In anticipation of Constitution Day, the public speaks out

With the first-ever Constitution Day being held Saturday, students and bystanders on campus shared their opinions on - and knowledge of - the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution Day exists because of a federal statute signed into law last December by President Bush. The day is required to be celebrated by all federally funded institutions, according to www.constitutionday.com. Saturday was chosen to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

"I honestly have no idea what Constitution Day is." - Paul Armenakis, sophomore in pre-computer science

"I knew it was happening; it's to inform people about the Constitution." - Tamim Mahayni, senior in biology

"I heard about it in class. Public school teachers have to teach about the Constitution in their classes." - Jason Crabtree, freshman in animal science

"The Second Amendment - the right to bear arms" - Jared Flater, sophomore in engineering

"Gun control and the right to bear weapons" - Nicole Bell, sophomore in construction engineering

"Everyone knows it was Herbie Hancock! The only reason I know that is from 'Tommy Boy'" - Mahayni

Q: Where is the U.S. Constitution located? (National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

- The Constitution was written in what is now called Independence Hall, the same building in Pennsylvania where the Declaration of Independence was signed and George Washington received his commission as commander of the Continental Army.

- The first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, were added after several of the original framers expressed concern over the lack of protection for individual rights.

- Only 39 of the 55 delegates at the Constitutional convention signed the document; three dissented. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were out of the country and also did not sign the document.

- Although more than 11,000 Constitutional amendments have been introduced in congress over the years, only 33 went to the states to be ratified, and only 27 were approved.

- The Constitution was written in a closed session with sentries posted at the doors of the building the convention was taking place in.

We're not Free to Ignore the Constitution (Posted 5/25/05)

5/25/05 Associated Press Added to the article collection in 'A Charter School Tale': The Constitution long has ensured that Congress can't tell schools what to teach. But that's no longer the case for at least one topic -- the Constitution itself. The Education Department outlined yesterday how it plans to enforce a little-known provision that Congress passed in 2004: Every school and college that receives federal money must teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787.

Now, given all of my lamentations about how little people understand the Constitution, my belief that many of our public schools propogandize liberalism (the Constitution is a very conservative document), and my deep respect for the Constitution, some of you might suspect I would have a very positive reaction to this story. Wrong. I have a very, very negative reaction.

[Democratic Senator] Byrd inserted the Constitution lesson mandate into a massive spending bill in 2004, frustrated by what he called a huge ignorance on the part of many Americans about history.

First, it is humorous to see Sen Byrd talk about ignorance of history and respect for the Constitution. Second, if Byrd can insert this sort of thing into a spending bill, then what's to stop someone else from sticking in something delegating, say, April 22nd, to lament about global warming and how greedy and reckless America is causing it and insinuating that more environmental regulations are needed and.... Oh, whoops! We already do that (Earth Day)? Well, you get my point... In 10 years how many school days will be totally controlled by the Federal Government? 5, 10, 30, 50? Third, notice how a faceless and un-elected government agency, which is unconstitutional in its existence, is charged with enforcing, according to their whims, an unconstitutional law! Our founding fathers must be rolling in their graves. Fourth, notice how this must have passed the 'Republican' house and senate and escaped veto by the Big Government Education 'Republican' President. Another pattern, these 'Republicans' always try and 'tweak' and 'adjust' and 'reform' government and often support expanding its powers when Big Government works to further their own agenda.

The Federal department of Education should be abolished, the Unions which stagnate our public school system should be stripped of their power, Sen Robert Byrd should be educated, and true Conservatives should run against the Republicans that acquiesced to the passage of this act. In a perfect world...

At every hour of every day, I can tell you on which page of which book each school child in Italy is studying.
- Benito Mussolini

Cool! On Sept. 17th, so can the Federal Department of Education!

traviskicks wrote:

We're not Free to Ignore the Constitution.

US citizens have never been free to ignore our Constitution. We all have, in effect, sworn this oath:

Oath of Allegiance

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
that I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God

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