Posted on 02/11/2006 9:59:29 AM PST by new yorker 77
Students shouldn't take freedom for granted, and the Constitution belongs to them as well as lawyers and judges, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said at Farrington High School yesterday.
They need to know the meaning of freedom and pass it onto others less fortunate for democracy to flourish, Kennedy said.
He quoted Thomas Jefferson, who once said: "Democracy depends on a virtuous enlightened people."
"Overall, I'm very concerned that people think democracy is on automatic pilot -- and it isn't," Kennedy said, before addressing a group of about 150 Farrington and Kahuku High juniors and seniors. "It has to be taught every generation; every generation has to teach the next generation."
Kennedy, accompanied by Judge Myron H. Bright, senior judge with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, engaged a panel made up of 13 students in thought-provoking discussion yesterday as part of the national Dialogue on Freedom program. The program stimulates discussion between students and jurists about America's constitutional traditions. The judges are at the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law this year for the Jurists-in-Residence program.
"Make no mistake," Kennedy said. "The verdict on democracy is still out, and millions of people in the world that are unempowered, that are wondering if democracy is the way to go -- and we must teach them.
"Our security, our first security is in the world of ideas, and if other people acknowledge that our ideas are benign, tolerant, decent, respectful, then our freedom and our own security is best assured," he said.
Kennedy had the students imagine finding themselves in a Third World country where the unemployment is high, where those with jobs earn $2 or less per day and where government and its elections are riddled with corruption. Its people believe that the United States is evil, its culture decadent and that democracy is not worth pursuing, he said.
Although tentative at first, the students eventually warmed up to Kennedy, expressing their thoughts on whether they are morally obligated to impress democracy on people and countries who do not embrace it.
Miguel Cadoy III, 16, president of Farrington's junior class, said the discussion made him think even more about America's responsibility to people who are less empowered. He appreciates the freedom, the wealth and opportunities he enjoys as a citizen, even more so after he visited his parents' homeland in the Philippines and saw the contrast between the haves and have-nots.
"I think we have it good here unlike other countries, and I think America should be helping other countries for their betterment," he said.
He says many of his peers do not fully understand freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.
Student Jennefer Schwall, 16, said many people say they have a lot of freedom but do not know what it really means.
To her, "freedom means the ability to live your life the way you want to without having to be judged. Being free is being able to think on your own and not having to constantly listen to a higher authority who thinks they're making the right choices for yourself," she said.
It is Kennedy's hope that more youths out there get it and act on it because of these kinds of discussions.
"I hope they come out of here wanting to do more about what their country needs -- to know that democracy is at risk and freedom can't be taken for granted," he said.
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com
© Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbulletin.com
Another successful product of public education. This is exactly what they have been taught....God help us.
Actually, not that bad for a 16yrs old. One has to do with what one has. Others might be even worse, and less articulate.
Read the article twice, there is no actual disclosure whose credit card paid for their tickets.
16 year old? I certainly knew what freedom meant at the age of 16. And I knew better than that.
Hawaii....Why doesn't Justice Kennedy visit a HS class in Maine or North Dakota in February?
Why doesn't Kennedy go to Europe so he can study the foreign law he relies on?
'cause Sandy Dayo Conjob, ex- Internationalist U.S. Supreme Court Justice, won't be going along to rub his heads.
That was then, and this is now. Besides, the progress of freedom in human history could indeed be measured by the degree to which a "little man" could tell the "big man" to eff off - and get away with it. This 16 yr old is less than completely articulate, and could be more knowledgeable as well, but I see at least some potential there - these things can be learned. She's not the lost cause.
This is the guy who thinks that the US should rely more on foreign laws than on laws enacted by Congress.
I'm guessing he went to Hawaii beause he thought he'd have an opportunity to learn more about foreign laws. Someone ought to tell him that Hawaii is part of the US.
Wasn't Kennedy a Reagan appointee? Let's hope Alito is better.
Kennedy was a liar who was appointed after Robert Bork was rejected and Douglas Ginsburg withdrew.
There was a Democratic Controlled Senate for the first time in Reagan's Presidency in 1987.
From 1981 through 1986, the GOP controlled the Senate.
JURISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
This program brings distinguished national jurists to the School of Law to meet with students, faculty, the judiciary, and the bar. The Honorable Myron H. Bright, Senior Circuit Judge with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, established the program in 1987. Past participants have included United States Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony M. Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, and John Paul Stevens-all of whom were accompanied by Judge Bright. The jurists present seminars, teach classes, and discuss timely judicial matters. The next program is scheduled for Spring 2006. The program is currently supported by the law firm of Case Bigelow & Lombardi.
http://www.hawaii.edu/law/site-content/special-programs-community-service
The date of this article is February 8.
I incorrectly made it February 18.
you're missing the point...she said freedom means doing what you want without being judged. That's not what freedom means....at all.
Most of all our Supreme Court Justices have been Republican picked. Isn't that scary? Republicans at least until now (we hope) have done an awful job picking Supreme Court Justices. The vertict is still out on if this is still true. However, think of what it would have been like if it had been controlled by Dems.
Sort of. Scalia, Rehnquist, and Thomas were no doubt good choices. I think it is clear that Roberts and Alito are terrific choices as well. Souter and SDO are the glaring disappointments. Kennedy is not really Reagan's fault though. He came right after the Bork debacle.
Brrrrrrrrr....
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