Why "...if you can keep it."

For the first entry in this new blog, I picked a title that has an important message for this generation -- and here is the story behind that title:

When the Constitutional Convention completed its great work in 1787, the story is told about the lady who stopped Franklin, as he was descending the steps of the State House, and she asked him, “Mr. Franklin, what kind of government have you created?” Franklin replied, “Madam, you have a republic if you can keep it.”

Those last five words, “…if you can keep it” are, in my view, the five most insightful words uttered by one of our founders.

Franklin understood how fragile was the new government just established. He knew keeping it would not be easy. He knew each generation would be required to sacrifice a good measure of its own blood, sweat and tears to protect it. Indeed, he felt each new generation had an obligation to do so.

“You have a republic if you can keep it.”

Franklin’s words ring in our ears each time President Bush issues a “signing statement” declaring his administration will not follow the legislative intent of the bill he just signed.

His words resound loudly each time another freedom is trampled by executive order.

They echo each time the Bush administration describes the Constitution as a “living document” – a draft, in other words – to be amended as required to satisfy the private agenda of a small group of partisans.

Our republic is fragile – so is the Constitution that underpins it – and the people know it. Our republic has been at risk for the past seven years – and the people know it.

The pundits haven’t caught up with the people. They wonder why so many Americans are participating in record numbers in the Democratic primaries, why voter turnout has been so high.

They don’t understand, as you do, dear reader, what is at stake.

You understand the perilous condition of our republic. You want to be a part of shoring up the bulwarks that protect us.

You are reading this because you believe the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches are – and must be – truly equal branches of our government.

You believe in a government that invites the best and brightest from all corners of this republic into it, men and women willing to reach across the aisle, coalesce around the best ideas, and govern in the interest of all.

It matters only that we Americans remain united and dedicated to one purpose – to keep this republic, to keep it strong, and to pass it on to the next generation stronger than we found it.

We are, after all, a republic, not a pure democracy, and it is up to us to select the best person from among all Americans to lead us as President, and to select for the Congress those individuals of intellect and temperament worthy of our trust, individuals who will read, study, learn and vote for us, seeking only to represent the best interest of all Americans.

These past seven years, America has stumbled badly. But this Presidential race has given us an opportunity to walk to the horizon for a look at our future. Many have taken that walk, have peeked over the horizon, and see an America whose best days are yet to come. Barack Obama is the candidate, in my view, who understands how fragile is this republic and what it takes to strengthen its underpinnings. You and I will not always agree with him but we should not expect that. "Does Obama agree with me" is not the question we should ask of him. The question should be: "Mr. Obama, will you help us...keep this republic?"