Contributed by Nan Potts
Several years ago, The People's Paper published my article, “A Constitution Celebration?” In it, I shared a discovery:
“To commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution of the United Sates, Congress has designated September 17th of each year as Constitution Day and September 17-23 of each year as Constitution Week.”
“In 2004, Public Law 108-447, Section 111 was passed requiring the following:
‘Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.
‘. . . each Federal agency or department shall provide educational and training materials concerning the United States Constitution to each employee. . . on September 17 of each year.’
“In keeping with these congressional mandates, recent presidents have solicited help from federal and local government leaders as well as civic and religious leaders to hold events to commemorate the occasion.
“We encourage all citizens to use their influence to organize and support programs that honor the Constitution. Resources for holding such a celebration may be found at ncc.net."
- pocket copy (complete edition) of the Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence, Copyright 2009, 2010 National Center for Constitutional Studies
I asked some friends if they had heard of such a celebration. They gazed at me - deer in the headlights. I shared with them what I found. And, my intent to take an online course, “Constitution 101”, through Hillsdale College. It was free, and I took it at my leisure.
What I learned echoed my high school U. S. History instructor, through fresh eyes. It included affirming many of my beliefs. Others, it clarified. Since then, I have a greater reality of the articles and amendments. The most important take-away for me was the why. Why the Founding Fathers constructed this unique document in this manner. They attempted to avoid historical errors made by failed governments.
Re-experiencing our constitution makes me proud to be a citizen. I have a deeper appreciation for the millions of people immigrating to the U. S. to become citizens. They too yearn for a government that provides liberties. And, to achieve success through their own efforts.
A majority of our media cover protests, sometimes violent. Political correctness is the order of the day. And if opposed, reprisal results. Why? We have many liberties under our constitution. Even the right and ability to change the articles through amendments.
History demonstrates violent acts result if a populous is unclear of their rights. Including, exercising those rights. Also, unethical people usurp the power of government. This occurs in an insidious manner, fomenting discontent. Witness Rome’s fall and hundreds of other governments over the centuries.
There’s debate over our Constitution being a “living” entity:
“In 1987, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall delivered a lecture, ‘The Constitution: A Living Document,' in which he argued that the Constitution must be interpreted in light of the moral, political and cultural climate of the age of interpretation.” - Wikipedia
In 1986, U. S. Attorney General, Edwin Meese, III, commented on the differing philosophies:
“Under the old system the question was how to read the constitution; under the new approach, the question is whether to read the constitution.”
I decided to read the architects' original intent:
“On every question of constitution, [let us] carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invested against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.” - Thomas Jefferson
“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” - Alexander Hamilton
“If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or the modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation [wrongful seizure of power]; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”- George Washington, in his Farewell Address, 1797
Numerous quotes of intent, from numerous sources, abound. I encourage you, “We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…” read, understand and employ our constitution. Discover why We are different from any other government on earth.
Happy Constitution Day!