Since I was a child in school I have held the United States Constitution in reverence. At first, it was more due to the fact that my teachers spoke highly of the document that is the supreme law of our country. My history teachers always mentioned that our constitution has long been used as a model, around the world, for countries desiring to create a free nation.
Later, the more I studied our Constitution I came to revere it just as much, maybe even more than my teachers, especially when in my first couple of years as a newspaper publisher I was charged with contempt of court for defying a local judge”s gag order on a gag order ruling. I had to appeal all the way to the Supreme Court of Kansas, but that court found me innocent by a unanimous decision.
Today, I am worried about our Constitution. It is coming under attack more frequently and forcefully than at any other time in the history of America. Our Founding Fathers began deliberations at the opening of the Constitutional Convention on May 25, 1787 and our Constitution was adopted on Sept. 17, 1787. What took them 115 days to create, even though it may not be perfect and has been amended 27 times, has served us well for what will be 225 years this September.
There are a number of ways the Constitution is being targeted and undermined. One example is media stories like what ran on the front page of the New York Times last Monday, written by Adam Liptak. It was titled, “?We the People” Loses Appeal With People Around the World.” Liptak”s premise is that the U.S. Constitution”s power as a role model for other countries has been in decline for the past 25 years. Liptak wrote, “There are lots of possible reasons. The United States Constitution is terse and old, and it guarantees relatively few rights.”
By reading his entire story you get a clear picture that what Liptak believes is that the Constitution is out-of-date and out-of-touch with our modern times. It is his opinion that a modern constitution would guarantee citizens the right to the “entitlement to food, education and health care.”
It is true that our Founding Fathers, after giving their blood, sweat and tears to win the freedom of this nation, didn”t appear to be interested in a large number of entitlements for American citizens; they provided us with what a republic should guarantee its citizens. I believe that same group of extremely industrious men would probably feel about the same today.
I find it appalling that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, in a television interview while visiting Egypt recently said, “I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.” She went on to say, “I would recommend instead the South African Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the European Convention on Human Rights.”
Lastly, it has been disgusting to watch our last three presidents make a mockery of our Constitution. Clinton invoked executive privilege even more so than Nixon. Plus, he sent troops to occupy Bosnia and Haiti under the guise of “peacekeepers,” to avoid congressional approval.
\\It was the Bush administration that gave us the Patriot Act and the torture of prisoners. And, Obama, after promising he wouldn”t use them, has stepped up the usage of signing statements and he used the United Nations Security Council approval, instead of Congress, to attack Libya; all that from someone who taught the Constitution for 11 years.
Our Constitution may be almost 225 years old, but most Americans still believe in it. And, we believe in the system that allows us to amend it. I say what was good enough for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin is still good enough for America.
Gary Dickson is the publisher of the Record-Bee. Call him at 263-5636, ext. 24. Email him at gdickson@record-bee.com.
