America: Our Sacred Honor

By Mary A. Kardes

America is at a crossroads, and the road we elect to travel will either restore the spirit of America or continue to weaken our country forever. Ordinary American citizens must make fundamental decisions. We have been warned and though the warnings have been muted by media sources and special interest groups, they are growing louder. Voices of genuine concern come from within the United States and from abroad. We Americans must listen to and take seriously what we are being told. We need to educate ourselves about American history; real, unbiased history. We need to know the Constitution, the very cornerstone of our nation and we need to hold our politicians and government leaders accountable. Americans must once again stand united to defend our beloved country and our very way of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jun 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781489704252

Mary A. Kardes

MARY A. KARDES holds a Master’s Degree in United States History and is a dedicated advocate for historic truth. Mary is from Chicago and enjoys traveling across the U.S.A. She firmly believes you need to experience America to know America.

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America

Our Sacred Honor

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MARY A.

KARDES

ILLUSTRATIONS BY

Jonathan Young

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Copyright © 2015 Mary A. Kardes.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-0426-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0427-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0425-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015907760

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 06/15/2015

CONTENTS

Introduction: While We Were Sleeping

America Part 1: Our History and Government

U.S. History and the Constitution

1787 - The Constitution

Our Current Constitutional Crisis

Progressivism’s Irrelevant Constitution

Constitutionally Guaranteed Freedoms under Assault

The First Amendment

American Symbols Are Offensive?

The Second Amendment

Our Founder’s Warnings Are Relevant Today

Free Market Economics and Debt

Equal Rights – Not Equal Things

Poverty and the Welfare State

Liberty Is Worth Fighting For

The Human Cost of Freedom

Our Elected Leaders

President Barack Obama and the Obama Administration

Government Agencies - Created by the Government for the Government

America Part 2: Domestic Tranquility

National Security and Defense

The United States Military: Finest Fighting Force in the World

The New Obama Military: A Politically Correct Social Experiment

Civilian Security Agencies: The Power to Protect and Destroy

Peace through Strength: Foreign Policy Is a Domestic Security Issue

Islam in America

Immigration

ObamaCare

America Part 3: Where Do We Go from Here?

Surviving in a Global Community

Honest News?

It Starts With Us

Truth, the New Hate Speech

Black Conservative Americans

Public Schools in America: Censoring Education with Common Core?

National School Choice: Parents need to know there are options

Conservatism vs. Liberal Ideology

Good news and accomplishments

The Healthcare Crisis: Obamacare is not the answer

Christian America

Social Values

American Exceptionalism

Organizations and Resources

Conclusion

This book is dedicated in Loving Memory to my Father, Len; a man true to his God, his Faith, his Family and his Country. Teaching by example, he touched more lives than he ever could have imagined. He was right – Angels do walk among us.

INTRODUCTION:

WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING

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"One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one Nation, evermore"

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1862

I believe millions of Americans are bewildered and dismayed with the current state of America. Economic crisis, the threat of terrorism, constitutional chaos, political corruption, Obamacare, media and academic bias, political correctness, national security, climate change, failing schools, and foreign relations disasters are issues we are bombarded with on a daily basis. It seems that our history is being revised to accommodate political objectives. How did we get to this point? How did it get so bad? Why did things change so drastically since our parents were children? Who is responsible for the current American crisis? Weren’t there any warning signs?

America is at a crossroads and the road we choose to travel will either restore the spirit of America or continue to change our country forever. We the ordinary citizens must make fundamental decisions. There have been warnings, although muffled by media sources, special interest groups, foreigners, and others, the warning voices are growing louder. The voices of genuine concern come from within the United States and from abroad. We Americans need to listen to and take seriously what we are being told. We need to educate ourselves about American history; real, unbiased history. We need to know the Constitution, the cornerstone of our country. We need to hold our politicians and government leaders accountable. We need to remind them that they work for us – The People.

We need to reestablish our uniquely special identity. To the chagrin of the politically correct, I say America is exceptional. It is unlike any country in history. Its success, prosperity, growth, standard of living, and its spiritual soul would not have been possible anywhere else or with any other peoples. We are Americans. We are proud and owe no apologies for who we are. We are the most generous people on earth and have done more good worldwide than any country, ever. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French journalist who traveled through America in the early nineteenth century stated, America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great. For the world’s sake, America must retain her goodness. I reject generalized disparagement about America, even from some of our own countrymen. There are and have been legitimate criticisms of American behavior that should be addressed, but we cannot let those issues supplant the factual uprightness of America. And, of course there are fringe groups and guilt-ridden pro-globalists committed to recreating America to fit their global community vision, but most Americans, of diverse beliefs and heritages have a common fundamental belief in the America that was given life with the blood of our forefathers.

So, you say, who is going to fix this? We are – and failure is not an option. Americans have overcome challenges including a revolution, and in the name of liberty established this country; a civil war that nearly ripped this country apart; world wars, natural disasters, recessions, and the Great Depression. We can do it again. We Americans of all races, religions, political affiliations, and economic positions need to band together for the common cause of healing this great nation. It won’t be easy; there are many distractions and detractors, but it can and must be done.

To protect this country our ancestors made significant sacrifices and overcame hardships unimaginable to us. No matter the crisis, when they became engaged, they never gave up, and their character and determination are in each of us. They left us a concise history of events that clearly highlight the fact that liberty and freedom must always be protected. The words of our ancestors, immigrants from around the world guide us. The words of our Forefathers are as relevant today as when they were spoken. Words of warning, you might say. Thomas Jefferson warned us when he said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."¹ Theodore Roosevelt warned us by saying, "The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.² Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words from 1860 reach across time: Some men appear to feel they belong to a Pariah caste. They fear to offend, they bend and apologize, and walk through life with a timid step."³

Complacency, appeasement, blind tolerance, and political correctness are historically proven to be temporary and fatal measures only masking problems and prolonging the inevitable. The very problems and threats we do not want to think about grow larger, more complex, and unfortunately, we do not take action until the situation becomes critical. It seems we have become complacent either because we believe we individually cannot have an effect on national events, or think more qualified people are taking care of the important issues. We have become appeasers paralyzed by political correctness under the guise of tolerance. And, many of us out of frustration have tuned out of national involvement purposely quieting our own voices of support and dissent in national issues and events. It is imperative we find our voices and we speak up for our constitutionally guaranteed rights, our fellow citizens, and our country which truly is, as Abraham Lincoln said in 1862, "the last best hope of earth."

Hope and change are good, but beware the change you hope for. Hope will not unite this country. Hope will not protect us. Hope will not strengthen our economy and create jobs. Hope will not bring peace. Knowledge, cooperation, and action are the tools we must utilize to heal our nation and re-kindle the flame of goodness that has radiated around the globe. Americans must commit to reform on all levels; from our leaders in Washington to the average citizen found in every city and in every county across America. It is time we make our forefathers proud. It is time to get actively involved in our government and our communities. It is time to stand up and defend our rights and the rights of our fellow countrymen. It is time to face reality! We have squandered our freedoms and taken for granted the gifts of this nation. We owe our children a strong vibrant nation, not the shadow of liberty we walk in now. There are things we can do, there are organizations and people we can trust; people committed to America’s best interest. If we all join forces, we can heal our country and she will remain the beacon of liberty and freedom.

We need the courage to identify significant problems, and not be distracted by trivial politics. We need the resolve to affect positive change. We cannot continue to be passive about political violations of our Constitution. The purpose of this book is to identify some of the problems plaguing our nation. I am not an idealistic fringe patriot calling for overthrow or impeachment (The current Senate will not even investigate blatant Constitutional breaches and gross mismanagement by administrative officials). I am a realist – a knowledge seeking citizen concerned that our children and grandchildren will never know the greatness of this country we were blessed to inherit.

I see now what is going on around me. I see discontent, uneasiness, and lack of confidence in our leaders. I see America slowly being re-designed into a country that looks nothing like the country our Forefathers gave us. Like many others I woke up on September 11, 2001 and realized how little I actually knew about what had been going on in my own country, and in the world around me.

On September 10th 2001:

• I did not know the Muslim Middle East was committed to global destruction.

• I did not know that Islamofascist terrorists had established cells around the globe. I certainly didn’t know they were right here in the United States

• I did not know that Muslim centers and schools were sprouting up all over the country and that hatred of America was a core study.

• I did not know that Europe had been sinking into a socialist abyss.

• I did not know people from countries with national health care systems swarmed to the United States for medical care.

• I did not know our borders were so porous that millions of illegal aliens were in the country, and that the future murder of one of our border agents would be no big deal.

• I did not know how inept our educational system was or how liberal professors have rewritten our history and higher education curriculum.

• I did not know China had easily stolen our nuclear technology and was building up her military strength at an unprecedented rate.

• I did not know the United Nations had totally derailed.

• I did not know that human rights were selective. Christians were and continue to be massacred in Africa and the Middle East and slavery still exists in places like Sudan and Mauritania.

• I did not know that our Constitution and liberties would be under attack domestically from the very government sworn to protect them.

• I did not ever think that one day my government would be indifferent to and then cover-up the attack of a U.S. Embassy and the deaths of four Americans.

• I also did not ever think that the undeniable terrorist massacre of military personnel inside a U.S. fort would be labeled by the government as workplace violence.

• I did not know that one of the most powerful U.S. agencies responsible for revenue, would target specific political and religious groups on a national scale with the blessing of the Executive branch of government. And then that same incompetent agency would be put in charge of enforcing a national health care system.

• I did not know our intelligence community that had been degraded for a decade prior to 9/11 would one day be instructed to spy on American citizens.

• I did not know that all levels of our government, the military, police, and even our educational system were being infiltrated by enemies of America.

• I never would have imagined that a U.S. president would be as arrogant as to blame everyone else for his mistakes and dismiss serious and deadly government blunders as phony scandals.

• I certainly did not know that America was eroding morally from the inside out.

Talk about a reality check! How did I miss all this? I had become complacent, assuming people smarter than I were at the helm guiding our country and keeping it safe. When I heard Americans lamenting that we must have done something to elicit the 9/11 attacks; that we brought this on ourselves; that America’s chickens have come home to roost, I woke up. Watching celebrations across the Middle East over the deaths of thousands of people and hearing that this attack was America’s own fault, I became angry and set out on quest of sorts to find answers to these things I did not know. Nothing justifies murdering 3,000 people – nothing! The more I learned, the more I realized the enormity of our situation. We are in serious times with grave consequences.

The following pages identify critical issues. They also identify individuals and organizations committed to the noble preservation of this great nation. The problems we face are not Democrat or Republican; they are not Black or White; and they are not gender-specific; they are American. We have been warned and we are continually being warned. We need to listen and arm ourselves with knowledge.

We need to listen to John Adams, We have been afraid to think…Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.⁴ Those words spoken by Adams in 1765 are extremely relevant today. We need to unite under the banner of our own Constitution and work together to restore the dignity and the strength of America. Since our government in Washington D.C. cannot or will not protect our nation, it is the duty of all Americans to defend our sacred gifts of independence and freedom.

AMERICA

PART I:

OUR HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

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Old North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts

April 19, 1775: Site of the first day of battle in the war of independence following the deadly skirmish at Lexington earlier that morning. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that the American Revolution began here with the shot heard ‘round the world.’

U.S. HISTORY AND THE CONSTITUTION

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I know of no way of judging the future but by the past. — Patrick Henry 1775

The very first thing we 21st century Americans need to do is take a look back to the beginning of The United States of America. We are all aware of the prominent people, events and the result of the American Revolution, but we need a brief refresher on what our Founding Fathers endured and what they intended America to become.

Think about the risks the colonials willingly accepted when they decided to break away from England, the Mother Country. It was not a decision taken lightly. Colonials, from General George Washington to the lowliest soldier, members of the Constitutional Congress, every businessman, storeowner, and farmer supporting American independence risked all they had for freedom. If the revolution had failed, these people stood to lose everything; some would have even lost their lives. They embraced liberty and willingly accepted the risks. In 1776 as John Hancock summoned the delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence, the very founding document of freedom in America, he said, "we must all hang together, to which Benjamin Franklin glibly replied, Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly, we will hang separately."⁵ How many people today would willingly accept such risk?

These brave and noble people had a clear vision and united purpose. The signers of the Declaration of Independence, the soldiers of the Continental Army, and the framers of our Constitution are our Founding Fathers. They gave us the gifts of freedom, liberty, and self-government. They created a unique country that grew into the envy of the world. These gifts must be cherished, honored and defended lest our great country become common, weak, and irrelevant.

The importance of the Declaration of Independence cannot be overstated. Its powerful words changed the history of the world. The Declaration clearly and concisely states that the Thirteen Colonies in union declare …that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. It declared the individual Colonies, now United States had a right to separate from England and institute a new Government by the people and for the people. It specifically lists unaddressed grievances against the government of England. In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence declared the United States of America as an independent country, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor."⁶

With these compelling words, America was born and would pay a high price in treasure and blood for having the audacity to believe that government derives its power from the consent of the governed. With the Declaration of Independence, Americans declared to the world that man’s law must be based on a higher moral order – natural law also known as divine law.

The Revolutionary War 1775-1781

The Revolutionary War officially began on April 19, 1775 with the first shot fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. The war lasted six and a half years, ending on October 19, 1781 with the British surrender to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. It was a long and difficult struggle ending with the unimaginable – a new and free country.

Keep in mind, the colonists with a new, ill-equipped and inexperienced army supported by untrained and undisciplined civilian militias confronted the most powerful nation on earth. England had the world’s most advanced navy and a well-funded professional army led by seasoned officers. What England did not have was an understanding of the American spirit; the determination to do right, to embrace liberty, to be successful, and to give future generations a better life, even at the expense of their own.

General George Washington addressed colonial troops around Boston in 1775: They are now the troops of the United Provinces of North America; that all the distinction of colonies will be laid aside, so that one and same spirit may animate the whole and the only contest be, who shall render on this great and trying occasion the most essential service to the great and common course in which we are all engaged.⁷

The Colonials endured numerous defeats. Some faltered under the stress, but as a whole they never lost hope or faith in the righteousness of their cause. Imagine what many soldiers in the Continental Army experienced during the war: Old equipment, no ammunition, meager rations, starvation, sickness, ragged flea and tick infested clothing, worn-out shoes and in some cases, no shoes at all. Many soldiers only had canvas and burlap to wrap around their feet. For a clearer understanding of the miserable living conditions of the colonial soldiers, visit Valley Forge National Historic Park in eastern Pennsylvania to see first-hand how 11,000 continental soldiers survived the brutally cold winter of 1777-78.

Thomas Paine (These are the Times that try men’s souls) wrote a series of articles during the Revolutionary War period. The collection of sixteen essays written between 1776 and 1783 expound Paine’s resolute support for an independent and self-governing country. The first essay was read to Washington’s troops at Valley Forge.

General Washington, whose leadership was a key factor to the success of the war for independence, was supported by officers and non-military men whose dedication and valor should not be forgotten. One of those men was General Nathanael Greene who played a major role in many battles and was appointed Quartermaster-General in March 1778 after the harsh winter at Valley Forge. Greene successfully pressured Congress for funds to purchase supplies and his efforts greatly improved living conditions for the soldiers. Robert Morris’ commitment to the cause of freedom was so strong that he paid the American army payroll from his own funds on the eve of the great battle at Princeton, New Jersey in 1776.

Another was Ethan Allen who led a band of soldiers, The Green Mountain Boys from Vermont. They along with other colonials seized British forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in New York. The Ticonderoga National Historic Landmark (Fort and Museum) has been restored to its majestic 18th century appearance when it was a bastion in the wilderness. A family trip to the fort is educational as well as awesome.

John Paul Jones was a vibrant and dedicated officer in the infant United States Navy who executed daring raids on the British coast. He is famous for saying, I have not yet begun to fight! during a heated battle while his ship the Bonhomme Richard was on fire and taking on water. Jones also said, I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harm’s way. His valor is commendable. The list of patriots is long. Two more heroes are Dr. Joseph Warren and Daniel Morgan. General Warren was a popular Boston doctor who administered medical treatment to the injured at Lexington. Against the advice of his commanding officer, he chose to fight alongside the other Colonials at Breeds Hill. Warren was the first Colonial officer killed during the war. Daniel Morgan was a brilliant commander who fought valiantly throughout the war. His victory over Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens, South Carolina in 1781 was a stunning example of his tactical prowess.

The concept of liberty and self-government and the determination of the American people to be free reached across the Atlantic and into the heart of Europe. Marquis de Lafayette, a very young and wealthy French nobleman was smitten with the American cause in 1775 after listening to the English Duke of Gloucester’s sympathetic description of the American effort. Lafayette arrived in America in June 1777 to volunteer his services to General Washington without the approval or support of the king of France. Washington commissioned him a Major General and the two men established a life-long friendship. Lafayette returned to France and worked diligently to garnish French support for the war. When the French government finally approved military and financial support for the United States, Lafayette returned to America in 1780 with French troops to assist General Washington and the colonials. His devotion to Washington, the American people and the concept of representative government were vital contributions to our new country.

Another foreigner who contributed significantly to the cause of American freedom was Baron Von Stueben, an experienced General Staff member in the Prussian Army. His endorsement by the French Minister of War to Benjamin Franklin resulted in a letter of recommendation that slightly exaggerated Von Steuben’s credentials to General Washington by identifying him as a Lieutenant General in the service of the Prussian King. What was not an exaggeration was Von Steuben’s military knowledge that would turn the American Army into a victorious force. Von Steuben’s system of training, drilling, battle protocol and sanitation turned the undisciplined Colonial Army into a well-trained and dependable fighting force. There is an interesting little book titled, "Baron von Steuben’s Revolutionary War Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition, Frederick William Baron von Steuben published by Dover Publications, New York, 1985. You can read the Baron’s actual instructions and training plan for the Continental Army.

Polish General Casimir Pulaski met Benjamin Franklin in Paris and enthusiastically volunteered to fight for America in the War of Independence. Pulaski was commissioned as Brigadier General of the American Cavalry and his valiant performance during the war earned him the title of Father of the American Cavalry. General Pulaski was mortally wounded during the campaign to recapture Savannah in 1779. His contributions to the war effort and the ultimate sacrifice of his own life for our independence should never be forgotten. I wonder how many students off from school and adults off from work every year on the federal holiday of Casimir Pulaski Day even know who he was and why he is commemorated.

Approximately 217,000 Colonials served during the Revolutionary War. 4,435 gave their lives and 6,188 were wounded though other sources cite the number at 7,148 and even higher.⁸ These numbers may seem small, but the population of the Thirteen Colonies was only 2.5 million people, which was even less than the 2012 population of Chicago, Illinois estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 2,714,856.⁹ Many are distinguished heroes, yet all were patriots deserving of our honor and gratitude. Their blood and sacrifice gave our country life.

The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts is a wonderful way to walk through the history of the Revolutionary period in America. Boston was a hotbed of activity and agitation prior to and throughout the war. The trail takes you to important historical sites including old meeting houses, churches, and cemeteries. Museums and historical markers bring our Forefathers to life with the story of the revolution.¹⁰

While Boston was the heart of the revolution, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was its soul. The Historic District is like a ‘time machine" allowing you to walk in the footsteps of our Founders. Independence National Historical Park encompasses: Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell, Franklin Institute, and many other historical buildings, museums, monuments, and parks all celebrating freedom and the founding of this great nation.

The Articles of Confederation: 1777

The Second Constitutional Convention drafted The Articles of Confederation in 1777 which was ratified by all thirteen States in 1781. The Articles of Confederation were in effect our first Constitution. The purpose of the Articles was unification of the thirteen sovereign Colonies – now officially named in Article One as The United States of America. It was basically a wartime alliance containing thirteen Articles that united the separate states into a single voice and force for freedom and independence. There was no president, the federal government was weak and had no power to tax. The federal government had to ask the states for money. The states retained sovereign authority except in matters of national interest such as treaties or negotiations with other countries and war. One paragraph of Article IX states, …The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marquee or reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defense and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine States assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of the majority of the United States in Congress assembled…¹¹

Remarkably, Article XI provided authorization for Canada to join the United States if so desired and be granted full rights provided by the Articles. Why, you ask would the United States invite Canada to join the Union? Simply put, to undermine British authority in Canada and ensure the end of British presence in North America.

The Articles of Confederation is the foundation of the Constitution. It is a relatively short document and well worth reading.

1787 - The Constitution

With independence won, the Founders’ task at hand in 1787 was to create a new, effective, and lasting form of government of the people, for the people, and by the people. The Framers of the Constitution set out to improve the government created by the Articles of Confederation. They created the Constitution around the goals stated in the Preamble: Justice, domestic peace, common defense, general welfare, and the Blessings of Liberty, not just for their generation but for all posterity.

Critics like to claim that the Founders were wealthy men whose priorities were personal financial interests. Many were wealthy men, but it is important to remember that the Founders were men from a broad field of financial, educational, and professional backgrounds. Most of them were gentlemen, well-mannered men who valued honor, valor, duty and charity. The Founders were well educated in domestic and international matters. Colonial America had a high literacy rate; education was embraced and books were treasured. Americans knew the history of England including the British monarchy, and political, religious, and civil strife. They were familiar with France and Spain and their respective histories as well as the history of the ancient world. They knew that Rome established a great empire that replaced the Roman Republic, but by doing so they lost their liberties and eventually their empire. They considered Rome not just a great example, but also a great warning.

All but three of the Framers were Christians though no reference to Christianity is made in the Constitution. That was by design. The Framers’ intent was not to establish a civil religion. Their intent was to create a practical mechanism of government not prejudiced to any particular Christian religious denomination. The United States Constitution is the result of the merger of common (man-made) law and natural (Divine) law. There was no need to identify or detail natural law in the Constitution. Natural law was a given, meaning natural law had guided man’s ethical, moral, and responsible personal behavior throughout history. There is no way around the fact that the Constitution of the United States of America was created from Judeo-Christian principles and those very principles define our laws. Since natural law was an intrinsic part of the Framers’ lives, as well as most Americans’ their focus was on defining common (civil) law.

The Founding intent was to keep religion out of politics NOT out of public life. For example, President George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation established a National Day of Thanksgiving advocated by the Congress and the public. He instituted November 26 as a day to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, and what will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we since enjoyed…we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions…to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed…¹² Does that sound like the total and paranoid separation of church and state that we now have?

The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution form a complete treatise on free government. The Constitution was written to support the Declaration of Independence which was the theoretical basis of a government whose power comes only from the consent of the governed. The Constitution brought the philosophy of self-government to life by defining government structure, organization, and operation consistent with the principles of liberty as stated in the Declaration of Independence. This new government structure would become the cornerstone of a great nation. It would be powerful enough to guarantee the nation’s future, yet not powerful enough to threaten the liberties of its people. Richard Brookhiser captured the Founders mindset in his book, What Would the Founders Do? "The founders also knew that lists of rights were not enough. If the structure of government was not well designed, liberty would be undermined by politicians, overwhelmed by popular opinion, or lost in chaos. Where liberty and law were concerned, the how was as important as the what."¹³

Consent of the governed included relinquishing a portion of their sovereignty to the government for the benefit of those governed – not the government’s benefit. In a speech by Professor Edward J. Erier at a Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar he explained this historic political principle. The fact that only a portion of sovereignty is ceded by the people is the origin of the idea of limited government. The people delegate only some of their sovereignty to government, and what is not granted is retained by the people…¹⁴

It is extremely important to remember that our government is a Republic not a Democracy, though it is often described as a Democratic Republic. The Founders clearly referred to the founding of our government as a Republic. A Republic is representative government ruled by established law that recognizes and protects individual inalienable rights. A Democracy is direct government ruled exclusively by the majority and focuses exclusively on the will of that majority.

The differences between a Republic and a Democracy:

Russell Kirk in his book, Rights and Duties: Reflections on Our Conservative Constitution makes a point to note that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drawn up under different circumstances for quite different purposes: the first in the enthusiasm of revolution, the second in the restoration of order, and the men of 1787 were not the men of 1776. The men who wrote the Constitution had lived the revolution and had centuries of English history and world government to draw upon.¹⁵

The Constitution consists of the original 1787 document and its amendments. The first ten amendments ratified December 15, 1791 are identified as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution specifically details government function and power. It provides checks and balances so no group or part of government can overwhelm any other part. It clearly separates government power into three distinct branches of government; the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The Constitution explicitly defines the power and limits of power of each branch. The Framers worked diligently to ensure that this government would be honorable, just, and protect its citizens from threats, foreign, and domestic.

A crucial yet sometimes overlooked attribute of the Constitution is its designed ability to adapt; allow for changes without diminishing its core components. Amendments are added to the Constitution when necessary, not in place of it. The Framers wrote the Constitution with us, the future generations in mind.

The Constitution gives us a government chosen by the people. The voice of the people is expressed through elections. WE elect our representatives, and WE have the power not to re-elect representatives who do not measure up to our expectations or who take their positions for granted. The Constitution addresses the election, roles and limits of power of the president, vice president, and congress. It clearly defines how laws are to be created and gives no state power over another. It addresses taxes, the military, freedom of religion and speech, gun ownership, the court system, and the right for a speedy trial with an impartial jury.

• Article I established legislative powers creating the Congress consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, and defined the requirements, roles, and limits of power. Congressional authority among other topics included: Spending, commerce, naturalization, military support, and appropriations. Article I called for the creation of the District of Columbia to be the seat of government of the United States. It addressed titles of nobility, and set limits on States’ rights.

• Article II established executive power defining the requirements, role, and responsibilities of the President including the title of Commander In Chief of the Army and Navy. It also instituted the Presidential Oath of Office which every President promises to uphold upon entering office. The oath affirms, I do solemnly swear 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.

• Article III established judicial power consisting of one Supreme Court and inferior courts. The role of judges is to apply the laws passed by Congress, not to make or alter laws. It also addressed trial by jury and defined treason: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."

• Article IV makes it clear that citizens of each state are entitled to all Privileges and Immunities as citizens of the other states. It outlines the admission of states into the Union. And, it guarantees every State of the Union a Republican form of Government and the promise of protection from invasion.

• Article V is extremely important. It provides procedures for amending the Constitution – to continually improve it. [Not to diminish it]

• Article VI confirms the Constitution and the future laws empowered by it are the Supreme Law of the Land. Federal Senators and Representatives as well as the State Legislators, and all executive and judicial officers of the United States and the individual States are bound by oath to support this Constitution.

During the temporary partial federal government shutdown in October 2013, it became evident how constitutionally illiterate some of our Congressional Representatives really are. For example:

* Representative David Scott spoke to the House explaining why they needed to end the shutdown: "We take a solemn oath here todefend the federal government, to support the federal government, to uphold the federal government."¹⁶ Mr. Scott, there is NO oath to defend and support the federal government. Your oath was to defend and support the Constitution. The federal government does not exist outside of the Constitution.

* Similarly Representative Barney Frank said "government is simply the name we give to the things we choose to do together." How do you even respond to such a silly statement?

It is appalling to me that elected officials representing us in government do not even know the Constitution.

• Article VII identifies the signers and ratifies the Constitution.

The first Ten Amendments (The Bill of Rights) were added to the Constitution and ratified in 1791. Summary of the Bill of Rights:

• Amendment I guarantees the freedom of religion (and the free exercise of), freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government with grievances.

• Amendment II guarantees the right to bear arms, and sustain a well regulated militia.

• Amendment III forbids soldiers from being stationed in private homes without consent of the owner. Quartering soldiers in homes was a common practice of the British.

• Amendment IV protects people from unreasonable search and seizure of their property. A warrant based on probable cause must be issued.

• Amendment V establishes that with the exception of military personnel, a person accused of a capital crime must be indicted by a Grand Jury, no one can be tried for the same crime twice, no one can be a witness against himself, no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, and private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation.

• Amendment VI addresses criminal prosecutions: the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury (in the state and district where the crime was committed), and the right to legal counsel (lawyer).

• Amendment VII guarantees trial by jury in common law suits

• Amendment VIII forbids excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

• Amendment IX though seemingly vague, is interesting. It states: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. It tells us that other rights though not specifically listed do exist. And even though they are not listed, they can still be violated. I believe the Framers’ vague language purposely left the door open for future discussion and amendment as evidenced by the subsequent Amendments.

• Amendment X states, 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. Amendment X clearly puts the power of government in the hands of the people of the States – not a large, over-extended federal government.

Together the Ninth and Tenth Amendments are the Constitutional Sphinxes guarding our government. James Madison who drafted the Ninth Amendment explained the purpose [intent] of these two amendments. The main purpose of the Ninth was to guard against latitude of interpretation, while the main purpose of the tenth exclude[d] every source of power not within the constitution itself. Madison saw the need to protect the Constitution and its amendments from liberal and judicial interpretation in opposition to the framers intent.

When you read the United States Constitution, you will notice there is no mention of a wall of separation between church and state. That is because there is no wall of separation language in any government document. The wall that twentieth century progressives and critics cling to is from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. An interesting footnote to the wall" argument is that critics only recite the "legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion," part of Jefferson’s letter. They regularly omit the remainder of the sentence: "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist has said, "The ‘wall of separation between church and state’ is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned."¹⁷

Even though religion is not a focal point in the Constitution except for the guaranteed freedom of it, make no mistake the Christian religion was the source of our Constitution and the laws that sprang from it. With regard to the Founders, Benjamin F. Morris said, They had no state church or state religion, but they constituted the Christian religion, the underlying foundation and the guiding element of their systems of civil, political, and social institutions.¹⁸ Founding Father John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, First Vice President and second President of the United States said, "…Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of republicanism and of all free governments, but of social felicity under all governments and in the combinations of human society. Science, liberty, and religion are the choicest blessings of humanity: without their joint influence no society can be great, flourishing, or happy." The words of John Adams as well as all the Founders and our nation’s early Supreme Court Justices and Constitutional jurists are among an epic compilation of records and speeches of our Founders and political geniuses from the birth of our nation through the mid-nineteenth century can be found in a book written by Benjamin F. Morris. Morris’ book, "The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States," originally published in 1864 provides clear evidence of the role of Christianity in the lives of our Founding Fathers and its undeniable role in the Constitution and laws of this nation.

Daniel Webster (1782-1852) is known as the Defender of the Constitution. He was a Constitutional lawyer, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and an avid reader with the remarkable ability to memorize and recite what he had read. Webster was also a sincere and outspoken Christian who recognized there was no conflict between the United States government and religion. Freedom of religion is a constitutional liberty and "God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it. He wanted to be remembered for being a good man, not a good lawyer or politician as evidenced by the words on his tombstone: He was a believer in Jesus."

Political philosopher, Russell Kirk provides a clear definition of Constitution: "In politics, constitution signifies a system of fundamental institutions and principles, a body of basic laws…a design for permanent political order." Mr. Kirk clearly explains the purpose and aims of a constitution this way: The aim of a good constitution is to achieve in a society a high degree of political harmony, so that order and justice and freedom may be maintained. No commonwealth ever has attained perfect order, justice, and freedom for everybody, and the Framers did not expect to achieve perfection of human nature or government. They did expect to form a more perfect union and to exceed other nations of their time, and of earlier eras, in establishing a good political order.¹⁹

To put our American Constitution in a modern perspective, Mr. Kirk noted that most European countries’ constitutions that were created after the First World War were destroyed by the end of World War II. The majority of the constitutions created after the Second World War in Europe, Asia and Africa no longer exist or just marginally function. The United States’ exceptional Constitution has been upheld for well over two hundred years.

It is interesting to notice that though a Presidential Oath of Office was written into the Constitution (Article II), there was no oath for Congress. In 1862 legislation was passed requiring that everyone elected to office (any office) swear an oath of loyalty to the United States. The oath was revised in 1884 and remains in effect today: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

I find it curious how the meaning of one simple phrase, ‘high crimes and misdemeanors," has changed over time. When we read the phrase we immediately envision serious criminal activity such as treason. The language, high crimes and misdemeanors presented in the Constitution was a well-known phrase in English common law meaning misbehavior, misconduct, or transgression. The Founders believed other offenses such as incompetence, neglect, malevolence, and personal bad behavior were reasons for impeachment as well as crimes of treason and bribery. The Office of the President of the United States deserved respect and the president himself was to be held to the highest standard of respectable behavior.

The Constitution of the United States of America should be a reference manual in every home. Many people do not realize the power contained in its pages. It is the citizen’s guide to the United States and though written over two hundred and twenty years ago is as significant and powerful today as it was when it was written. Copies of the Constitution of the United States of America are readily available in book, pamphlet, and on line.

Another essential book on the Constitution, the Founders’ intent, and the principles of freedom is, A Miracle That Changed the World: The 5000 Year Leap – Principles of Freedom 101, by W. Cleon Skousen, published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies, 1981 (14th Printing 2006). It is an extremely well documented book in which the author clearly explains the Constitution and the principles of freedom that support it with the Founder’s own words. The Founders were not trapped inside 18th century ideals; they addressed issues and provided warnings about