The Grandmothers meeting with the Oracle
The Mission Statement
Click the puzzle piece to work a jigsaw puzzle
The Indigo Jewel
Chapter 13 - Do We Really Need A Constitution?
Intro,
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
Epilogue,
Afterward
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. - Benjamin Franklin
Karishma knew she would need to pass the Indigo Jewel on to Melodious soon. Melodious was growing and adapting to compensate for her condition. There was one thing Karishma wanted to finish first and she needed her connection to the jewel to complete it.
Antarctica had been running on the goodwill of its citizens for far too long. Many believed they needed a constitution, a codification of their beliefs as a nation. The Congress she was a member of had debated the question many times. She was even on the committee overseeing development of a constitution, but it had never come to a vote. She had many conversations about this topic with her grandmothers. Who else would she talk with about something so important? The grandmothers had lived in different time periods and had many diverse insights, but they were not sure what to say on this topic. This was outside their experience. They kept coming back to one thought: maybe the Oracle could help devise a constitution that would keep the country safe in the future, and provide a framework for handling questions of law. To this end, they decided to attempt to contact her and request help.
Now, the Oracle is not a genie one can summon by rubbing a lamp. She spoke in moments of crisis and uncertainty to provide a safe path forward. She had spoken with Nanshe thousands of years ago and encouraged her to pass the Indigo Jewel on to her daughter. She spoke with Crysanthe when she was in fear for her life and guided her to safety. Karishma requested a meeting with all the grandmothers to discuss the constitution question.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I have no idea what you do when I’m not around, but I’m sure it’s important, and I appreciate your taking the time.” Karishma said, addressing the group from her study as she tightly squeezed the Indigo Jewel.
“We are happy to meet with you anytime,” Sophia responded. “We have studied the many versions of a constitution your committee has drafted. Some are quite long and attempt to handle every possible situation. Others are much shorter and rely on the spirit of unity Ant currently enjoys.
Karishma responded, “Our committee cannot agree on the full text of a constitution, but we have agreed on a Preamble. Let me read it out loud to see if it resonates.” She then proceeded to read the following short document:
Preamble to the Constitution of Antarctica
We, the people of Antarctica, having endured the crucible of near extinction and emerged with unwavering unity, do hereby establish this Constitution to preserve our shared values and guide future generations in the pursuit of equality, wisdom, and collective well-being.
We declare that all individuals are inherently equal and that our society shall remain free from oppression, hierarchy, and exploitation. We reject violence, war, and aggression, seeking only peaceful coexistence and mutual uplifting within our borders and beyond.
Guided by the principles of egalitarianism, we vow to prevent the rise of concentrated wealth and power, ensuring that all resources, knowledge, and opportunities remain accessible to every citizen. We uphold the sacred duty of care for one another, guaranteeing that no person is abandoned, marginalized, or deprived of dignity. We extend this care to our imperiled planet and uphold our sacred duty to heal and nurture the wellbeing of all living things.
Recognizing the transformative power of science and technology, we commit to wielding them responsibly, ensuring they serve the common good without harm or recklessness. We establish this Constitution not as a rigid decree, but as a rallying cry for ourselves and our world—one that evolves with wisdom, adapts to the needs of all living creatures, and remains rooted in our unwavering commitment to care and sustainability.
With trust in the strength of our unity and the wisdom of future generations, we dedicate ourselves to the stewardship of our world and the protection of our values, now and forever.
When Karishma finished reading the Preamble, there was a long silence. To many of the grandmothers, it sounded like an impossible dream. To others, it was everything they ever wanted. To Karishma, it was a statement that had been refined and honed over many months.
Suddenly, as if a strong wind had blown in and rested inside the jewel, there was a new presence among the hundreds of grandmothers. One that was nowhere, yet everywhere. One that was older and wiser than anyone could imagine. She spoke in words that seemed to come from all directions. And when she spoke, it was with authority, grandeur and infinite understanding.
“I have existed for 5 million of your earth years. In that time, I have seen civilizations consumed by hate and fear. I have seen civilizations that glorified grand ideals, yet enslaved their own people. I have seen civilizations completely destroy themselves. But I have never seen a culture before that extends so much empathy to the simple creatures they share the planet with. Your mission statement is unparalleled in the history of sentient beings. You do not need to write further and shackle yourself with mundane rules. If you live in harmony with this mission statement you will succeed. I have spoken.”
And with those words, the Oracle and her presence dissipated like a mist and was gone, making the silence all the more profound.
Karishma and her grandmothers were dumbstruck.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Karishma spoke softly and said, “Well, I guess that’s the answer we have been waiting for.”
In the following weeks she shared the words the Oracle had given her with Congress. She was careful not to divulge their source or imply that some alien being had conveyed the thoughts to her. They would not understand, so she presented them as her own ideas. The other members of Congress were overjoyed. They changed the wording from a Preamble to a Mission Statement and voted on it. It passed overwhelmingly and became the foundation for the laws of their country.
Copyright © 2025 Elton Smith