Our birthdays, wedding anniversaries and Christmas are all celebrated with special gifts. Yet we ignore the day that provides our most important possessions of freedom, security and the opportunity to attain prosperity.
That very special anniversary is Sept. 17 — “Constitution Day.”
The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788. This year we will celebrate the 232nd birthday of our country’s constitution. The Constitution of the United States is the world’s longest-surviving written charter of government. It’s first three words, “We the People,” proclaims the intent of the United States government is to serve the citizens.
According to an old joke: “A patron went into a library and asked for a copy of the French Constitution, only to be told that the library does not stock periodicals.” A bit of an exaggeration? Maybe. Although, according to statistics, the average lifespan of the world’s constitutions is a mere 17 years. Poorly written constitutions have even shorter life spans.
France holds the world record in the field of new constitutions. Since 1789, she has been changing her constitution after about every 12 years. Between 1789-1858, France had 16 constitutions, one of which, in the year,1835, remained in force for only 21 days.
Why do many countries frequently change their constitutions? As we all know, correcting a problem often creates a new set of problems. For instance, in 1917, the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) became part of our Constitution. Its intent was to curb production, distribution and sales of recreational alcohol. Which it did. However, by deterring the use of legal alcohol, the Mafia moved in to fill the needs with their illegal underground network that still exist today.
Recently we are hearing from those that would take away our right to bear arms legally. This action will create the similar illegal response from organized crime, as did Prohibition.
In 2004, legislation was passed that required teaching, in federally funded schools, the contents and meaning of the US Constitution. It is the legal obligation of those schools to provide students with programs that define the meaning and importance of the Constitution in our society. If taught properly, students can understand the true meaning of their rights and the vital constitutional amendments that protect those rights.
Teaching the Constitution in our public schools, as it was written, without editorial comments, and slanted half-truth interpretations, is a must. Too often, professors and educators insert their slanted personal viewpoints when presenting the Constitution to students. A survey of college political science professors found that 68% preferred Socialism over Capitalism.
How free would we be without our Constitution? How would our government operate without it? These questions should be answered with education programs, not only on Constitution Day the 17th day of September, but every day of the school year.
Our youth must learn and understand how amazing this nation is. Thomas Jefferson said: “Enlighten the people and tyranny and oppression will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.”
George Washington said, of the Constitution: “What duty is more pressing … than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country? It is We the People Who Preserve Our Constitutional Rights.” The Founding Fathers agreed the youth of America must learn about the document that makes their success possible.
As times change, one thing should remain constant: the guarantee of our inalienable rights as free citizens. Our basic rights are not given to us by a government, they belong to us as part of the human experience.
Certain politicians have forgotten or ignored how the US Constitution protects our rights and freedoms. It is only through teaching in the schools that “We the People” can ensure that ourselves and our children know the principles of liberty and self-destiny. It is through education we are capable of taking our freedom into our own hands.
Power belongs in the hands of the people, not the government. When our students understand the US Constitution, they will better understand what our government can and cannot do, and if a law is unconstitutional and must be removed.
The US Constitution, together with the Declaration of Independence, is the foundation of our nation. Using it to guide us we stand free of oppression and tyranny, including that of our own government. Not only does our Constitution protect our national sovereignty, but it also protects our religious freedom, freedom of speech and guarantees the right to own property and to bear arms.
Our country’s Constitution was created to protect citizens from external as well as internal tyranny. The Founding Fathers took special efforts to create a system of checks and balances that prevented any one branch of government from gaining power over the others. Our founders brilliant constitutional control systems assure us that our country will not fall prey to a dictator’s uncontrolled rule.
Also, our nation’s founders did not create our Constitution to protect the government — quite the contrary, our Constitution was created to protect “We the People.”
Mark Schenck is a former chairman of the Scotland County Republican Party.