What America Is All About

American Spectator ^ | 7-3-07 | Lawrence Henry - Commentary

[smoothsailing]

What America Is All About

By Lawrence Henry

Published 7/3/2008 12:07:58 AM

Fourth of July weekend, here's as good a time as any to review what the American idea really means.

And how far we have fallen away from that idea.

Conveniently, we find a news hook: The Supreme Court's recent 5-4 ruling affirming that the Second Amendment to the Constitution really does assure citizens the right to keep and bear firearms.

Along with many another commentator, I find that close decision frightening. How can there be any doubt? How can there be any argument?

Let's review:

Our Founders said, explicitly, that when a people found their rulers had usurped the rightful reach of their powers, it was the people's right to "alter or abolish" that government. And no mistake, our Founders, being realists, knew that "alter or abolish" might mean "change the government by violent means, if necessary."

Even in modern times, a lightly armed and aroused populace can cause a government a whole s**tload of trouble -- something of which tyrants are well aware.

Government began with extortion. Some landed character with muscled henchmen in hire threw a barrier across a road, and demanded tribute from all who would pass. Keep that concept in mind, because it underlies all that follows.

MOVE AHEAD A DOZEN YEARS from "alter or abolish" (in the Declaration of Independence), to the Constitution, and to the negotiations to get the colonies to ratify that document. Taking stock, writing letters, tapping the political currents of the day, the framers of the Constitution found that they could not pass it without an appended Bill of Rights.

What did the Colonies want from a Bill of Rights? Assurance that government could not do certain things. ..

[smoothsailing]

Thought y'all might like this.

[coalman]

well.with ol’ barak in charge we won’t win that next time.in,fact we won’t win anything with a dem congress,I can see bad things happening,they won’t drill! they won’t mine! they won’t fight!!! yet they say their more of them than republicans. I think we been screwed,people.

[Jeff Head]

Excellent article.

We have come, as a nation, and a people, far down the road and departed in many critical ways from the vision and principles of our founders. The more we do so, the less freedom, and ultimately the less peace and prosperity we shall have, in direct proportion.

Our unalienable rights, our intrinsic values and ethic, and our liberty to exercise them all under the constitution is what this republic is about.

Here's it's anti-thesis, precisley what it is not about, staring us all in the face and seeking the highest office in the land by the voice of the people.

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WILL CHANGE THE WORLD

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

NOBAMA '08 SIGHTED IN EMMETT, ID, JULY 2ND, 2008

[nmh]

THANK YOU!

BUMP!

Happy July 4th too!!

[jazusamo]

Thanks, Smooth. Excellent piece by Henry.

Like him I find the 5-4 decision frightening, it should have been a no brainer even for the libs.

[Ben Reyes]

Happy 4th to everyone!

That includes you, Mr. and Mrs. Liberal America. May you realize what you are doing to my beloved country.

[Gator113]

Good article. Thank you for posting it.

[Christian4Bush]

+1