Sunday, September 19, 2010

Bro For Sis

All this talk about the Constitution is pretty amazing. I knew nothing about it just a couple years ago. During my reading, I was first disappointed that the Constitution SEEMED to treat slaves differently. But that changed as I slowly learned more.The founders had included the most important tool for providing freedom right in the words of the Declaration of Independence.

Dred Scott seemed to see that tool. When he sought to be freed in 1857, he referred to the statement in the Declaration that “all men are created equal”. I believe the founding documents clearly support that he and all slaves should have been freed as a result of his case. Instead the Supreme Court effectively disregarded the wording of the Declaration insisting equality did not apply, seemingly finding that slaves were property and not people.

Could the injustice of slavery have been corrected in 1857 before the start of the Civil War?

The opportunity was there. If only the Supreme Court had actually upheld the founding documents and followed the Founder’s words. A journey of self-education is a key to retaining freedom. I now see that we were not taught what we must know.

Happy Constitution Day!

Sis



September 17, 2010 9:04 PM

1 comment:

Living Life said...

We will be showing the film, "Amazing Grace" at church on Oct 8. It is am inspiring movie about William Wilberforce, who worked passionately to abolish slavery in Britain in the eighteenth century. The film is an interesting reminder that England outlawed slavery a half-century before the United States got around to it, and didn’t need a civil war to do so. I think we should plan to see it. Check it out at www.amazinggracemovie.com