June 19, 2006 at 12:16:08

They Swore on the Bible: What an Oath Means

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By Andrew Bard Schmookler (about the author) Page 3 of 3 page(s)

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Just as the Members of Congress cannot allow the president to get away with his assault on the Constitution, so also we the citizens of the United States cannot let the Members of Congress get away with their failure to honor their oath of office.

That last statement points answers the objections I have heard that, in stressing the importance of the oath, I am making an unwarranted assumption that the people taking these oaths --i.e. our Members of Congress-- have a conscience and/or care about the sacred realm they may invoke when placing a hand upon the Bible to swear to defend the Constitution.

Although it would certainly help if the Members of Congress did have a conscience and did take seriously the sacredness of their oath, that's in no way necessary for the success of the You Swore on the Bible strategy.

The strategy of "You Swore on the Bible" is not one of a private communication, in which an appeal to conscience is made. It is an entirely public statement, intended to apply pressure on the Members of Congress by affecting how they are perceived --and thus also how they are regarded-- by their constituents.

These people get elected to Congress by persuading the public that they are upright, patriotic, God-fearing people. How can you be God-fearing if you break a promise made before God --if you can commit "a crime against God"-- and think nothing of it? How can you be a patriot if --by violating your oath of office-- you indifferently commit a treasonous act? How can you be upright if your promises mean nothing?

It all hinges on whether the American people can be roused to take the oath of office seriously, and to see how thoroughly and dangerously these politicians are violating that oath.

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Andrew Bard Schmookler's website www.nonesoblind.org is devoted to understanding the roots of America's present moral crisis and the means by which the urgent challenge of this dangerous moment can be met. Dr. (more...)

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