At noon on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, the nation’s 45th president will be sworn in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
The new chief executive’s hand will rest on a Bible as U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office.
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Listen to those words. They’re a tall order, one that requires commanding know-how, unwavering commitment and boundless vision.
The person we entrust to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of our great country won’t be Jill Stein. It won’t be Gary Johnson. The person taking that vow will be either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.
We all know that.
Many Americans are troubled by our two choices, even angry that someone less polarizing or even more likable won’t occupy the Oval Office for the next four years.
For months, we have agonized over lies, either real or perceived. We have debated the value of experience vs. bravado, of following the party line vs. shooting from the hip, and of a Washington insider at the helm vs. an unpredictable outsider.
The person we ultimately choose will be the guardian of our Constitution. It is our democracy’s most prized possession, but it is only as strong as the caretaker we entrust to preserve it.
The values laid forth in our Constitution have never been so at risk as they are in this presidential election. Our freedoms have never been so vulnerable, our nation’s foundation so shaky.
Now is not the time to take a stand on personal principles. Now, more than ever, we must stand up for our Constitution.
Right now, we are a country nearly torn apart by our differences. We are unable to look at each other and see the value of our unique cultures, the rationale of our opposing ideologies or the strength of our diverse visions of prosperity.
Across the nation, Americans feel disenfranchised. Whether it is African-Americans fearing unjust police attacks or whites fearing that change is occurring too rapidly, we cannot afford to take it lightly.
Our forefathers understood that America would not and should not remain as it was in 1776. They knew they were creating a government that would be attractive to others, and that people would come from all over the world to be a part of this nation. So they laid out a blueprint to follow as America became more diverse, and with that diversity, less tolerant.
We need a president who understands and supports the basic principles of our Constitution.
Take, for example, excerpts from these timely passages:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
The First Amendment is rooted in our forefathers’ firm belief that America should be a country of many religions. It discourages us from stopping immigrants at our border simply because they are Muslim and we wonder if they could be terrorists.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated …”
The Fourth Amendment prohibits the use of stop-and-frisk practices in cities such as Chicago that are overburdened with crime. It protects African-American and Hispanic men from randomly being pulled over and searched unless there is probable cause that they have committed a crime.
We must have a president who will fight to uphold the rules of our Constitution.
We need a president who is willing to tear down barriers that separate us, not one who would build more walls.
We need a leader who will do more than just mouth words to make us think we are a strong nation. We need a president who can stand up to any foreign power and smartly, calmly and articulately state America’s case.
This time, we cannot afford to indulge our disillusionment by throwing away our vote on a third party candidate who cannot win. This time, we have to open our eyes to the reality of the two choices that stand before us. We must put our petty judgments aside and conjure up the courage to do what we think is best for the country we love.
We will not all come to the same conclusion on Election Day. But that’s OK. By taking this election seriously, we will have done our duty as citizens.
We cannot be content with a president who lands in the White House by default — because we threw our precious vote away on a third party candidate or chose not to vote at all. Our Constitution demands that we cast our ballots as if our nation’s future depends on it.
That is the only chance we have of electing a president who makes us proud to be Americans.
Twitter @dahleeng
