“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
Confucius

Throughout the chaotic Trump administration, and especially after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, I have often mulled a puzzle over in my mind. Or perhaps it's not truly a puzzle. Perhaps the answer is simple, if we are clear enough in our minds and brave enough in our hearts to see it.

When recruits join the military, every single branch of it, they take an oath that they will defend the Constitution and obey the President of the United States. But what if, as it's becoming increasingly clear, the President is him or herself a traitor to the Constitution? Which part of the oath does the military keep first?

It's a sticky question. We don't want a military with the legal power to overthrow the government in a military coup, but by the same token they must have the autonomy to meet their first objective, the defense of the Constitution. The Constitution is what gives the President his power. It's the framework of our nation as visualized by men willing to lose everything for their cause. I don't believe they could fathom that there would ever be a president who would betray his country.

As I understand it, in the event that the sitting president is no longer able to perform his or her duties for any reason, then the vice-president will immediately take over and assume the mantle of Commander-in-Chief. But that still leaves the question unanswered. Who is the military ultimately faithful to? The guy in the Oval Office or the very framework of the nation he serves?

c. 2023