Martin Diamond: The Revolution of Sober Expectations

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I would recommend looking it up and reading it at a library. Some useful information in doing so is provided directly below:

Martin Diamond
The Revolution of Sober Expectations
Delivered at
Independence Square, Philadelphia,
in the House of Representatives Chamber, Congress Hall,
on October 24, 1973

In 500 words or less, describe what you think Martin Diamond meant by his title, 'Revolution of Sober Expectations'?

The following is a response to the above prompt.

Overall, Diamond’s main point is that the founding fathers knew the Declaration of Independence could not institute a government. By creating a Constitution founded on the principles found in the Declaration, the founding fathers had enacted their “sober expectations” for this experiment.

Martin Diamond had a full awareness of what the founding fathers expected for their “American Experiment.” They knew that human beings weren’t perfect; that creating a perfect society would require more horrendous deeds than living with human imperfections.

One main point Diamond made is that if men were angels, they wouldn’t need a government. The founding fathers are implied realists, not utopian dreamers.
Another point is about the self-evident truths. The only way to let other people see that the truths declared self-evident really are self-evident is to let them try it for themselves. The principles in the declaration do not just apply to Americans, but to all people. Also, a government is instituted by the consent of the governed.

The founding fathers never foresaw a “majority rule” as many elementary school children now think of democracy. The majority can be just as tyrannical as a minority. Rather, the founding fathers created a democratic republic, which would afford some protection against such tyranny as they had experienced with England.

Diamond asserts “Men are created equal but only with respect to the equal possession of certain unalienable rights.” (emphasis added). This American Experiment was not intended to live up to the ideals of a consecrated utopia that some envisioned. Rather, the fathers once again had realistic expectations for America.

Sober expectations were necessary for the completion of this ongoing experiment. No ideals, however nice, could live up to reality. If men were angels, they would not need a government. The founding fathers were sober in their expectations of the government they created with the Constitution. It can withstand men’s imperfections because it is founded on the self-evident truths and other important principles in the Declaration of Independence. Together, these two articles of our history create our Government, our Experiment which continues to persist and defy our fathers’ “sober expectations.”