Embracive

 

Embracive

The world today might be described by a series of three words all ending with -ive. Observing the injustices of today, the anger in politics, the disrespect for one another's’ opinions, the violence perpetrated against individuals and groups of peoples, the first describing word is abrasive. 

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word abrasive as showing little concern for the feelings of others. Problems arise because we as individuals, we as citizens, we as nations, show little concern for the feelings, or rights, of others. We want what is ours and we disregard the needs of others. As long as we are well-fed, well-housed, well-cared-for, and well-liked, we care little for the well-being of others. This philosophy leads to NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) policies, nationalism (my country must come first), and isolationism (the rest of the world is not my concern). National leaders spar, nations dissolve agreements, neighbors argue, families split. 

In 1787, a group met in Philadelphia to forge an agreement to unite a divided nation. The last decades had been abrasive. After years of oppression, resistance, invasion, and war, a tattered new nation struggled to form. Each representative arrived at the convention with an agenda. The very air felt abrasive as delegates battled over states’ rights, slavery, finances, land, taxes, representation, and leadership. Yet out of this chorus of division, an anthem of inclusion emerged. Our Constitution begins, “We the people.” Our new nation, formed to be inclusive (a second -ive word), would cleave together for the benefit of all. 

Almost immediately, abrasive critics attacked this inclusive vision. Yet, we hung on through international and internal wars, immigration and migration, demonstrations and oppressions, elections and court decisions. Every time something pulled us apart, our vision of “We the people,” pulled us together. Our nation struggled to remain inclusive.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg understood that the Constitution’s, “We the people,” implies inclusion for every person and group in America. She wanted more for our nation. The justice wanted, “a more “embracive” Constitution—one that embraced previously excluded groups … not just grudgingly,… but with open arms.” An embracive nation opens its arms to embrace all people — to secure the rights and liberties of all of its citizens and to extend these same rights and liberties to the citizens of the world. “We the people” will not truly be we until all people are embraced. 

We — individually, as a nation, and as an interrelated world — must move past abrasive through inclusive to embracive. To survive (another -ive word), we must work together. To thrive, we must open our arms. Locked in opened arms, we grow strong.

(Quotation from Jeffrey Rosen, Justice Ginsburg’s friend and president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia which is located opposite Independence Hall.)