A true republic requires human consciousness

Say: “O ye men! Now Truth hath reached you from your Lord! those who receive guidance, do so for the good of their own souls; those who stray, do so to their own loss: and I am not (set) over you to arrange your affairs.” – Qur’an, chapter 10; verse 108.

237 years ago in Philadelphia, PA, on Sept. 17 at The Constitutional Convention of 1787 that produced the U.S. Constitution, it is reported that Benjamin Franklin made a profound statement in response to the question, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Benjamin Franklin wisely replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

The dictionary’s definition of the word, republic reads, “a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.”

In the Qur’an, chapter 10, verse 108, Allah forbids Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, from setting up a monarchy. In chapter 42:38, Allah instructs humanity, “(conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation.” These verses of the Qur’an encourage the importance of establishing a republic.

In 2024, how close are we to losing our republic? How close is America to being overtaken by a solitary king, a monarch? It may be closer than many people realize. The threat is cloaked in political rhetoric; campaigns based on fear and false claims. Too often baseless rhetoric and fear-mongering campaigns slogans are more than baited words spewed into our socio-political atmosphere. Such vitriol speech grossly disrespects the fact that our Creator gave each and every one of us a conscious; a brain to collect, discern and render sound judgements. As thinkers — who believe in democracy and the rule of law — we must defend the reality that a true republic requires that we protect human consciousness.

All Americans must defend our democracy from all threats rather foreign or domestic; especially the subtle domestic threats that divide us whether than unite us as Americans. The United States Constitution is a wonderful document that has yet to come into her full beauty; and sadly, her beauty will never fully bloom as long as we allow our republic to be hindered by domestic threats of racism, sexism and other unnatural “isms.” Every American who claims ownership of the wisdom contained within the U.S. Constitution — each of us must defend our republic from the potential risk of the domestic threat called monarchy.

Arguably, one may assert that no other group of people in America has been as effective as African Americans in making the words of the United States Constitution come true for all Americans. Yes, the Africans in America, even while in slavery — despite being immorally relegated to the status of “three fifths of all other Persons — it is these children of Africa who stood up and fought for their rights as Americans; and forcing America to live up to her claim of freedom for all Americans.

Voting requires a free consciousness. When Benjamin Franklin spoke those words, “A republic, if we can keep it,” many Americans, including some who penned the words of the U.S. Constitution were too immature to appreciate the weightiness of this document. They were socially and morally underdeveloped, thus unable to appreciate the fullness of the meaning of those words.

Judging from the divisive politics of today we see strong signs that the domestic threats that denies freedom for all Americans still exist. The republic that we need today requires sincere respect for human consciousness. We need a rebirth.

Muslim American leader, Imam W. Deen Mohammed said, “Republic means to re-people by raising the conscience.” He further explained, “The spiritual Republic builds its order upon the respect for the equal essence and high essence of every human being. Republic means to re-people. You’re obligated to re-people your society. You keep raising the conscience of your people until you give new birth to them, to their sensitivities and their vision. Just like the generation keeps increasing from father and mother to children, from children to grandchildren and on and on and on. With knowledge we can re-people our society. Give new energy, new inspiration — new vision to our people — so that they are made a new people and keep them undergoing renewal.”

Our democracy is at stake today probably more than any time since the U.S. Civil War. All we have to do is fully respect the human conscious of all Americans and our republic will not only survive, it will fully blossom and strive. That is the republic that we can keep without the tyranny of a monarch.