Preamble to the United States Constitution
"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."
On this day in 1787, 39 men -our Founding Fathers, signed the legal instrument upon which the United States government rests and within which our liberty is guaranteed and several rights are enumerated in the first ten Amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
Some delegates demanded a listing of rights before they would ratify a constitution. I thank God for this, I can't imagine where we'd be without them!
I recommend that all citizens, those thinking about becoming citizens, and anyone, really, read the entire Constitution at least once a year (what better day than Constitution Day!) and refer to the particular article of the Bill of Rights each time someone mentions it.
For instance, the next time someone invokes his or her 1st Amendment Rights to free speech, read the actual amendment and know that there's much more packed into it:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Understand the invaluable gift this is! Cherish it and stand up for it: from it flows all the blessings of liberty we still enjoy and the basis for the additional civil rights we have gained in the two plus centuries it has been in existence!
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
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