Intent: Word Counters

 

 

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks  a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 

 This month's number is 50. 
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme Intent.

~ "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States." 

 

~ The preamble to the Constitution, it's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. The words of the preamble succinctly articulate the intent of the forefathers of this country. I have always believed in the principals they'd tried to espouse, the thought, debate, intent, effort and foresight required of them.

 

~ "form a more perfect Union": perfection is a concept of aspiration. Their "more perfect" implies intent to strive for better, while (I believe) acknowledging that it's a process. The "more perfect" conceptualization leaves room for their posterity. And ours. The most important word though, is "union." Requiring that we unite.

 

~ "establish Justice": I think this concept was clearer in colonial times, when the goal was that required societal parameters be delineated and be equitable. Currently justice is not (the required) "blind," it's full sighted and intentional, partisan, economic, and racially motivated. It's not nationally cohesive but sporadic, individualized, and manipulated.

 

~ "ensure domestic Tranquility": domestic tranquility has scant presence here currently. That's not all bad. A free country fosters some turmoil, room for conflicting visions, it's where the seeds for growth lie. Two parties, even heated discourse doesn't need to be antithetical to tranquility. Tranquility, however, requires respect. We've lost ours. 

 

~ "provide for the common defense": the military was designed as answerable to two branches of government, not one leader. trump's misuse of troops for political purposes, his personal agenda, and monetary gain has undermined and weakened an institution vital to our protection. "Common defense" must refocus solely on common protection.

 

~ "promote the general Welfare": to call it socialism is to call the forefathers socialists, but getting caught up in terminology just distracts from intent. Students shouldn't be deprived of higher education due to economics. It harms the society. And humanitarianism demands that no member of our society go hungry. Ever.

Broccoli Slaw Soup

~ "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity": Liberty is a blessing, one our forefathers fought for, and not just for themselves. It was their vision to create a fair, free, functioning society, not just or all, but for always. We know the forefathers' intent. What is ours?

 

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Broccoli Slaw Soup (Crockpot or Not)        
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 packages ramen noodle soup, soy sauce flavor

4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce 

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp ginger paste

1 package (16 oz) broccoli slaw

3 green onions, chopped 

1 cup cooked chicken, chopped

 

NOTE: this is a very thick soup

 

Directions:

*FOR SLOW COOKER: Open the ramen soup packages and remove the flavor packets. Set aside the noodles for later.

*In the bowl of your slow cooker, whisk together the chicken broth, sesame oil, soy sauce, flavor packets from the soup, garlic, and ginger. Mix in the broccoli slaw and green onions, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.

*Reduce heat to low, add the cooked chicken and cook for 2 hours.

*Add the noodles from the ramen soup packages and 1 cup of water. Cook for up to another 10 minutes, until the noodles are soft. Remove from heat immediately, stir and serve.

*FOR STOVE TOP: bring the chicken broth, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and flavor packets to a boil. Reduce heat and add the broccoli slaw, green onions, and chicken, and simmer for 1/2 hour. Bring back to a boil, add the noodles and 1 cup of water. Cook for 2 minutes until the noodles are soft, then remove from the heat immediately and serve.