On Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates in Philadelphia, sent the then proposed U. S. Constitution, to the various ratifying conventions to be held in the states. Fast forward 217 years later, when Public Law 108-477, is passed on the 8th of December of 2004, and it contains a provision that the U. S. Constitution is to be taught in schools that receive federal funding, with a special curriculum, chosen by the school. This can be done up to either a week before or a week after Sept. 17.

The reactions were mixed when this law was revealed and there is no punishment to the schools if they don’t follow the law and educate their students about that sacred document. What do your children learn about this document, separate from the minimal information taught in the “regular” curriculum?

We’re hopefully not yet at the point like Jay Leno said years ago, when Iraq was working on their constitution,that we should give our Constitution to them, since we don’t seem to use it anyway.

For those who believe the Constitution is archaic, that it doesn’t work anymore, they may be correct, since Founding Father John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Makes perfect sense since there doesn’t seem to be an excess supply of either morally principled people, or much consideration given to practicing religion in the 21st century.

Lastly, National POW-MIA Recognition Day is the third Friday of every September, which is, Sept. 20 this year.

Leo R. Lindquist

Balaton

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