How much does one think of the freedoms we have in this country? When I was in school, history to me seemed boring. I could hardly focus enough to get a passing grade. If I had known then that in the year 2012 (which back then we thought the world would have ended by now!) my liberties would be slowly stripped from me by my own government I would have paid more attention, read more, and became more active in politics instead of being apolitical for so many years. I grew up with the notion that you never discuss religion and politics! Did you ever think that just being able to discuss religion and politics IS A RIGHT provided to us by the 1st Amendment to our Constitution?
During the Revolutionary War, there were many men and women, besides the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that suffered hardships and losses during their struggle for independence and the freedoms that we now enjoy. Following are some examples of what happened to the men who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence. (This information comes from various sources.)
Five signers were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War.
Twelve had their homes and property occupied, ransacked, looted, and vandalized by the
British.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army.
Nine signers died during the course of the
Revolutionary War.
Braxton invested his wealth in shipping and lost his property during the war.
Thomas McKeam was forced to move his family almost constantly.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Rutledge, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, and Middleton.
Francis Lewis had his home raided and the British jailed his wife who was ill at the time and died several years later.
John Hart's farm was looted in the course of the Revolutionary War and he remained in hiding for a while afterwards.
Lewis Morris saw his home appropriated by the British.
Philip Livingston lost several properties to the British occupation of New York.
So let's consider for a minute what these people suffered and died for that we take for granted every day of our lives and the freedoms that we are so willing to let our government take back in spite of those sacrifices. Hopefully we've all read the constitution at least once in our lifetime, but have you read it lately? I did two days ago and it was a wake-up call. Just these few amendments jumped off the page at me considering current events:
Freedom of religion. Our 1st Amendment right as a citizen of these United States. To be more precise, this is what the writers of our Constitution intended: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...".
Our 4th Amendment right: Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Our founding fathers wanted "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures...".
The 10th Amendment limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution. More specifically: "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.”
Once you go online, or pick up a book to read the Constitution again and refresh your memory, apply it to current events like Affordable Health Care for America Act (ObamaCare), the Patriot Act (TSA's "pat-downs"), the Enemy Belligerent, Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010, government bailouts, the Federal Reserve Bank, the EPA, the Federal Government in public education, federally funded abortions, and the list goes on...
Read. Investigate. Recognize your freedoms and liberties every day you wake up and DON'T GIVE THEM UP! Research candidates for the next presidential election, or your local elections. Will your choice preserve, protect and defend the Constitution? In spite of special interest groups?
Our Constitution has written in it the oath the elected president must take before he enters office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
