It will receive very little fanfare and my guess it will not
even be mentioned in most public schools across this nation but the US
Constitution is still a miraculous document. It is a pity to see how little
time we spend on the founding of this great nation. Today is the two hundred
and twenty fifth anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution.
Why is the Constitution still important? First, it is the
rule of law that limits the role of the federal government to 18 enumerated
powers. It is also the only Constitution that puts complete control of
government in the people’s hands and not the other way around.
Prior to our constitution, it was assumed that the
government controlled people’s lives. Many countries at the time (and even
today) accepted the notion of nobility, cast systems, and family blood lines
were the determining factors of what people could accomplish in their lives. That
changed at the signing ceremony of the US Constitution.
The US Constitution was not perfect but it was the start of
a movement to form a more perfect union. It is the reason slavery was
abolished. It was forward thinking and set up a platform for future Americans
to reference the constitution and make the changes needed to make all Americans
equal. The US is often criticized for slavery but slavery was a common practice
throughout the world and without our constitution there is no telling how much
longer it would have lasted. It is still common practice in many parts of the
world today.
The US Constitution is always under attack. The only way it
survives is by Americans that are willing to defend it. After all, it simply is
a document with the principles of this nation and it does not have a voice, we
are the voice. I have argued that American students should study the
Constitution all four years of High School. Anyone that believes that the current
history curriculum in this country serves to protect our future as a nation and
constitutional republic is kidding themselves.
The politicians that take the oath of office and swear to
uphold the constitution often have limited understanding of the document. They
ignore the context and use tortured arguments to justify federal expansion of
power that has no authority in the constitution. Most politicians ignore it
when it doesn’t support their programs, and tout its brilliance when it does.
We need to reaffirm our commitment to the document that
changed the world for the better. It deserves a better placement in our
education system, political system, and our lives. If we were abiding by the US
Constitution today we would be much better off than we stand right now.
Make it your commitment to read and understand the context
in which it was created. Start referencing it when you hear federal politicians
promoting programs. Teach your kids about it. It was a miracle in 1787 and it
is a miracle in 2012. We just need to treat it as such…
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