The writing spark for this piece was proverbs. We needed to use a proverb in our writing.
Hermeneutics (the theory of interpretation)
“A text without context is a pretext for a proof text.” -D. A. Carson (New Testament Scholar), or if you only take certain pieces of information from a text, you are liable to misinterpret its meaning.
There once was a man named Old Dan. He considered himself very learned. He would always use his knowledge to tell others how to make decisions. He was not very observant. When he read, he would skim quickly, picking out some words but not others. He only read the words that suited him in order to define their meaning.
He might also have been a little dyslexic.
He said he loved reading historical documents and would use the knowledge they provided to pave his way in life.
The reliance on his memory eventually created quite a conflict as he gained more power as the elder of his clan.
These are some of the tenets he gleaned from the Declaration of Independence:
- We hold these truths to be self-evident that all white men are created equal. (He assumed a word that wasn’t in the original document.)
Then came the listing of gripes against the King of England in the Declaration, which he interpreted as qualities a leader should have.
Here are a few of Old Dan’s interpretations about what leaders should have the ability to do – Feel free to check the Declaration of Independence for accuracy
- Refuse assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for public good.
- Forbid … governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance…till his assent … be obtained.
- Obstruct the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers
- Make judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices…
- Endeavor to prevent the population of States…obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others…and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
- Erect a multitude of New Offices, and send swarms of Officers to harass our people…
- Render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power
- Subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution
- Cut off our trade with all parts of the world
- Deprive us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury
- Take away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Government.
- Excite domestic insurrections amongst us.
When it came to the U.S. Constitution, one dyslectic moment changed the opening line that guided him. “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more prefect Union.” (prefect, being defined as someone authorized to discipline others)
There were those who listened to Old Dan. His spoken words were forceful. People followed without taking the time to verify the texts he wrote and espoused.
There were others who feared him. Afraid, based on his views and power, that disagreement would not be in their best interest.
There were even those in power who feared losing that power if they did not kowtow to Old Dan.
In this way, Old Dan became the leader of all in his domain.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover! The devil is in the details!” opponents shouted.
“Read between the lines!” shouted others.
Many who followed Old Dan did not hear the words being shouted.
As time went on, however, chinks in Old Dan’s armor began to fall off. Some even chose to stand against him. The key was the very documents that Old Dan had misinterpreted. Those documents were being read by others for clarity.
“Seek and ye shall find.”
“All that glitters is not gold.”
“There is strength in numbers,” was called throughout the land. As was, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Old Dan never realized the folly of his actions. He didn’t see that the discontent was of his own making, and neither did those who continued to follow him.
Time has a way of healing wounds. Where there is life, there is hope.
Old Dan is reaching the end of his time.
May it be so.
