The (Real) State of the Union: OUR RIGHTS
As we have personally witnessed during the last couple of years, there is nothing in life that is guaranteed, and to be sure, it looks like things are continuing in that same direction. We have witnessed in our country, for the first time, a territorial President, who has begun to “fundamentally transform” America. If we sit silently by and do not react, his intentions will become our reality. We have seen the Middle East transformed before our very eyes, and several countries are now under different regimes. Our current aforementioned POTUS is giving arms and jets to some of these nations; he has bowed to differing leaders around the world. He has said things like, “The future does not belong to those who criticize Islam.” He has said his favorite sound in the world is the Islamic Call to Prayer. He has, unfortunately, kowtowed to Muslim dominant nations, while he continues to make Israel contentiously uncomfortable. To add insult to injury, fewer Americans “see” the true dangers that are everywhere we look, as they voted this current President back into office just a couple of months ago.
Tragedies have taken place in the realm of mass shootings in “gun free” zones, and now inanimate objects that can only be operated by people, are to blame for the situations, instead of holding the individuals and their own irrationality culpable. We have bills in the works to take certain specified arms off of the streets. We have towns and counties in locales throughout the nation offering cash for weapons, just to get those they can off of the street. I don’t know why it is, that blaming the object for the criminal, is so beyond those calling for more gun control. We the people should be as armed as our own government. We currently are not, and more gun control will give more power to the government and intruders or invaders within our realm. Any change now makes us more of a population of sitting ducks. Throughout history, nations who were forced to or coerced to give up arms lost their lives. Our Founders, set up the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as to the scope of government and the protection of rights of the people. The Constitution says what the government may do and may not do, and the Bill of Rights are the rights of the people.
Here is a reminder of exactly what those rights are.
The Preamble to The Bill of Rights
Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
(Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.”)
The Bill of Rights (Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
(Additional amendments since the original draft, can be read here.)“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.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.
With that, I will close by saying this: We are at a brink in this nation that is going to be difficult to cross. Over the most recent decades, I have listened to many say, “Oh, that will never happen here.” During that same time, I continued to see apathy and silence as we have lost more and more liberty in the name of ill-perceived false-sensed security. We must, as it is imperative, successfully stave off many of the situations that we see daily encroaching upon all that we hold dear. Our nation belongs to “We The People.” And now it is the People’s Hour, and we must now to be more vocal than ever. I implore you not to sit idly by, as your silence is your consent.
Cratylus
“I shall assume that your silence gives consent.” ~ Plato XLI
“Three Silences there are: the first of speech, The second of desire, the third of thought.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Three Silences of Molinos.
