I regret to admit that my focus on the U.S. Constitution has been very lacking. And I admit that I sadly did not participate in celebrating U.S. Constitution Day. It was unknown to me. It will not be next year. Watching an ABC program that highlighted the lack of knowledge Americans have in regards to the Constitution as they are soon to vote in the next election has given me a shove out of my complacent life and prompted me to search out information on the U.S. Constitution. I found the article below to be interesting and even thought provoking. Perhaps you will take the time to read the article and join me in the quest to remember what we learned about the Constitution in a long ago Government class in high school. Many have suffered greatly to protect the Constitution. The least I can do is work to be a lot more knowledgeable in what the Constitution says and does for American citizens even today.
A Salute To Our U.S. Constitution
By Chuck Baldwin
September 17, 2008
On this date in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was adopted. 39 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (Rhode Island did not send a representative) affixed their signatures to the greatest civil document ever conceived by men. Famous patriots such as George Washington, Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, George Clymer, and Abraham Baldwin were among this gallant group.
Under divine Providence, it has been allegiance to the Constitution that has preserved our liberties and protected our very way of life. Most of the problems, failings, and frustrations that plague our nation today are due to the propensity of our civil magistrates to ignore or blatantly abuse constitutional government. Accordingly, fidelity to the Constitution would likely repair most of the damage done by this neglect.
It is the responsibility of a free people to jealously guard the principles upon which their liberties are predicated. For citizens of these United States, the principles that duly protect our liberties are contained in the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every American to studiously familiarize himself with these documents.
Furthermore, it is the duty of every American to stubbornly hold their elected representative, at every level of government, accountable to his or her oath to the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution is the contract that every civil magistrate makes with “We the People.” Failure of an elected representative to fulfill that oath to the Constitution should be met with swift and certain rejection by the people at the polls. Nothing else should matter. Republican or Democrat, man or woman, black or white, believer or unbeliever: it is the responsibility of every civil magistrate to submit to the restrictions and instructions of the Constitution.
Our Constitution (along with the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence) was formed, framed, and founded upon the eternal principles contained in Natural Law, which proceeds forth from man’s Creator and Redeemer. No people in human history have ever been so blessed as the people of the United States to inherit such a legacy. Such a heritage serves only to heighten our own responsibility, as “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
On this Constitution Day of 2008, may this generation of Americans live up to its responsibility to valiantly bequeath to our posterity the same legacy of freedom that was so bravely and miraculously bequeathed to us. For the sake of freedom, for the love of our children, and for the safety and security of our republic, may each of us determine for ourselves–and commit to Almighty God–to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Quote of the Day:
“Americans just want us to… not be concerned if they can be constitutionally justified… Why, if we had to do that we could not pass most of the laws we enact around here.” — Sen. John Glenn
Subject: The Unknown Holiday
Today is Constitution Day. Few Americans know this. Neither banks nor government offices will be closed. And most of us will go to work today, spending nearly half our time laboring to pay taxes to the various levels of government. In this sense today is no holiday at all. It’s merely a designated spot on the calendar during which Americans are to . . .
Do what?
The politicians won’t take notice of the day, though we’ve joined with the Liberty Coalition to encourage McCain and Obama to discuss Constitutional issues on the campaign trail. We won’t be holding our breath in expectation that they will do so.
It remains to us, as individuals, to do something meaningful with the day.
We should be mindful of the role the Constitution has played in the success of our own lives. We live the freest and most affluent lives of any people on the planet, or in history. Our Constitution, which is now the oldest governing document in continuous use anywhere, has been crucial to this outcome.
The Constitution gave us a system of government with divided, competing, and explicitly defined powers. It gave us a Bill of Rights with strong limits on government action. The politicians have waged a continuous and largely successful assault on these attributes of our Constitution, but even so, the Constitution has continued to protect us often enough to make it one of the most important, if unappreciated, contributors to our daily lives and personal well-being.
It’s easy to forget, overlook, or disparage, the number of times the Supreme Court has declared some act of Congress or the President as un-constitutional. But it has happened often, and has served to preserve our freedom and prosperity. In this we see not only the genius of the separation of powers, but also the continuing efficacy of the Bill of Rights. Without these attributes of our Constitution we would be not only less free, but also more poor.
Likewise, it’s easy to under-appreciate the number of times Presidents have vetoed some over-reaching act of Congress, or times when Congress has acted to curtail the power of the Executive. Likewise, the Senate has often blocked actions of the House, and vice versa. And we have also been served when there have been partisan divisions between the Congress and the White House.
The separation of powers works. The Bill of Rights works. The Constitution works.
Look around the world. Wherever governments have less power, and the people more freedom, affluence, security, and peace reign. And wherever governments have more power, and the people less freedom, misery flourishes. And for as long as we have been the most free people in the world, we have also been the most prosperous and secure.
In America, even our poorest citizens live as kings compared to much of the rest of the world, and few of us need fear a policeman’s knock on the door in the dead of the night, or that we will disappear into some camp or torture dungeon.
All of this, and more, is primarily a gift of our Constitution, for without it the people would long ago have voted their freedom away, and/or the politicians would have quickly assumed absolute power. A strong case can be made that only the Constitution has prevented these outcomes. So, today . . .
Ask not what the Constitution can do for you, for its gifts have already been conferred upon you in great abundance. Instead, ask what you can do for the Constitution. We would submit that you can, and should, speak up strongly on behalf of the Constitution’s preservation. Please remind Congress that . . .
* Today is Constitution Day
* That they swore an oath to serve, protect, and defend the Constitution
* And that you would like to see them take concrete action to honor that oath, on today of all days
You can use your personal comments on two important campaigns to make these points to your elected representatives. First, ask them to pass the “Enumerated Powers Act,” which would force Congress to specify their Constitutional authority for every act of legislation. You can send that message here.
Second, ask Congress to repeal previous egregious violations of the Constitution. You can do so by asking your representatives to co-sponsor Congressman Ron Paul’s “American Freedom Agenda Act.” This bill would . . .
* Repeal the “Military Commissions Act of 2006″ and thereby restore the ancient right of habeas corpus and end legally sanctioned torture by U.S. government agents
* Restore the “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act” (FISA) and thereby outlaw warrantless spying on American citizens by the President of the United States
* Give Congress standing in court to challenge the President’s use of “signing statements” as a means to avoid executing the nation’s laws
* Make it illegal for government agents to kidnap people and send them abroad to be tortured by foreign governments
* Provide legal protection to journalists who expose wrong-doing by the Federal government
* Prohibit the use of secret evidence to label groups or individuals as terrorists for the purpose of criminal or civil sanctions
A great number of Americans support the cause of pro-life. I count myself among this throng as I despise the destruction of human life for no other reason than convenience. Many of us do not have time in our busy schedules to support organizations that advocate for the elimination of legal abortions in our land. The Iowa Right to Life Committee has created an event in which pro-life advocates can support the cause without the necessity of rearranging busy schedules. That event is one the Iowa Right to Life Booksale held twice yearly.
