By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
While the enemy seeks to divide and conquer,
the key to restoring the Constitution is unity through biblical and constitutional
principles.
the key to restoring the Constitution is unity through biblical and constitutional
principles.
Either we are a virtuous society, or we are
not. If we are not a virtuous society,
we are not capable of the U.S. Constitution.
Therefore, the answer to restoring our Constitutional Republic is
obvious.
not. If we are not a virtuous society,
we are not capable of the U.S. Constitution.
Therefore, the answer to restoring our Constitutional Republic is
obvious.
As the Declaration of Independence declared,
“with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
“with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
We must, as Ronald Reagan said, paint with
bold colors so that the American people can clearly see the classical, elegant
palette of conservatism, rather than the slapdash, trash art of progressivism,
thereby pressing the electorate to respond to those images either with vigorous
rejection or passionate acceptance…so help us God.
bold colors so that the American people can clearly see the classical, elegant
palette of conservatism, rather than the slapdash, trash art of progressivism,
thereby pressing the electorate to respond to those images either with vigorous
rejection or passionate acceptance…so help us God.
The Framers of the U.S. Constitution
spelled out our role in all of this quite clearly. The document begins with “We the People.”
spelled out our role in all of this quite clearly. The document begins with “We the People.”
In Article I. the Congress is given the
power to legislate.
power to legislate.
In Article II. the President is given the
power to execute the laws of the United States, and be the Commander in Chief
when a leader is needed in terms of our military.
power to execute the laws of the United States, and be the Commander in Chief
when a leader is needed in terms of our military.
In Article III. the judges are given the
power to act judicially.
power to act judicially.
In Article IV. and the Tenth Amendment we
are reminded that the sovereignty of the States is an important part of the
whole system.
are reminded that the sovereignty of the States is an important part of the
whole system.
In Article V. the ability to amend the
Constitution is provided; a process that may begin with Congress, or the
States.
Constitution is provided; a process that may begin with Congress, or the
States.
In Article VI. it is established that the
supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the United States
made in pursuance of the U.S. Constitution, and all treaties which have been
made or shall be made. The States are
instructed not to make any laws contrary to constitutional federal laws, and
the judges are reminded that is it their job to judicate in a manner that supports
the Constitution.
supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the United States
made in pursuance of the U.S. Constitution, and all treaties which have been
made or shall be made. The States are
instructed not to make any laws contrary to constitutional federal laws, and
the judges are reminded that is it their job to judicate in a manner that supports
the Constitution.
But, what about We the People? What is our job?
Our responsibilities at this crossroads in
American History cannot be clearer. They
are laid out as the five natural rights enumerated in the First Amendment,
which is the beginning of the Bill of Rights.
American History cannot be clearer. They
are laid out as the five natural rights enumerated in the First Amendment,
which is the beginning of the Bill of Rights.
1.
Freedom
of Religion.
Freedom
of Religion.
2.
Freedom
of Speech.
Freedom
of Speech.
3.
Freedom
of the Press.
Freedom
of the Press.
4.
Freedom
of Assembly.
Freedom
of Assembly.
5.
Freedom
to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Freedom
to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Freedom of religion, in addition to the
establishment clause which disallows the Congress from making any laws that establishes
a state religion, the amendment says that Congress may also make no law “prohibiting
the free exercise thereof.”
establishment clause which disallows the Congress from making any laws that establishes
a state religion, the amendment says that Congress may also make no law “prohibiting
the free exercise thereof.”
Freedom of speech includes both political
and religious speech. The clause is
there to ensure that if we believe government, or our culture, is acting in a
manner we disagree with, we may be able to speak out about it without fear of
legal retribution.
and religious speech. The clause is
there to ensure that if we believe government, or our culture, is acting in a
manner we disagree with, we may be able to speak out about it without fear of
legal retribution.
Freedom of the press goes beyond journalism. We have a right to write letters to the
editor, or write our own opinion pieces and publish them however we wish; which
includes online.
editor, or write our own opinion pieces and publish them however we wish; which
includes online.
Freedom of Assembly means we can meet with
who we want, be it a labor union, or a Tea Party group. We may assemble at churches, meeting halls,
or pubs with who we like, and without fear of any penalty of law.
who we want, be it a labor union, or a Tea Party group. We may assemble at churches, meeting halls,
or pubs with who we like, and without fear of any penalty of law.
Freedom to petition the government for a
redress of grievances is more than allowing us to sign a petition, or provide
any other paperwork to government offices in an attempt to speak out. Freedom to petition also includes letters to
our congressmen, verbal exchanges with our representatives, and speaking to
your city council during city council meetings.
Freedom to petition includes protesting, rallying and shaking your fist
at the board members during a school board meeting.
redress of grievances is more than allowing us to sign a petition, or provide
any other paperwork to government offices in an attempt to speak out. Freedom to petition also includes letters to
our congressmen, verbal exchanges with our representatives, and speaking to
your city council during city council meetings.
Freedom to petition includes protesting, rallying and shaking your fist
at the board members during a school board meeting.
In other words, the First Amendment
explains to We the People that our job revolves around the phrase, “consent of
the governed,” and when we have a problem with what is going on it is our job
to:
explains to We the People that our job revolves around the phrase, “consent of
the governed,” and when we have a problem with what is going on it is our job
to:
1.
Pray
about it.
Pray
about it.
2.
Speak
out about it.
Speak
out about it.
3.
Write
about it.
Write
about it.
4.
Gather
with others about it.
Gather
with others about it.
5.
And
be activists about it.
And
be activists about it.
If the First Amendment recipe for some
reason fails to turn the government around, all is still not lost. Failure of the First Amendment simply activates
the Second Amendment . . . the right to keep and bear arms.
reason fails to turn the government around, all is still not lost. Failure of the First Amendment simply activates
the Second Amendment . . . the right to keep and bear arms.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
