Of the four entities that I've mentioned here, the courts have always been the most difficult for me to understand. One might assume certain things about the people who swear an oath to our Constitution and sit in judgment of our adherence to it. We assume that they put forth an honest effort and try to be impartial and so forth. One thing that we shouldn't assume is that these people have any particular reverence for the document that forms the basis of our nation. Not all of them do.
Conservatives have long portrayed progressives as people who hate the Constitution because it's old and outdated. While I have always acknowledged a kernel of truth to this portrayal, I've viewed it mainly as a form of satire. It would be idiotic to think that the definition of human liberty depends on the date on your calendar, right? Surely our progressive neighbors couldn't be completely oblivious to the fundamental Truths that this enduring document, along with the Declaration, have established for free people around the world. Surely they couldn't really think that it was only a suitable document for rich white guys in the 18th century. Surely they know that our (sometimes messy) transition away from feudal aristocracy and toward an individual right to property was a quantum leap forward for all mankind.
And yes - I'm quite familiar with the Magna Carta and such. I took history classes too, believe it or not. Those kids in Egypt are wearing Nikes and Great Britain still has a queen. The quantum leap took place in 1776. It wasn't just about those in the United States either. What those rich white guys achieved so many years ago was to sow the seeds of discontent among those who are denied their basic human freedom - even to this very moment in places all over the world.
I'm not terribly shocked to hear Ms. Ginsburg's recommendation for Egypt to avoid using the American Constitution as a guide. She's just... I don't know... one of those. You know the type that I'm talking about. America would be really groovy if we would just let the government do whatever it wants... like... ummm... Norway... or whatever. I was, however, saddened to hear Ms. Ginsburg airing what sounded to me like slightly anti-American views in front of a foreign audience. That's just a bummer. If our Constitution is not a worthwhile foundation for a free society, then perhaps Ms. Ginsburg would be better served by stepping down from her lofty position and working instead as an advocate for another form of government. You know - fox guarding the henhouse and so forth.
The reason that ours is the longest-standing written constitution is the simple fact that it exists to limit the power of the state. Nothing more, nothing less. All humans are endowed by their Creator with certain rights. We chose to put those rights on paper and defend them against all enemies - even when the enemies have been ourselves or our government at times. Whether this happened a hundred years ago or a thousand years ago, our country would be better off if its Supreme Court justices all understood the concept. Much as is the case for the rest of our country though, some people get it and some don't.
