My Constitution?

Thirty-three amendments to the United States Constitution have been proposed by the United States Congress and sent to the states for ratification since the constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789. Twenty-seven of these, having been ratified by the requisite number of states, are part of the Constitution including the Bill of Rights.

Amendments (additions, corrections, refinements) may be necessary but must be ratified properly as well as enforced. Although some would want to eliminate the Constitution in favor of a new one, it could not be accomplished by a minority. How many fully understand the Constitution and its supreme authority is questionable allowing contempt and disregard as witnessed most recently in various ways.

Wisely, the Constitution allows for three dominions: Executive, Judicial and Legislative as well as a Senate and a House of Representatives which hopefully will work in harmony as well as serve as a check-and-balance system. The original thirteen states have become fifty all indebted to the same Constitution and its amendments. When and if it will be replaced is anyone's guess but until then, it is the law of the land.

It is quite understandable that with fifty states, some lesser parties, federal, state and locally elected and appointed entities with variable authority and interests, that both rebellion and harmony could exist. Too often a lack of awareness or appreciation of the Constitution results in anything but harmony. This is all too apparent in the immigration tension, the unforgiving spirit of losers, the barriers raised between Democrats and Republicans, unnecessary stalling tactics, excessive overbearing regulations, uncalled for racism, spontaneous and strategic rioting, biased media, excessive debt, illegalities and so on . . . This only makes the Constitution and laws of the land even more essential.

Interestingly, the Constitution begins with We the people . . . not We the select. The Founders of our Country were remarkable people, in tune with its citizens and ingenious with its leaders' obligations. Now we the people have our responsibility to do our share and see that our leaders do theirs. Is that asking too much of our Constitution?

Interesting, isn't it how some things get outdated so quickly and other things endure for a long time? It will be interesting to see just how long our Constitution will survive.