Principle
During my brief stint in law school, I learned something very important about the American experiment. I learned how the Founders thought deeply about fashioning a system whose foundations were strong enough to withstand the divisions that often plague us and ultimately destroy us. They were very much aware of the decadence that feeds on the divisions within. Remember, most of the families of these Founders had fled England during the English Civil War, so they had heard about the horrid stories of that war and learned about the brutal lessons from the not-too-distant past.
One word which was constructive to my understanding of Constitutional Law is ‘Factions.’ And James Madison in Federalist 10 enunciated such a deep understanding of this idea. Below is Madison’s take on factions:
By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.
There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.
It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
By this reading, it is safe to argue that Madison and the Founding Fathers of our republic did see factions as a necessary evil. It wasn’t something that they could wish away. They had to embrace it for what it was. Factions by themselves, in fact, guarantee the liberty for which their ancestors fled England and Europe. His writing is an acknowledgment that each of us is uniquely different, and because of our differences, we wouldn’t like the same things. We would want different things.
Hear James Madison again:
The inference to which we are brought is, that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS.
We cannot wish our differences away; we can only control the effects of those differences. But how then do we control the effects of our differences?
A few days ago, I read a quote from the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: “The principle is the principle. If it isn’t about love, it is not about God.” That’s the principle. This is the principle that should influence our decision-making process. This is the only principle that should guide us. This is the only principle that should motivate us. This is the only principle that should be our goal. This is the one principle that should shape everything we do. This is the only principle upon which all our worries should rest. This is the only principle that should drive us. And the principle is love.
Listen to how the famous English comedian Charlie Chaplin captures the idea of factions:
‘I don’t want to be an emperor, that’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I would like to help everyone if possible - Jew, Gentile, Black, White. We all want to help one another; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world, there is room for everyone. The good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way, greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goods stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundant has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity, more than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.'
Imagine this: on a planet of over 5 billion people, there is no one else exactly like you. Each of us is uniquely different from the other - amazing. Does that not surprise you? And if it doesn’t surprise you, does it not humble you? It humbles me to know that I am a unique person among 5 billion people. And it is for this reason that I take nothing for granted. It is for this reason that I honor each person. It is for this reason that I refuse to hate. It is for this reason that I can disagree with you and still love you. It is for this reason that I respect you. It is for this reason that I love you. It is for this reason that I worship God and honor the dignity of every human being.
Yes, we may disagree a whole lot about everything under the sun - that is given. But why should I hate you because I disagree with you? At our Adult Forum this past Sunday, Imam Aamir, who led our discussion on the Islamic perspective of the common good, said something so profound. He said, ‘Hate the issues, not the people.’
I think this idea comes a little close to what the Founders meant when they talked about factions. We cannot all believe in one thing; we should be able to give room for others to believe in the one thing that they want to believe in, or if they don’t want to believe in anything at all. We don’t have to hate them for believing in something other than what we believe in. And if the principle continues to be the principle, then we should have no problem loving each other whilst vehemently disagreeing with them because we love them - just the way they are. After all, what is the essence of love if I cannot overcome our tribal leanings?
The good thing is, if our factions are about issues and not personalities, we make great strides for ourselves, our communities, and our country. But if they are about personalities, then we reduce ourselves to competitors, and not comrades whose sole aim is the common good of all.
There’s no doubt that elections are always competitive. I have run for elections a few times, and in most cases, I embraced the competitive nature of it - even though the elections were about service. It feels good to know that you won an election. But is the feeling in itself the end or be all, if you desire to truly serve?
This is my question: if the goal is to serve the common good, why should elections be competitive to the point where they bring out the worst in us? Why should it divide us?
I am glad and thankful that I live in a country where every two or four years I get the chance to pick someone that I like to serve all of us by serving the common good. I am glad that each of us is free enough to choose someone different to represent us, whether in local, state, or national elections.
And so during this election cycle, you and I have the opportunity to choose - to choose is one of the blessings of living in a 'factionusque' society. I know the people I would be choosing but I am not in the position to tell you who to choose. As Aristotle said, "Choice, not chance, determines your destiny." So I encourage you to make the choice that you believe will not only determine your destiny but the destiny of your children and millions of your neighbors. Make a choice that reinforces your belief in humanity and love.
Go vote! But remember, the principle still remains the principle - if it isn’t about love, it isn’t about God.
Manny +
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