> Drew Jacksich wrote:
> And so Mr. Fred, I assume we must add constitutional scholar to your curriculum vitae?

Actually, none of our rights, such as free speech or the free exercise of religion, were granted by the constitution. Some of them were mentioned previously in much more ancient documents; and all were described in the Declaration of independence as being unalienable, being granted by our Creator (note that whether you take that creator to be a God, or just nature, is completely beside the point).

The constitution was written to provide a basis for a proper and effective central government; while protecting from that very same government, those rights and all other human rights not even mentioned in it as well.


It don't take a Piled High & Deep to read and understand the Constitution. It is written in plain enough language; unlike the modern obscurities coming out Washington lately that pass as law - that not even those that wrote it can tell you what's in it.

Of course, to understand the "Why" of what is written in the constitution, and what the founding fathers were thinking when they wrote it; might require the study of American colonial history, and also the Federalist Papers. But doing that will hardly make a scholar out of anybody, nor is it required to be one in order to read for oneself.


Too bad there are some people that just don't get it; mostly those that try to use every imaginable sophistry to get around it's limitations on government. Such sophistry is always "complicated".

So complicated that it requires a highly sophisticated modern intellectual to twist it all around. . . . .uh, err.... I mean, explain.

But what part of "....shall not be infringed" or "Congress shall make no law...." or "with the consent of Congress...." or "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution.....", etc, etc; do they not understand? What is really so damn hard about that!

Nothing Actually - just read it; and the Federalist Papers from time to time!


Oh BTW, This veteran once took an oath to defend that document with his life, if need be. And I have never been "un-oathed", so don't think I won't do just that; if it should ever come to that (But I hope it doesn't).