...and makes a liar out of me.
My 10 year old asked me about warrants this week. He wanted to know what they are and how they fit in this world.
We went through the Citizenship chapter of the Cub Scout book months ago. I reminded him about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We spoke of the right to privacy. Then, I asked him if he had to open the front door just because a cop was standing there. He understood that his right to privacy was more powerful than a cop trying to get into his house. And that HIS right was protected by the Constitution. Then, we talked about warrants. And evidence to get a warrant. The short lesson was "no government agent gets into your privacy without a warrant." Unequivocal. No exceptions. No parsing. No Sh*t. It's guaranteed as an individual right. That’s what I told him.
I Lied.
I told him we are a nation of laws.
I Lied.
...that the President is a citizen like him and is equal under the law.
I lied.
...that the Bill of Rights guarantees individual rights to all citizens.
I lied.
...that the government is committed to the general welfare of its citizens, particularly the smallest and weakest.
I lied.
...that the lies of government agents corrupt, demean and destroy. And have consequences.
I lied.
....that truth and honesty in government is valued over secrecy.
I lied.
....That America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I lied.
We are a lot less free and not so much brave.
The dissonance is painful. Almost beyond relief.
Promises must be kept to our future generations to fight every day. Otherwise I am enabling a morally bankrupt course. I cannot live with that.
Our founders knew and we know that we are better than this.
I lied to make the new truth.