Friday marks the 215th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
Penned by George Mason of Virginia, these declarations are the front door to our U.S. Constitution and comprise the first 10 Amendments to that document.
Mason battled for individual rights — the kinds of rights that set us aside from many other nations and other types of government.
Perhaps the most quoted in this list are the First and Second Amendments. The First Amendment, of course , is the one most referred to because it establishes our rights to free speech and free press. It allows us to assemble to discuss, curse, praise or give suggestions to our government. And it specifies that government will not prescribe a religion for the citizens.
The Second Amendment allows us to bear arms.
These two amendments have been embattled almost since their inception as interpretations have been made about their intent.
It is fitting that we are reminded of this birthday, given that our nation is presently at war in Iraq with the expressed design to establish a democracy there — to help them forge their rights into a document and into practice. We have sacrificed nearly 3,000 U.S. soldiers as well as some 35,0000 Iraqis in this endeavor. And just recently, a special committee has issued a report about our shortcomings in that conflict with recommendations on what to do next.
Our Bill of Rights are the very foundation of our democratic republic. Unfortunately, there are those who only claim and defend portions of these First Ten Amendments when they apply to their ox in the ditch.
And it’s unfortunate that so many who see the need to go to war in other lands and spread “democracy” have only superficial understanding of our own system of government — a fact reflected in low voter turnout and poor attendance at public meetings.
Our Bill of Rights are special to us. It’s difficult for many of us to understand that in other lands, our form of democracy is not necessarily aspired to with the same fervor as that which prompted our founding fathers to pen them.
“Choice” is at the very core of our Constitution. We are free to speak our opinions and choose our stands without fear of being jailed. We are free to choose a religion, or to reject them all. We are free to attend public meetings and see how our government works and even to offer input. We are free to publish our thoughts on a wide range of subjects and issues without fear of a knock on the door in the night that would imprison us.
Meanwhile, as close as Cuba, just a skip and a jump from Key West, Fla., people do not have these freedoms. And within earshot of Brownsville, Tex., across the Rio Grande, speaking against one’s government may cause one to disappear.
There will be no parade to celebrate our Bill of Rights. Strangely, we reserve parades for things that don’t hold a candle to the importance of what our forefathers outlined as democratic essentials. But we feel it would be remiss not to proclaim their beauty and essence in this space.
