CONSTITUTION: Now hear this

Most Americans know very little about the Constitution.

The Framers of this document were wise men who spent much time in prayer and reasonable discussion in the drafting and ratifying of the U.S. Constitution. Next to the Bible, the Constitution is one of the most valuable documents ever written. Americans have copies of these documents on the shelf. Let’s take them off the shelf! These texts are valuable for our personal well-being and the future of America.

While serving in the Idaho Legislature, I wrote a bill that makes Sept. 17 Constitutional Commemorative Day. This law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to direct public school instructors to provide programs related to the Constitution. At the end of a class period, the students were asked to share what they had learned about the Constitution.

A 10-year-old boy said, “It means being free to do whatever you want EXCEPT break the law.” He is right! Freedom and responsibility must go hand-in-hand.

Thomas Jefferson said, “God Who gave us life, gave us Liberty. Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is Just.”

James Madison said, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity … to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

I challenge all Americans to meditate on these two life changing documents: the Bible which includes the Ten Commandments, and the Constitution, which includes the three distinct branches of government: Executive, Judicial and Legislative.

RON VIESELMEYER

Coeur d’Alene