Constituting America
Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people…
John Adams, 1765
At our local July 4th Tea Party last year, I remember walking by and seeing a small group in earnest conversation as one held open his copy of our founding documents. Kathryn Lopez writes of similar experiences.
…Everywhere I go some group seems to be handing a copy out. The Constitution, it seems, is the hottest ticket in town.When I was talking to people and snapping pictures at a recent Tea Party, I ran into a man sitting and reading a Heritage Foundation pocket-sized version. At a cocktail party in Northern Virginia this week, I was handed another one from the American Civil Liberties Union. The list goes on….
Constituting America is a new project started by Janine Turner.
The mission of Constituting America is to reach, educate and inform America’s youth and her citizens about the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the foundation it sets forth regarding our freedom and rights.
On April 20th, their website started blogging the Constitution. This kicked off a 90 day program to read and discuss the Constitution and the Federalist Papers: 5 days on the Constitution and 85 days on the Federalist Papers. Each day Constitutional scholars will be blogging about the documents.
FIRST WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 20 – Read Article I
Day 1 – Wednesday, April 21 – Blog on Article I; Read Article II
Day 2 – Thursday, April 22 – Blog on Article II; Read Article III
Day 3 – Friday, April 23 – Blog on Article III; Read remaining Articles (IV, V, VI, and VII) of the United States Constitution
Day 4 – Monday, April 26 – Blog on Articles IV, V, VI and VII of the United States Constitution; Read the Amendments
Day 5 – Tuesday, April 27 – Blog on the Amendments to the United States Constitution; Read Federalist Paper # 1
Here are beginning blog posts:
April 21, 2010 – Article I of the U.S. Constitution – Guest Blogger: David Bobb, Director and Lecturer in Political Science | Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship | Hillsdale College
April 22, 2010 – Article II of the U.S. Constitution – Guest Blogger: Andrew Langer, President of the Institute for Liberty
I wish that I had found this site earlier in the week, but I know all of you can easily catch up! Because the blog posts are overviews they may contain information that you already know, but I recommend looking them over. I especially liked the first one by David Bobb as he gives a brief background of the Constitution from the Declaration of Independence.
There is commenting on the posts, and I expect to see some valuable back and forth discussion. I am looking forward to the Federalist Papers because of the voluminous commentary written by the Founders that provides ample insight into their understanding of liberty and government and the intent and interpretation of their words of our Constitution.
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H/T: Patriot Post, Townhall, Constituting America.
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[1]
Re-affirming once again, INC, that you ROCK! (as do all the Ladies of BJG)
thx for the thread and the infomration!
The Constitution IS the antidote for the bullcrap being shoveled atop our liberties. Amazingly our “beloved” DHS Director, Janet Napalitano, considers possession of a copy of the Constitution to be one of the signs of a potential domestic terrorist!! [from her Domestic Terrorism bulletin]
[2]
This thread is made of awesome.
This trend must continue, and gut both parties over time. I hope it continues to grow.
I had an experience lately which leads me to believe it’s possible it will indeed grow.
[3]
I’m really impressed with what Janine Turner is doing. Among other things they are having a We The People 9*17 Contest for elementary through high school students. There are teacher downloads at the site.
[4]
I have to say I think the Lord dropped this site in my lap. Education of history seems to be the forte of my political calling. I rarely read Townhall, but the title of Kathryn Lopez’ column, Finding the Founding, intrigued me (you know anything with the word “Founding” in it will get my attention!) and she writes about the site.
The Federalist Papers has some very pointed and insightful words and I expect some lights to go on with many people.
They need to do the Anti-Federalist Papers as well! 😀
[5]
This post is hopeful, but sometimes it seems difficult to believe that Americans can get their heads out of their nether regions when you look at the election of 2008 and the parties’ nightmarish respective nominees.
And their swallowing of leftist bilge and something for nothing politics all these years…
It is our duty to work and remain hopeful, but it is easy to be cynical.
[6]
the list continues to grow of Dems caught stuttering and stammering when asked simply: “What Article of the Constitution gives the Federal Government the power to force a citizen to purchase a private product??”
They point to the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble, and “The Cat in the Hat”…but they can’t answer because there IS nothing allowing this.
Even in the Preamble (often cited as the basis), the framers of the Constitution were astoundingly precise in their language
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.
There are SIX verb or verb phrases in there. FIVE of them are solid ACTIONS:
– establish Justice
– insure domestic Tranquility
– provide for the common defence
– secure the Blessings of Liberty
– ordain and establish this Constitution
there is EXACTLY ONE “squishy” one:
– promote the general Welfare
If they had wanted to ESTABLISH, INSURE, PROVIDE FOR, SECURE or ORDAIN & ESTABLISH the “General Welfare” they would have said so!
They wanted to PROMOTE it. Just like they wanted us to be free to PURSUE HAPPINESS!
[7]
It is our duty to work and remain hopeful, but it is easy to be cynical.
Yes, I hear you, RWY!
Justrand, an informed citizenry taking on the politicians at town halls should be wild.
They’ve called them out on the Constitution. I can’t wait for someone to pull out the Federalist Papers and say, “President Madison wrote this….so why are you…?”
[8]
there is EXACTLY ONE “squishy” one:
– promote the general Welfare
As to that one, Mr. Madison had a few words to say on that as well.
We went over that in Justrand’s post, Promote the general Welfare.
I don’t know what the stats are now, but that post used to get many hits from people doing a search on the phrase, Promote the general welfare.
[9]
General comment #3…
There are many things that one simply cannot anticipate over the course of 200+ years.
I am certain the founders would be mightily annoyed by the way what they built has been perverted.
[10]
Janet Napalitano, considers possession of a copy of the Constitution to be one of the signs of a potential domestic terrorist!! – Just
Hmmm. Then we need to support the Constitution Project. The more people that have a copy in their hands the less effective Napalitano’s words mean.
For if everyone is a terrorist is anyone a terrorist?
[11]
Try apoplectic!!
[12]
Could you imagine going to a tea party:
[speaker] “Do you have YOUR copy?”
[crowd, waving the constitution] “Yes we DO!”
[speaker] “Are you a terrorist?”
[crowd] “Yes we ARE! Janet says SO!”
Couple rounds of that and Dear Janet would be the butt of jokes in the social circles of Wash DC.
[13]
drdog, I’m going to send that suggestion over to the Sacramento Tea Party organizers!! THX!!
[14]
By his actions, remarks, and other instances, it would be interesting to note how many ways Obama has shown that he is not a constitutional law professor, and cares little about what is in the document?
[15]
They sell really pretty copies of the constitution rolled up in a scroll at the Reagan Library (not expensive). Next time we go there, I will pick some up! What a great idea. I got a couple for the kids last time we went, and it has been a few years so we are due for another trip. Dad, maybe when you come down we can head over there! OR we could even do a SoCal BJG Reagan Library day. That would be nice too.
[16]
Just, be a great warm up pitch to get the crowd motivated before the main speakers come on. Hope they think about it.
[17]
Mullet,
I wonder at times if he ever taught a class. I have yet to hear of any student come forward and say they were taught by him. You would think somebody would have said “Hey you know, I had the President as a teacher once!” I have yet to hear it.
[18]
drdog, I understand the Trustees at the Univ of Chicago told the president to find Obama an office and a class to teach.
Maybe they failed to do so, or maybe he failed to show up.
[19]
Mullet, have heard that too. But still don’t you think it strange that in the last 18mos nobody has been identified, interviewed, or done a YouTube about this? In this 15min of fame culture it just seems counter to expectations.
[20]
Senator Graham, spoiled brat — http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/post-carbon/2010/04/sen_graham_threatens_to_halt_work_on_climate_and_energy_bill.html
[21]
#19 yes, very strange, along with the rest of his personal history.
[22]
Latest best sign seen at a tea party event…..
“I can see November from my house.”
[23]
nice thread, good stuff.
22 – LOL