Many Americans at the grass roots are returning to the Constitution for answers to the nation’s problems. What has suddenly prompted interest in this historic document and why should it be of interest to every American?
There is an old poem that goes something like this:
God and Soldier we adore
In time of trouble, not before
Trouble gone and all things righted
God is forgotten, the soldier slighted
The same could be written about the attitude of people toward the Constitution of the United States of America. The Founders sought freedom from tyranny imposed by oppressive government and freedom to worship as they were led to worship. They were inspired by their Creator to write a document that would protect those who formed a “more perfect union” and those who came after them from the abuses the Founders had experienced.
The Declaration of Independence and Constitution have been the “law of the land” that have allowed us to experience the greatest degree of freedom and the highest standard of living the world has known for decades. Elected officials are sworn to uphold the Constitution. Members of the armed forces are sworn to “Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
We have a near perfect record of protecting the Constitution from “foreign enemies” although that protection was purchased at great cost with the blood of our youth on foreign fields of battle.
While our military personnel have kept foreign enemies from our shores, we have been less vigilant on the home front. “Domestic enemies” have taken advantage of our good nature and exploited Christian tolerance and through a strategy of gradualism have systematically eroded the Constitution and deceived a generation of Americans to believe that decisions by the Supreme Court, rather than the Constitution, are the “law of the land.”
Now the deceived masses have elected a president and numerous members of congress who blatantly ignore the Constitution and mock those who invoke it. These blatant unconstitutional acts have awakened a sleeping giant at the grass roots and have created a groundswell of interest in studying and teaching others about the provisions of the Constitution and making attempts to hold public officials accountable who violate the provisions of the Constitution.
Many states would not adopt the original draft of the Constitution because they feared the encroachment of the federal government on the rights of the states and the people.
The first ten amendments were added to include the ancient, unalienable rights of Anglo-Saxon freemen so there could be no question as to the strictly limited authority the people were conferring on their central government. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are carefully worded so as to be perfectly clear regarding the limited power of the federal government.
The Ninth Amendment: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The Tenth Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
George Washington advised: “The power under the Constitution will always be in the people… Whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can, and undoubtedly will, be recalled.”
Thomas Jefferson warned: “To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt…All tyrants need to gain a foothold is for people of good will to remain silent.”
Storm clouds are on the horizon. If the Constitution is to survive and we are to remain free, we must become informed and get involved. What will your answer be?
