Category Archives: Constitution of the United States

Founding Fathers in the Right Place

Posted on by October 11, 2015

Speaking-2When I was in college, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I went to an open-air concert. It was presented by the late music composer and singer, John Hartford. It was a great concert!

One of his songs stuck with me and has had a real meaning in my life. The lyrics occasionally come into my mind with several experiences. I guess because I have been in the right place at the right time for special events in my life to occur.

It’s a fun song and the lyrics go like this:

“I would not be here if I hadn’t been there,
and I wouldn’t ‘a been there if I hadn’t just turned
on Wednesday the third in the late afternoon
got to talking with George who works out in the back
and only because he was getting off early
to go see a man at a Baker Street bookstore
with a rare first edition of Steamboats and Cotton
a book he would never have sought in the first place
had he not been inspired by a fifth grade replacement
school teacher in Kirkwood who was just picked at random . . . “ read more

Benjamin Franklin for 2nd Graders

Posted on by October 6, 2015

Founding Fathers coverI have been invited by my grandson, Garrett’s second grade teacher to speak to his class about the Founding Fathers. Garrett told his teacher that his granddad had written a book. She wanted to see it, so he gave her one.

She has really enjoyed reading it, and so asked Garrett’s mother if she would talk to me about coming to speak to their class. She did and I accepted. Then it turns out that this teacher has invited not only her class but all the 2nd grade classes in the school to join in my presentation. That means there will be more than 100 second graders in the audience. read more

Thomas Jefferson and Guns

Posted on by October 3, 2015

English_flintlock_blunderbussI know, we’ve seen a lot of carnage and incidents about firearms lately. Now there’s a hue and cry for more gun laws. All in the name of protecting the citizens, of course. Even though the statistics clearly indicate that more laws don’t reduce crime with guns or violence (see Chicago and Baltimore for example).

I know many think that he’s just an old fuddy-duddy, but here’s what Thomas Jefferson said about guns:

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves. They include all men capable of bearing arms. To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms and be taught alike how to use them.” read more

James Madison and The U. S. Constitution, Then and Now

Posted on by September 28, 2015

constitutionAfter 16 weeks of unrelenting work, the U. S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It was truly a miracle! Those who attended the Convention worked hard, studied hard, listened hard to others, and even prayed hard. They knew what they were doing was important for the centuries.

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, had remarkable success in bringing together the most influential and wise men in the colonies, including George Washington, who didn’t want to be there at first. read more

Music and the Founding Fathers

Posted on by September 26, 2015
Benjamin_Franklin's_glass_harmonica_(LoC)_edited

Benjamin Franklin’s Glass Armonica

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson was also a musical devotee. That’s why he and Martha Wayles Skelton were so enamored with each other at first. Martha would play the harpsichord and Tom his violin. They loved to sing and dance. Tom ordered a beautiful harpsichord from his agent in Europe, and had it shipped to Virginia as a wedding gift for Martha. So among all the other talents Tom is credited with, music must be counted.

George Washington also loved to dance and loved music. That’s why he and Martha Custis originally hit it off so well together. George loved to have young people come to dances at his home at Mount Vernon. When George walked into the dance parlor, music and dancing would stop, and the youth would stare at George. So George, instead of entering the dance hall, would sometimes stand at the door and look through a crack between the doors to enjoy the dance. read more

George Washington Says Listen Up!

Posted on by September 24, 2015

Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States“Listen twice as much as you talk and others will hear twice as much of what you say.” Nido R. Qubein. Nido should know. He’s the President of High Point University, and a professional speaker.

This quote reminds me so much of George Washington. George would listen carefully to his soldiers in the Revolutionary War—and you know how that turned out!

I think the best example of Washington’s listening skills took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. George was elected President of that convention, even though originally he didn’t intend to attend. He listened to his friend James Madison, and decided he must be there. read more

The Constitution, American History and Economics

Posted on by September 25, 2015

Just thought you’d like to know about how you can get a little more learnin’. You know, things about George Washington, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and important documents like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and much more.

Hillsdale College has more than 830,000 students enrolled in its free online courses, covering topics such as the Constitution, the principles of free-market economics, American history, the Western Heritage, and more. These courses are transformative—they can and will have a profound effect on the future of our country, especially at such a time as this. read more

Hebrew Law and U. S. Law

Posted on by September 23, 2015

Illgegal Trial of Christ coverI’ve been re-reading a 2 volume work by Walter Chandler entitled “The Trial of Christ.” This book explains the Hebrew rules of court in great detail. It likewise explains the Roman laws, which were necessary because Judea was a nation conquered by Rome prior to the trial of Christ.

The amazing thing is it’s a wonder that anyone was ever found guilty of a crime punishable by death because the rules were so stringent about witnesses and judges (members of the Sanhedrin). But then as you read the accounts in the four Gospels of what transpired to bring Christ to the cross, you see vividly how many of the laws and rules of procedure were intentionally violated. read more

Witness Against Yourself

Posted on by September 21, 2015

judicial scalesIn Federal criminal cases only about 3% actually go to trial. The remainder are pleaded down by the prosecution in agreement for a guilty plea by the accused.

It is interesting to me that in ancient Hebrew law, the accused could not be convicted based on his own testimony. I was reminded of that as I read this comment in the book “The Trial of Jesus” by Walter Chandler:

“Some weak-minded people, unable to support the torture of a harassing examination, and eager to regain their liberty, make a full confession, accusing themselves in order not to be indicted. . . .from want of responsibility . . . accept or confirm everything of which they know nothing.” (Vol. 1, page 143). read more

Founding Fathers Blueprint for a Nation

Posted on by September 24, 2015

northwest-ordinanceIt’s so great that our Founding Fathers were such learned and wise men that they left us a blueprint for our nation. They warned us that if we would follow their instructions we would be a long enduring and prosperous nation. They had high hopes for us.

But somewhere along the way, we thought we were wiser and more learned than they, and we got off their track. They warned us that the type of government we enjoyed was meant only for a moral and religious people. They solidified their intent in the Northwest Ordinance (which was passed the same year as our U.S. Constitution). read more