色库TV

Constitution s Meaning in Today s Society Discussed

The 226th birthday of the U.S. Constitution was celebrated a day early Monday during a gathering at 色库TV that focused on the framing of the country鈥檚 founding document and its relevance in today鈥檚 society.

U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, the event鈥檚 keynote speaker, was joined by three members of the college faculty: Dr. Lee Wyatt, an instructor of history, Alicia Spring, an instructor of world religions and Dr. Rick Parrish, a professor of history.

Dr. Wyatt addressed the history of the 4,453-word document's adoption by 39 signees of varied backgrounds over 88 days, its current applicability and closed by referencing the ongoing debate about whether the Constitution should stand as written or be updated for modern times and circumstances.

鈥淎s we pause today to remember the ingenuity of those men who gathered in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, it might be wise for us all to ponder that question,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe we can all agree on one point 鈥� that what our founders created 226 years ago was the greatest political document the world has ever seen.鈥�

Spring addressed the foundation of the United States rooted in the search for religious freedom, its evolution and its historical context.

鈥淭he point of this cannot be overstated: Those who were once oppressed in England came to these shores and became the oppressors,鈥� Spring said. 鈥淚n fact, by the time the Constitution was being written we had established state religion in almost every colony.鈥�

However, the Constitution was formulated 鈥渂y a group of brilliant 18th Century enlightened thinkers who were not enmeshed in this kind of religious fundamentalism. Some had religious ideals, some did not,鈥� Spring added.

鈥淪o most people are surprised to find that despite the deep history of Christian faith in the European immigrants to this country the Constitution really has little to say about religion. Within the document itself only Article Six explicitly mentions the subject and it says this: 鈥楴o religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.鈥欌��

In his brief remarks, Dr. Parrish asked those in the audience to see all sides of any historic discussions relative to Constitutional amendments, using the Second Amendment dealing with the right of the people to bear arms as an example.

鈥淲hatever the issue . . . you can鈥檛 just focus on one part,鈥� he said.

Among other matters, Posey spoke to the Constitution鈥檚 deep meaning in today鈥檚 society.

鈥淲e must never be too busy to pause and review the principles that should guide our public policies and state our liberties,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe the greatest inheritance that you will ever get is the freedom you enjoy in this country, the freedom that鈥檚 guaranteed by our Constitution.

鈥淲e give our government rights, our government does not give us rights. Our founders made it clear that our rights come from God. We give rights to our government. Our belief is that government derives its authority from the governed. In short, government serves the people, not the other way around. That鈥檚 what makes us Americans.鈥�