A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...09-10-03...Original Intent of the First Amendment

09-10-2003 | Aquamarine

[Aquamarine]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

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Original Intent

of the First Amendment.

"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."

Is America founded upon and subservient to the laws of God? America's Founding Father's say yes. Today's Federal courts say no.

Our Constitution operates on long-standing principals which were incorporated into our government over two hundred years ago; each constitutional provision reflects a specific philosophy implemented to avoid a specific problem. Therefore, grasping the purpose for any clause of the Constitution is possible only through a proper historical understanding of the debates and the conclusions reached two hundred years ago.

If our understanding of historical facts and constitutional intent becomes confused or mistaken, the resulting policies may be not only ill-founded but may actually create the very abuses that the Founders originally intended to avoid.

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.

Declaration of Independence

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --"

The Constitution of the United States

Assembly Room in Independence Hall, Philadelphia,
site of the signing of the Constitution in 1787.

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention On February 21, 1787, the Continental Congress resolved that:

...it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philladelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation...

The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but a number did not accept or could not attend. Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock.

In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Signers of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States therefore proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution that met arguments most frequently advanced against it. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the Constitution — went into effect on Dec. 15, 1791, when the state of Virginia ratified it, giving the bill the majority of ratifying states required to protect citizens from the power of the federal government. The first freedoms guaranteed in this historic document were articulated in the 45 words written by James Madison that we have come to know as the First Amendment.

The Founder's Own Words

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investiagation in Courts of Justice?
And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." --George Washington --Farewell Address, excerpts (17 Sep 1796)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a 1798 letter to American military officers, President John Adams declared that "The Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the governance of any other."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The attempt by the rulers of a nation [France] to destroy all religious opinions and to pervert a whole people to atheism is a phenomenon of profligacy [act of moral depravity]. . . .To establish atheism on the ruins of Christianity [is] to deprive mankind of its best consolations and most animating hopes and to make a gloomy desert of the universe." --Alexander Hamilton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We have staked the future of government not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions on the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the ten commandments of God." -James Madison

The Separation of Church and State

"The separation of church and state" is an overused and regularly abused historical phrase.
Although these word are familiar few Americans know their history. The phrase appeared in an exchange of letters between Thomas Jefferon and the Babtist Association of Danbury Conneticut.

"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their Legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." --Thomas Jefferson to Danbury Baptists, 1802.

The "wall" of the Danbury letter were not meant to limit religious activities in public, rather they were to limit the power of the government to prohibit or interfere with free expression of religion.

Jefferson believed that God, not government, was the Author and Source of our rights. He understood the Source of Americas inalienable rights so well that he even doubted whether America could survive if we ever lost that knowledge. Jefferson said:

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have lost the only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?"

"But the greatest injury of the "wall" notion is it's mishievous diversion of judges from the actual intentions of the drafters of the Bill of Rights. . . The "wall" of separation between church and state is a metaphor based on bad history. A metaphor which has proved useless as a guide of judging.
It should be frankly and expicitly abandoned." --Justice William Rehnquist

The nation's policy concerning religion and government have been turned upside down. Not only does much of the nation not realize that "serparation of church and state" is not constitutionally mandated many are not even aware that "the free exercise" of religion is.

All of the text above was gathered from
different sources then organized here.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-08-03....Military Monday 09-09-03...Guns Definitely Are OK

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Aquamarine]

Hi (((Dansy))) you just missed Louie...but he'll be back.

So will I in a bit. :)

[Dubya]

"Worry"

Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become
accountable for their own actions? Is there a
wonderful moment when parents can become detached
spectators in the lives of their children and shrug,
"It's their life," and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital
corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches
in my son's head. I asked, "When do you stop
worrying?" The nurse said, "When they get out of the
accident stage." My mother just smiled faintly and
said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair
in a class-room and heard how one of my children
talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and was
headed for a career making license plates. As if to
read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all
go through this stage and then you can sit back,
relax and enjoy them." My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting
for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the
front door to open. A friend said, "They're trying
to find themselves. Don't worry, in a few years, you
can stop worrying. They'll be adults." My mother
just smiled faintly and said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick &tired of being
vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children,
but there was a new wrinkle there was nothing I
could do about it. My mother just smiled faintly and
said nothing.

I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.

My friends said that when my kids got married I
could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted
to believe that, but I was haunted by my mother's
warm smile and her occasional, "You look pale. Are
you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are
you depressed about something?"

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime
of worry? Is concern for one another handed down
like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties
and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or
is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form
of life?

One of my children became quite irritable recently,
saying to me, "Where were you? I've been calling for
3 days, and no one answered. I was worried." I
smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.

[Dubya]

He did not let go.
Some years ago on a hot summer day in South Florida a little
boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind
his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out
the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
He flew into the water, not realising that as he swam toward the
middle of the lake an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother, in the house looking out the window, saw the two as
they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward
the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her
voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim
to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just
as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war
between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother,
but the mother was Much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from
his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after
weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His
legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal.
And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's
fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son
she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma,
asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs.
And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at
my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them
because my mom wouldn't let go.!!

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.
No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But,
the scars of a painful past.Some of those scars are unsightly
and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend,
are because God has refused to let go.In the midst of your struggle,
He's been there holding onto you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. If you have Christ in
your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect
you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly
wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled
with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.

That's when the tug-of-war begins, and if you have the scars of
His love on your arms be very, very grateful.

He did not - and will not - let you go.
Author unknown.

[GailA]

For Tomorrow........

[Dubya]

Very good day so far Billie.
This is the worst year I have ever had in my business. I sold another house today.
Things seem to have picked up in the last three weeks. Its hard to tell if it will last. With the Fed Reserve bring intrest rates up it should stop business.

[Billie]

I knew you hadn't been posting your amazing font colors lately, but thought you just had grown tired of them. I see now it's computer problems bigtime. :(

[Billie]

You forgot to mention posting threads too early or too late. :-)

He'll find a way to be happy calling attention to some grave injustice.....or something!

Figured that something covered it. It's always my fault anyway. Too early, too late, too little, too much, too colorful, too bland, too much Billie, yada yada yada (again). Just no pleasin' ya. :)

[Billie]

Oh, I love ice cream sandwiches! Thanks! Just what I wanted and didn't know it. :)

[Billie]

Oh, you California guys sure know how to sweet-talk! Beautiful yellow roses!

[Calpernia]

BILLIE!!!

Glad to be plugged in again. Now for tons of catching up!

[Billie]

LOL on your T man assessment!

Isn't it funny how one can take on a certain trait or personality here. :) Don't you just think of Scrooge when you think of T Man? LOL

He's one of my favorite people, but keep it quiet, ok?) :)

[Calpernia]

Free: When, when, have you EVER associated me with silence?!! ROFL!

[MEG33]

I'll never tell.I stay very respectful in my addresses to O Perfect One!

[Billie]

Hi, feiny - so glad you enjoyed today's thread - the compliments go to Aqua alone! I love having her 'aboard' to add her talents and passions to the Finest. Yes, the 9/11 anniversary is really on our minds. Hope you can join us tomorrow for Dansangel's tribute to 9/11. (and Friday for some light-hearted fun) :)

[jwfiv]

Attaboy, Diver...)

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Dansy! Aren't you just so proud of Aqua and Freezie?!

How is the man whose angel you are? :) And, further, are you about back up to par yet?

[The Thin Man]

Too early, too late, too little, too much, too colorful, too bland, too much Billie, yada yada yada (again). Just no pleasin' ya. :)

There you go again! When have I ever complained about it being "too bland?" I like bland!

:-)

[Billie]

Hmmmmm, but the interest rates have been down for such a long time, I would have thought real estate would be doing great this year.

[Billie]

Gail! LOL! I had to look twice to see who posted that - always thought you were so reserved!

[lonestar]

Thank you. I do miss the sweet little mess. She would have loved the attention she got here.