Pledge of Allegiance – Explained The below link gives a video of Red Skelton, the entertainer/comedian famous for his radio and TV shows from1937-1971. Red explains the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. This is from The Red Skelton Show on CBS January 14, 1969. Red tells us that one of his teachers in school [...]
Did Separation of Church and State Originate with the Constitution? Thomas Jefferson’s Letter The phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the Constitution. It traces back to a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury, Connecticut, Baptists on January 1, 1802, in which he reassured the Baptists that their religious freedom [...]
What Would America Be Like If Everyone Read and Understood the U.S. Constitution? Some years ago, I was watching a presidential debate on TV and the three leading candidates each contradicted each other regarding a point in our U.S. Constitution. No one seemed to notice the discrepancy, including the moderator and candidates. I realized I had [...]
Two Quick Constitution Quotes from Thomas Jefferson (from Monticello.org) Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson Monticello, June 12, 1823. on every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, & instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the [...]
What Is Constitution Day? In 2004, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” to commemorate the signing of our Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. This law instructed: each federal agency to provide educational materials concerning the Constitution to all employees every September 17, and each [...]
How Words Can Cause Confusion and Inaction Words which people read and use which they have not clearly and accurately defined can cause confusion and inaction. I Can Prove This I can easily prove this to you with this simple exercise: Please take out a piece of scratch paper and a pen or pencil. Draw [...]
4th of July Take a moment and get inspired by the language of our 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, [...]
When Was Politics Not a Dirty Word? Most American View Politics as a Dirty Job Majorities say the political process is dominated by special interests, flooded with campaign cash and mired in partisan warfare. Elected officials are widely viewed as self-serving and ineffective. The above is from a September 2023 study by the non-partisan Pew Research Center. [...]
What Are the Purposes of the United States Government? If one knew the purposes of our government, they would have a workable yardstick to measure how well our government, its employees and elected officials were doing. And they could make decisions based on what they observed. The Constitution’s Preamble Lists Six Purposes for Our Country [...]
Happiness: The Goal of Life and Government The word “happiness” held deep meaning for America’s Founding Fathers. To them, happiness was not a fleeting feeling or momentary pleasure. It meant living a life of virtue, moral excellence, and liberty within a well‑ordered community. They believed the chief aim of both the individual and the government [...]
