The Observation Deck

I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth -- That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, -- and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages."
--Benjamin Franklin

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
--Benjamin Franklin

Another Constitution Week is coming up and I am here to announce that I will be giving away pocket Constitutions while I am working at the Madison Branch of the Lakewood Public Library during that time period. Primarily I'll be giving them to the children, but if there are any of you adults who think you might need a little refresher, you're welcome to have one as well.
(While supplies last.)

While you're here, celebrate the rights granted by the First Amendment by browsing our selection of banned books (like Catcher in the Rye), explicit CDs (like Outkast's Speakerboxxx), DVDs with objectionable content (Caligula) and Bibles(!!).

Revisionist history? Yet another attempt to rebaptize our Founding Fathers as Modern-day religious conservatives?

One single quote from the immense volume of writings of Benjamin Franklin hardly makes the case for the elimination of separation of church and state. The historical facts and printed record show the overwhelming secular views and writings of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and many other framers of the Constitution and government.

For example in 1813 Jefferson wrote, "We have retired the Gods from politics. We have found that man is the only source of political power. Human beings should be governed not by faith in the supernatural but in a reliance on reason and evidence adduced from the natural world."

The historical record poses a vexing problem for those intent on simultaneously enshrining the Founding Fathers and denying their intention to establish a secular government. The framers of the Constitution deliberately omitted any mention of God and instead acknowledged "We the People."

This is not an attempt to dismiss the value of faith in many people's lives. I feel that the individual should form his or her own religious opinions without postulation, promotion, distortion and attempted indoctrination by government public policy OR leading statements/quotes that promotes your respective religion as a 'leap of faith' insurecction into the body of our Constitution.

In my opinion, as a Nation we don’t need, as you state – ‘refresher on the Constitution', but rather a primer on its true, and well documented origins.

The added emphasis in that quote did not come from me. It was emphasized where I found it.

I will not be pulled into a "discussion" regarding separation of church and state in this thread. We can take it someplace else on the boards if you so wish.

What is your position at the library? Was your plan to hand out the Constitution part of the library's celebration or was it undertaken on your own accord? If so, was the idea approved by management?

My position is of no consequence.
The library itself had no plans of its own. The idea to pass out pocket Constitutions was mine. They were purchased out of my own pocket.
This past Friday, an outside organization emailed to get permission to put up a display. This same group had done so last year.

Was I given permission to do so? Yes.

Grace O'Malley wrote:What is your position at the library? Was your plan to hand out the Constitution part of the library's celebration or was it undertaken on your own accord? If so, was the idea approved by management?

This post reminds of a Jimmy Buffett song... "While I was driving down i-995 the other night"

Is passing out copies of the Constitution now a bad thing? We have several copies in our home, considering it is the law of the land it's not in any way offensive to give out copies. I think all Americans should have copy and read it.

The Constitution doesn't have laws, it has enumerated powers or guaranteed rights

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_laws_does_The_U.S._Constitution_have#ixzz26CzE11id

Roy, If it makes you feel better, at my son's new school they were encouraged to wear red, white, and blue today and they are celebrating Constitution Day....and Constitution Week...two miles and a world away.

Roy, this is great to hear. I appreciated you being willing to use some of your hard earned money to help educate others. Keep up the great work this Constitution Day/Week.