The Naming of the United States: A Semi Quincentennial Momment

 

 

 

A brief observation regarding the naming of the United States,

Jefferson's "original Rough draught" of the Declaration of Independence shows both words “United” and “States” as being capitalized.

The following, found at the Library of Congress, shows the original naming.

A Declaration of the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress assembled.

But then, by the time Congress has edited the document, we read from the National Archives…

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

Here the word “united” is not capitalized.

But then, by the time we have our Treaty of Paris 1783, we return to Jefferson’s original naming…

and of the United States of America

And to complicate things just a bit more, from the last paragraph of the Declaration we read…

That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States;

A diligent reader and sleuth of history will ask…”Well, which is it. “united States” or “United States”, or “United Colonies”?

Thanks for asking…

It was on September 9, 1776 that Congress officially adopted the name “United States as read in the original motion…

 “That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words ‘United Colonies’ have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the “United States.”

Trivial it may seem, but even within the published Declaration of July 4th , 1776, it seems that Congress could not agree as to whether it was "united States” or “United Colonies”.

Resisting the Temptation to Pounce and Denounce

 

image from behance.net

 

Proverbs 18:13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.

 

This writing is an encouragement for us to hear each other out rather than pounce upon someone when we hear them speak a word or phrase that we can then grab and use as a means to attack them.

 Example…a few years ago I was attending a meeting when a fellow was describing a situation, and he innocently used the term “those” as in “those people”. He did not use the term with a pejorative tone as in those people. He obviously used the word as an identifier. As in…”those cars in those parking lots are driven by those people who work in those factories”.

Noting pejorative.

But someone in the group, having heard the words, “those people”, immediately pounced upon him accusing him of exhibiting social disdain.

It was obvious that the pouncer had embedded a meaning in those words which the speaker had not intended.

If the pouncer had dismounted from their high horse of condescension long enough to hear the speaker out, the pouncer might have understood the context and point of the speaker.

It’s easy, especially when we are ‘on the edge of our seat’looking for it, to find an opportunity upon which we can ponce and denounce someone.

Especially in this season of partisan political bickering… let’s all dismount from our high horses, hear each other out, and maybe discover a fresh idea.

Jesus, Politics, Women in the Pulpit: A Free-Form Commentary

 

 

At the recent annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention approximately seventy-five percent of votes cast were to ban women as pastors. That means that approximately twenty-five percent thought otherwise.

I imagine much political campaigning having been done to achieve that particular outcome, fully anticipated though it may have been.

But please note that their political campaigning and maneuvering took place within their religious community. I find no record of them making an appeal to Congress or President to achieve such a ban.

Likewise, Jesus and his disciples can be described as having been political within their religious and cultural community. But there is no record in the New Testament of them traveling to Rome to make appeal to Emperor or Roman Senate toward any public law or policy.

The context of Jesus being political was within his religious and cultural community. Not what we today understand as government.

My words are not meant to discourage people of the Church, Mosque, Temple, or Synagogue from exercising influence upon government. One point I make is that it is our Constitution that enables the exercise of influence rather than any example of Jesus or his disciples who were never politically engaged with what we would understand as government.

About now I presume many readers to offer “But Peter said We must obey God rather than men.”

And this opens the door to my immediate argument regarding women in the pulpit.

Please note that Peter was speaking to the Sanhedrin, the religious establishment, not the Roman government.

Just as the Sanhedrin was trying to silence the voice of those God had called to speak of Jesus, the Southern Baptist Convention is trying to keep from the pulpit people that God has called to be there.

Perhaps those women would find an affirming home in the United Methodist Church which recently celebrated seventy years of full participation of women in the church, including the pulpit, with these words in our official law “Women are included in all provisions of the discipline referring to the ministry.”

To keep women from the pulpit is tantamount to the Sanhedrin telling Peter to “Shut up about Jesus”.

The Public, Rather than the Pentagon Decides What is a Valid Relgion

 

Image from Britannica,com

The recent reclassification of recognized religions at the Pentagon, and subsequent revision is in blatant conflict with the First Amendment.

It is an “in your face” hideously ludicrous example of government respecting preferred establishments of religion while prohibiting others.

The Pentagon should recognize all religions or none.

No jurisdiction, department, or branch of government has the authority to prefer, establish, or set aside any religion.

Government is not designed, nor is it competent to decide or define what is a church or religion. Nor does it carry the authority to attempt to impose upon the human conscience, even by appearance, what is legitimate religious thought.

This is an example of government hubris that reinforces my call for an arm’s length relationship between government and church.

Unequivocally, government cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion or, even by sly implication, suggest that some are more valid than others.

Contrarily, it is the Church, Mosque, Temple, and Synagogue that enjoy the freedom of speech to inform the government as to how to achieve the promotion of the General Welfare, a purpose established in the Preamble of the Constitution,

I find it helpful to think of promotion of the “General Welfare” as improving the conditions of the people.

The Abrahamic religions, the Buddhists, and others promote care for the poor, inclusion of the marginalized, and freedom of personal conscience.

Government, in all areas, would do well to attend to these “General Welfare” exhortations and thereby improve our conditions rather than spend time and resources attempting to sidestep the Constitution (to which all government officials have taken an oath) in pursuit of any expression of religion preferred by any Administration that happens to be in power.

The Election is Not Over Until Certification Day

 

Observing posts on Facebook, I conclude that  many people do not understand how elections are managed. This is understandable for most people who have not served as a poll worker on election day.

I further conclude that many people who should know, take political messaging advantage of this situation to stir up conflict for political gain.

I have served as a poll worker in Elkhart County for many election cycles. I offer the following…

Just a few of the quality control measures we perform before election day and through election day:

Poll workers are required to attend training before election day.

On the day of election, poll workers take an oath regarding many provisions, the first being to support the Constitution of the United States and the Indiana State Constitution.

We run a “zero tape” before the polls open and a before any votes are cast. This tape is a print-out of the record of all votes cast for all races. Before polling begins, it should show zero for each of all races. We then have everyone in the election center sign that they agree that no votes have been cast before the polls open.

All actions throughout the day are done by Republican and Democrat workers working together.

If a voter needs help with navigating their ballot, a form is signed by both and Republican and Democrat workers and then both of those, together, assist the voter.

All of these signed forms are returned at the end of the day to election headquarters.

Many such activities like those are performed with both parties working together.

At the end of the day, the polling center supervisor and a main facilitator of the other party, together in same car, drive all election materials to election headquarters.

I assert, if any shenanigans take place, every poll worker at the election center must be in on it…Republican and Democrat.

You know those early voting ballots? They are saved in a secure location until election day (by law) and then tabulated on election day. There could be tens of thousands of these votes.

Have you ever, on election day, forgotten to bring your ID? You have the option of a “Provisional Ballot”. You may cast a ballot, but it will not be tabulated until you present your ID at the Clerk’s election office before “Certification Day.” Certification day is the final day to tabulate provisional ballots.

Certification day, according to each state law, may happen 30 days or more after election day.

The election is not over until Certification Day.

This is why the vote results may change from those reported on election night.

The following website, provided by National Council of State Legislatures, shows the Certification dates for each state.

Rather than be manipulated by those who know better and just want to stir your sense of political insult, check out this site and other Secretary of State sites of each State and see for yourself how elections are managed by Law.

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines