourages “Democrats across the country” to expect Trump to “be legally barred from the presidency.” Those expectations will be doused with a flood of reality “when the Supreme Court overturns that Colorado Supreme Court ruling,” causing the Democrats to “claim that the Supreme Court itself is rigged.”

All of which means that 2024 is going to be the most insane and ugly presidential election in American history. And that’s saying a lot, since 1968 and 2020 are both years that existed. Under what circumstances, precisely, would Democrats accept the result of a Trump election? Under what circumstances, precisely, would Republicans accept the result of a Biden election?

The weaponization of the legal system creates an all-consuming fire, burning everything in its path. There is simply no 2024 result likely to result in anything but complete – and perhaps violent – chaos at this point.

Peace is a good goal to work towards in America. However, it is difficult to live in peace when half the nation refuses to follow the laws. The United States was founded on the rule of law, and it became the most powerful nation by following the law. Now, the nation is undergoing a “fundamental change” due to unlawfulness.

Secret combinations are ruling our nation, and they operate on the principle that a “crisis should never be wasted.” If Americans do not wake up to the fact that they are losing their nation and insist on a government that follows the rule of law, America will be an unrecognizable nation. May God bless America because no mere mortal has the power to save America without the help of God!

Rule of Law

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the simple fact that the rule of law has not been completely lost in America. Numerous higher education institutions fight against the right to free speech on their campuses. Their mantra seems to be that liberals can say or do whatever they please, but conservative speech and behavior is against the First Amendment. This may be changing because one institution is being held accountable for the words and actions of some of its students.

            In November 2016 a student at Oberlin College entered Gibson’s Bakery in Oberlin and stole a bottle of wine by hiding it inside his coat. Allyn Gibson, the great-great-grandson of the founder of the business, caught the thief and stated that he was going to call the police. He attempted to photograph the youth with his cell phone, but the thief slapped the phone out of his hand and ran out of the store with Gibson right behind him.

            The student and two of his friends attacked Gibson and had him flat on his back when the police arrived. There is a racial element to the situation because Gibson is white and all three youths are black. Therefore, other students protested the incident and accused the store of being racist. Even the Oberlin dean of students came to the protest. She said that it was to supervise, but she also handed out pamphlets. The school even cancelled its business with the bakery but resumed the arrangements later.

            The three youths pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges nine months later. They also read a statement recognizing that Gibson was justified in chasing after the youth and that his behavior was not racially motivated. The college claims that it is powerless in controlling the students and should not be held accountable for damages caused by the students. A jury thought otherwise and ruled that Oberlin holds some responsibility for encouraging its students to protest on false charges of racism. The college must pay $11.2 million to Gibson’s Bakery for damages of libel, slander, and other disruptions caused by the students.

            Oberlin is not the only college that believes it is protecting the students’ right to speak freely, but it may be one of the first to file bankruptcy because of the jury’s decision. Universities and colleges have the responsibility to provide a place and neutral atmosphere where ideas can be freely debated without anyone feeling threatened or being assaulted.  

            Liberal institutions across the nation are not doing so. In fact, they have a political agenda and indoctrinate their students with their liberal ideas. Then they encourage their students to support their left-wing agenda. Maybe it is a good thing for Oberlin to be forced to close by bankruptcy. Maybe other institutions will recognize the need for them to be more neutral in their teaching. We can only hope that some eyes will be opened by the decision.

Rule of Law

                The rule of law is essential for order, peace, and happiness.  The heavens and the earth conform to certain laws; nations, states, communities, businesses, and families operate by law.  Where there is no law, there is chaos and confusion.

                What is meant by “rule of law?”  It means that everyone is subject to the law; it means that everyone - famous or infamous, powerful or powerless, important or not – must abide by law.  The rule of law is the power that protects liberties and brings about justice for all. 

                The Kingdom of God is governed by law, and God governs the universe by law.  Because God governs the entire universe by law, the planets, sun, moon, stars must obey the law.  The earth is governed by laws that bring order to all inhabitants.  Laws cause the seasons to rotate; laws cause night to follow day.  Laws control the animals and plants. 

                “All kingdoms have a law given;

                “And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.

                “And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.

                “All being who abide not in those conditions are not justified” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:36-39).

                President Joseph Fielding Smith commented on the above statement:  “This truth is self-evident.  Thus, it is only reasonable that we should expect the kingdom of God to be governed by law and all who desire to enter there to be subject to the law.  `Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:8).

                “The Lord has given to man a code of laws that we call the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Due to lack of inspiration and spiritual guidance, men may differ in relation to these laws and their application, but there can hardly be a dispute in regard to the fact that such laws to exist, and that all who seek entrance into that kingdom are subject to them.

                “We have every truth, every doctrine, every law and requirement, every performance and ordinance needed to save and exalt us in the highest heaven of the celestial world” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Joseph Fielding Smith, pp. 230-231).

                Obedience to law brings blessings to mankind.  Mankind must learn to obey the laws and commandments of God in order to qualify to spend eternity in the Kingdom of God.  People learn to obey laws by receiving blessings for obedience and negative consequences for disobedience because every law has a blessing and a consequence.

                “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated ---

                “And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21).

                If one desires a certain blessing, one must discover the law that governs the receipt of that blessing.  If one desires good health, one must live the law of good health known as the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89).  If one desires to live a virtuous life, one must obey the Law of Chastity.  If one desires the windows of heavens to open and pour down blessings, one must live the Law of Tithing.  Every blessing comes from obedience to a certain law; the lack of blessings is the negative consequences for disobedience.  

Rule of Law

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is that the rule of law is necessary to preserve freedom, not the whims of men. When a law is established, it states the rights and duties of every person. It assures that each person knows what is expected and brings a sense of security to all. In comparison, when people are governed by the whims of men, the rights and responsibilities of the people depend upon whoever happens to be in power. Nothing is fixed, predictable, or secure.

Individual families as well as society as a whole need a set of fixed and enforceable laws in order to be civilized. John Lock wrote, "The end of the law is not to abolish or restrain but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws, where there is no law there is no freedom. For liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others, which cannot be where there is no law." (Second Essay Concerning Civil Government, p 37, par. 57.)

Laws also need to be written in such a way that they are understandable and stable. Modern lawmakers could learn much from our Founding Fathers. The Declaration of Independence AND the United States Constitution are contained in less than fifty pages. The national health care bill took more than a thousand pages! The laws and regulations of our nation need to be less voluminous and less incoherent while also being more understandable and more supportable by the people.

Ideas and quotes for this post came from W. Cleon Skousen, The Five Thousand Year Leap, pp 173-176.

Ancient Rome

Is the United States following the same path that the ancient Romans trod? Maybe it is time for another history lesson. Facts for this post came from Erich S. Gruen, World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 16, pp 436-449. The story of ancient Rome began on seven wooded hills along the Tiber River in central Italy. The first Romans were shepherds and farmers. The farmers worked their own lands, planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. They fought in the army during the summer. These Romans sound much like many of the soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. Rome was located about fifteen miles from the sea, but was connected to the sea by the Tiber River. The distance from the sea protected Rome from pirates, and the steepness of the hills gave protection from enemies. Roman rule gradually spread over all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Empire eventually extended as far north as the British Isles and as far east as the Persian Gulf. The Roman Empire had many natural resources, fertile grain fields, rich ore deposits, thick forests, and thriving vineyards and orchards. At its height, the empire had from 50 to 70 million people with about 1 million living in Rome and 5 to 6 million in the rest of Italy. The people of the empire had many different customs and spoke many languages. Some of the conquered nations had cultures older than that of Rome, but people of other nations were introduced to a higher standard of living. Government officials and the upper class spoke Latin and Greek, but most conquered people continued to use their native languages. The people in ancient Rome were divided into various social groups. The most powerful upper class group consisted of members of the Senate and their families. Most Romans belonged to the lower classes and had little social standing. Most of the people were eventually given Roman citizenship, which meant protection under Roman law. There were no public schools. Most children ages 6-11 were taught reading, writing, and arithmetic at home, but some children attended private schools. Most students who received further education were from wealthy families. They studied Latin and Greek grammar and literature as well as mathematics, music and astronomy until age 14. Upper-class Romans who planned a career in law or politics went to higher education to study rhetoric, the art of public speaking and persuasion, and maybe to study philosophy and history. Few women studied rhetoric because women could not be in politics. In the beginning, ancient Rome was ruled by kings, each of which was advised by a Senate. Citizens voted on the decisions of the king and Senate. In 509 B.C., the Roman Republic was established when Roman nobles overthrew the king. The Republic kept many of the features of the earlier system. The Roman Empire came into being when the Republic was destroyed after 20 years of civil war. The empire lasted until the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. Under the Empire emperors had supreme authority. Republican institutions of government continued, but the Emperor nominated consuls and appointed new senators. The citizen assemblies had little power. Even though the Roman Empire consisted of people with many different religions, customs and languages, the empire bound them together under a common system of law and government. This remarkable accomplishment is admired even today. The empire began to crumble partly because it grew too large for Rome to govern all of it. The fall continued when the emperors stopped using the laws to govern and started governing with power and control. I previously understood that Rome fell because of the loss of morals. Could it be that morals go before the Rule of Law? Ancient Rome existed for over 700 years. Its greatest strength came when it operated on a system of laws. Now that the United States Constitution is being slowly destroyed, the Rule of Law in our country is changing to the rule of man. How much longer can the United States exist without the Rule of Law?