 We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Photo courtesy of National Constitution Center (Scott Frances LTD) Facade With Preamble
By Bob Weaver
The Constitution of the United States of America is the document under which we
live and have our being.
This week marks the 224rd birthday of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, recognized as the oldest national constitution still in operation.
Most Washington politicians carry a copy of the document next to their chest, often declaring their loyalty to the document, but mistakenly quoting the Declaration of Independence instead.
Oh well, they're both great proclamations.
We the people, and the great visionary minds, created the Constitution, which
protects and maintains those things which we value.
There are those who attempt to circumvent this code of government, and citizens
must always be wary when individuals or institutions use means to justify some end
not in the scope of this great document.
Many of those tenants, because of the threat of terrorism, got pushed aside in the name of national security, some contained in the Patriot Act.
The eating away of civil rights and liberties in America have never been more
prevalent than today, but there appears to be little alarm.
Certainly, Jefferson would be pained to see how much power Washington has accumulated.
Constitutional rights are being challenged, including those of a free press and moving aside the valued protection against illegal searches.
A recent, large independent study showed that nearly 40% of high school students in the USA felt the government should have more control of the country's free press.
America has become a country where most of the "mainstream" media is owned by a handful of corporations, who espouse "the news" daily, mostly wedge issues which defocus-es citizens from things that are really important.
Every citizen should appeal when they believe their constitutional rights are
violated.
Otherwise, this code that maintains life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness will fall asunder.
The Constitution of the United States comprises the nation's fundamental law, a
framework for its governance and the principles under which it must operate.
Judicial reinterpretation has given the Constitution the flexibility to accommodate
changes in the specific laws subject to its authority.
Chief Justice John Marshall pointed out early in the 19th century, the Constitution
was "intended to endure for ages to come, and, consequently, to be adapted to the
various crises of human affairs.
To have prescribed the means by which government
should, in all future times, execute its powers, would have been to change entirely,
the character of the instrument, and give it the properties of a legal code."
Today, we reflect on our freedoms and how to protect them.
Constitution
Center
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