Sotomayor and The Oath

The terrific Jonah Goldberg begins his latest column by displaying the oath that Sonia Sotomayor will take if she is confirmed as a Justice of The Supreme Court, and pointing out how she really has no intention of keeping it.Why is this so? What has happened to the state of honor in the human soul that the solemn promises a person swears to keep bear so lightly, if at all when the time comes to live up to that oath. I know, I know, we have had liars and other dishonest sorts among us since man was created. There is a quote that goes;

“A liar freely gives his oath.”

These are not the people I’m talking about. At least I hope not. I hope that society has not become so strewn with dishonesty that the honest, honorable people among us are being choked out. I’m wondering about people who hold positions responsibility, like a judge, or even a President and regular folks like bosses and spouses who easily cast aside their oaths in order to serve their short term goals.

And the President I was referring to is not Mr. Obama. George W. Bush, upon signing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance act, acknowledged at the time of the signing that the law he signed was unconstitutional. He knowingly broke his presidential oath to protect and defend The Constitution hoping that the Supreme Court would knock the law down. To his surprise it did not. And our Fist Amendment rights of free speech have been narrowed. Because when the time came for Mr. Bush to uphold his oath, he chose to mollify the electorate and seek political cover. If the Left truly wanted to impeach Mr. Bush they missed their chance.

The ease with which an unhappy spouse can obtain a divorce is another example of the deteriorating ability and desire within people to fulfill a sworn promise. There are cases where divorce is the best, but often sad option. Physical abuse certainly qualifies. Marital infidelity often cannot be overcome. But abandoning a marriage because a spouse has taken ill or money is too tight or one spouse is just plain unhappy is sad commentary on the way people who wreak this kind of havoc on their spouses and children were taught by their parents.

As a country, America has become a place where the stigma of dishonorable behavior has been fairly well eradicated. Oaths, vows and pledges have become quaint vignettes within elaborate ceremonies. Breaking one’s oath no longer brings any type of shame or opprobrium on the transgressor. The miscreant just makes an insincere apology, claims victimhood and resumes collecting his paycheck. Maybe even writes a book or goes on Oprah and makes a profit off his dishonor.

America does not need a draft to bring our youth into a culture of honor and loyalty. By 18 years old it is way to late for most kids to learn this type of behavior. No, what America needs for its youth are parents willing to instill the idea that honor is a virtue worth having. And second if Obama is serious about his “youth corps” or whatever he calls it, we already have two organization that teach young boys and girls about honor, duty and loyalty. They are called the Boy Scouts of America, and Girl Scouts of America. And both of their oaths begin with:

“On my honor…”