Dear Reader: This “BEST of Common Sense” comment originally aired on October 3,
2005. When I read in the paper about a fifth grade class re-writing the
Constitution, I immediately thought about our judiciary. Then I discovered the
whole effort was part of a program mandated by Congress. We should all — freely
— read the Constitution. Luckily, it's shorter than most of the bills in
Congress. —PJ
August 27, 2009
What's Love Got to Do With It?
James Madison, father of our U.S. Constitution, must be rolling over in his
grave. You see, he forgot to put love in it. In the Constitution, that is.
By congressional edict, schools and universities across the nation were
recently required to spend some time on or around September 17 teaching about
the Constitution. That's the date our nation's founding document was ratified
back in 1787.
One institution of higher learning, Irene's Myomassology Institute in Michigan,
was forced to comply because some students training to be tomorrow's masseuses
receive federal money. The Institute gave students a flier.
Marlboro College in Vermont held a parade featuring professors dressed up as
constitutional articles and amendments.
Virginia's James Madison University celebrated with a "We the People" cake and
a trivia contest.
But you ask: what has love got to do with the Constitution?
Oh, yes, I almost forgot Sharon Alexander's fifth-graders at Graham Road
Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia. In following the federal order,
they did what too many federal judges do: they re-wrote the Constitution.
Actually, just the Preamble. Their new kid-friendly version states that "kids,
pets and adults" are entitled to "electricity, food, water, schools and love."
Our Constitution doesn't talk about love. Love isn't government's job. That's
ours. Government is power. And our Constitution is all about limiting that
power. Read it -- and read it to your kids, too, if you love 'em.
This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.
Please support Common Sense. Help us reach our $52,000 goal. Donate today.
Comment on this episode | Listen to this episode
Paul Jacob is President of Citizens in Charge and the Citizens in Charge
Foundation, which sponsors both Common Sense and Paul’s weekly Townhall Column.
The opinions expressed in Common Sense are Paul Jacob’s and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of Citizens in Charge or the Citizens in Charge Foundation.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility
for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like
what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave,
learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever.
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
