Philosophy and fact

 There is philosophy and there is fact, they aren't always the same thing. I was as surprised as anyone to discover my interest in philosophy. Philosophy is the defined as the love of wisdom. Wisdom is described as fundamental truths. Truth is the facts. But as we all know that isn't always the reality. It is something we are exploring deeply these days. It is the basis for all this gender identity stuff we are struggling with as a society. I have said it before and will repeat it, the truth is whatever you believe it to be. I can't change that, only you can change your truth. I may be able to force compliance to my truth but that doesn't mean I changed yours. And that works both ways, with equal force and conviction. The serenity prayer closes with this line, the wisdom to know the difference. It's a distinction lost on far too many these days.

 The truth is we live in a world defined by those wielding the power and influence to control the actions of others. It makes no difference whatsoever if you elect those people or they simply seize power, the reality remains the same. Ideally, we would elect those that reflect our own philosophy. The Declaration of Independence is a philosophical statement. We modeled our government upon those philosophical statements. The Constitution was written to fulfill that philosophy. The Constitution is the law of the land, not the philosophy of those who composed it. It took about four months to compose as each delegate wanted to include their own thoughts and beliefs into that document. There was much discussion and debate; along with concessions. A method of altering that document was also included for future generations. Article five outlines that procedure. The law could be changed, but not the philosophy! 

 Nations are formed by those with a similar philosophy. That is true even when different religious beliefs/practices may exist among the people. That was addressed early on in the Constitution. Indeed, the establishment clause is contained in the first amendment. The realization being that government could influence the church or vice-versa. All of that had been witnessed in Europe and in the various settlements in the "new world." There were the puritans where government was very closely tied to religious practices, not attending church was a crime. There were other settlements where the church didn't exert so much influence on government. It's an argument as old as humanity itself. An argument rooted in philosophy. 

 There is philosophy and there is fact. They aren't always the same thing. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -" I subscribe to that very philosophy. For me that is fact. I'm not against changing the law to advance that philosophy. The first ten amendments to the Constitution ensure the rights of the people. Yes, that why they are called the Bill of Rights. The 13,14 and 15th amendments are collectively called the reconstruction amendments. They concern slavery, citizenship and voting rights. All the others concern government, not the people directly. Over eleven thousand amendments have been proposed. It's quite the difficult process as well as it should be. If it wasn't government could soon be like religions, the same belief but very different laws governing that religion.