"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
The second amendment is usually referenced when there is any debate on gun control. This law was passed so the colonists would be able to protect their farms and villages yet is used to rationalize the attempts to legalize fully automatic weapons. The Framers could never have imagined the types of weaponry we would have today and thus we must place limits on the types of weaponry the average citizen is allowed to posses. It would be horribly irresponsible for the average household to contain weapons like AK-47s and RPGs yet hunting rifles and pistols have a rational purpose. Some would argue that any gun can be used to kill someone so either they should all be legal or illegal. I however, find it pretty ineffective and ridiculous to deal in such absolutes. I would argue instead that the weapons intent is more relevant than its capabilities. A hunting rifle is designed to kill an animal for food (or unfortunately for sport), an AK-47 is designed to kill people. I would thus draw the line between guns with an appropriate purpose an inappropriate, even dangerous purpose. The video below elaborates on the difficulties that occur with translating the Constitution for modern purposes in a quite comical way.
This next video is of a crazy gun nut who protests Obama alongside his rifle.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
First Amendment
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free speech 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."
The first amendment is often debated and often cited. It guarantees us the right to state our opinions and ideals through speech, press, petition, and assembly. It guarantees us the right to criticize our government and government leaders, even to criticize the president. Without this right we would not have the ability to have open discussions on public policy and develop opinions and policy reflective of the vast opinions and factions in this country. The video below is about the raising the mosque near ground zero originally called the Cordoba House and then renamed Park 51.
This next video is NWA exercising their right of freedom of speech.
The first amendment is often debated and often cited. It guarantees us the right to state our opinions and ideals through speech, press, petition, and assembly. It guarantees us the right to criticize our government and government leaders, even to criticize the president. Without this right we would not have the ability to have open discussions on public policy and develop opinions and policy reflective of the vast opinions and factions in this country. The video below is about the raising the mosque near ground zero originally called the Cordoba House and then renamed Park 51.
This next video is NWA exercising their right of freedom of speech.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Preamble
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Preamble is the introductory paragraph of the constitution. It says that the constitution is a document written by the people, to provide for the people. It doesn't list any of the specific rights we as citizens are given, but outlines the purpose of the constitution. Many American patriots take pride in the simple eloquence of this passage, even though our capitalist, imperialist society has all but provided for the general welfare or insured domestic tranquility. Despite that, the Preamble is a good outline for what America should strive to be. "We the people," by far the most important sentence fragment in there. It means, ultimately, the people have the power. We the people are strong, and if we work together, we can make this nation something the founding fathers would be proud of.
This video is a video adaptation of a Flobots song. I would say it is the Flobots and video editor's modern take on the Preamble. The Flobots make it a theme of calling to action their listeners and reinforcing the idea of "We the people," or the idea that the government should rule for the people, by the people.
This next video is of President Barack Obama giving a speech on patriotism, or pride in one's country. This idea stems from "we the people" the power that derives from the people of this great country.
The Preamble is the introductory paragraph of the constitution. It says that the constitution is a document written by the people, to provide for the people. It doesn't list any of the specific rights we as citizens are given, but outlines the purpose of the constitution. Many American patriots take pride in the simple eloquence of this passage, even though our capitalist, imperialist society has all but provided for the general welfare or insured domestic tranquility. Despite that, the Preamble is a good outline for what America should strive to be. "We the people," by far the most important sentence fragment in there. It means, ultimately, the people have the power. We the people are strong, and if we work together, we can make this nation something the founding fathers would be proud of.
This video is a video adaptation of a Flobots song. I would say it is the Flobots and video editor's modern take on the Preamble. The Flobots make it a theme of calling to action their listeners and reinforcing the idea of "We the people," or the idea that the government should rule for the people, by the people.
This next video is of President Barack Obama giving a speech on patriotism, or pride in one's country. This idea stems from "we the people" the power that derives from the people of this great country.
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