Understanding the Bill of Rights

  In our studies of history quite often we look at ancient times such as the Crusades or the Egyptian Pharaohs.  Have you looked at what our fore fathers were trying to establish for all of us to enjoy? England put unreasonable taxes and restrictions on the colonists. The people began to feel that they were just slaves to the English empire and not appreciated for who they were. Because the government was acting in an unreasonable manner the people revolted and established the basis for our country today. Do your children know what the 4th of July is really celebrating? Do they have a strong basis to make decisions about where the country should be going?

  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. " quote

  Take some time this week to become reacquainted with the reason the United States of America was established. Help our children look at the holiday with new eyes!