Coming of Age in the Constitution

I never thought much about the Constitution in my younger years. Yes, it was important (yawn); but it seemed complicated and, frankly, less than important. Why worry about an aged document when the American government seemed to be fine and I was sure it would continue to be so without my attention. There was so much to do--leave all that to politicians and old men. I trusted their judgments, whatever they were.
 

Then I heard some in the media mock the Founding Fathers and my feelings started to change. That was going too far. It didn’t make sense—if the Constitution was a good thing, how could the men who wrote it be bad? Doesn’t good fruit come from a good tree?
 

I began to study their lives and times. My more enlightened friends worried about government policies and patriots were protesting our lack of freedom. I couldn’t see any freedoms I’d lost until I noticed the interference from bureaucrats and pesky regulations in my father’s produce company in the Southwest. A friend’s father got fined for not wearing his seatbelt and a woman at church had her children temporarily taken from her because her home was messy when authorities responded to an emergency call.  I wasn’t opposed to seatbelts nor did I like messy homes; I just didn’t believe the authorities should make those decisions.
 

My tipping point came because of vitamins. I believed in them; the federal government apparently didn’t. A national organization informed me the federal government was threatening to cut off access to vitamins. How dare they--no one had the right to make that decision for me; that was my choice! I wrote my congressmen and representatives. They responded, the measure was defeated (though surely not just because of me), and I saw the power of representation. My voice mattered. I’ve never looked back.
 

Today, I study the Constitution. To me it is political scripture—it has simplicity, depth, the ring of truth. I pray to understand our political system and the document that gave it birth. I study the issues, make informed decisions, and express my opinion to elected officials. I no longer assume that all lawmakers automatically have my best interests at heart—I let them prove it.

 

I know the issues that matter most to me—the loss of tiny lives through abortion, the God-given right to own personal property, the right of self-protection. I vett organizations that speak wisely for these issues and “put my money where my mouth is” with contributions.
 

With my greater attention has come greater patriotism, greater exasperation with elected officials, greater thirst for freedom. I speak out now to friends and associates; I challenge standard assumptions and the status quo.

 

My process culminated in a book: Promises of the Constitution: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.  My heart is in it. I hope you’ll join me through its pages.
 

 

- Pam