In the uneasy, sometimes frightening, political arena that we find ourselves in, it is good to look at the past in order to make wise decisions for our country’s future. When you look at the confusion bantered about in today’s political arena, it is frightening. Rather than discuss and debate the issues facing our country, we see argument after argument break out amongst the people who supposedly have been delegated to uphold our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is our leaders, as well as the citizens’, responsibility to strive for peace. 

In observing who we as a people have selected to represent us, one should look back, as well as, look towards the future. Is this a person who is trustworthy, honest, caring, and one we can truthfully put our fairh in to do the right thing. We as Americans need to stand up and remind our leaders that once elected you are no longer democrats or republicans. You are one government that has been tasked to support our U.S. Constitution. Our constitution was written to support and protect all the people, not just Republicans, not just Democrats. Our constitution provides rules and laws to allow people to live their lives in a country that supports life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.

At this moment, our constitution is dying, falling apart, being dismissed. How and why is this happening? Many of the men and women who are running for election and those currently in office are acting like bullies on the playground. Their rhetoric basically translates to the followimg statement, “If I don’t get my way, I’m going to beat you up!” “Meet me at the water tower after school, and I’ll show you who’s in charge!” “You’re ugly, and everybody hates you!’ “You’re wrong, I’m right, and I can take you out at anytime!”

This childish, undisciplined rhetoric is embarrassing and a hell of a scary mess! Our country currently sits on a precipice of uncertainty, fear, and disdain. At this point, it is a laughing stock to the world. Grown men and women running for office and already in office becoming bullies. They have become instigators of violence, and they believe that opening their pockets is the constitutional way to gain votes. Please take note! Our very freedoms are at risk.

As a historian, I am haunted by the similarities between the beginnings of Hitler’s reign in Germany and his subsequent reign of terror upon the peoples of Germany and the countries surrounding Germany. This madman, Adolf Hitler, was chosen as Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1938. This madman caused the imprisonments, mutilations, and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. He created a campaign that caused massive fear, wars, inhumane deaths, and the separation of thousands of families. His reign of terror impacted the lives of every innocent man, woman, and child living during his reign.

If you do not know who Hitler was, or you do not know about the atrocities that happened in Germany, or you are unfamiliar with the terrors of World War 1 or World War 2, blame our educational system. About fifteen years ago, schools decided children were too fragile to be exposed to historical events that might scare them. Due to this, any unhappy history has been shaved down and edited out of the history books. Even more frightening, in some schools, history has been completely eradicated. Why is this important? Without a thorough knowledge of history, the same mistakes will be made over and over again. Sadly, too many events that happened within our own country have been eliminated from the history books. Nasty wars… who needs to remember this! We do!

Not everything in life is a bowl of cherries, not everything’s coming up roses, nor is everything a cute Disney movie. Life does not promise us perfection. Yet, each of us is responsible for upholding and following the laws of our country, the United States of America. Look at this name… The United States of America, and remember that united we stand, but divided we fall. There are those among us who emulate Hitler. They are waiting for our country to collapse, waiting to swoop in and take over, waiting for an unwitting country to open the door and invite the monster in. 

Yesterday, I learned Louisiana has stated that the Ten Commandments must be posted in all public schools. Then today, I heard the Texas government voted in favor of the same thing. I am a believer in Christ, I am a believer in the love of Christ. I am also an educator. As an educator in today’s classrooms, I teach a multitude of students from many different countries, religions, and races. Everyone of these students  is valuable. Everyone deserves to have the right to worship and believe in their own way, without others forcing everyone to adopt the christian beliefs. Our founding fathers were wise enough to understand this, so they included separation of church and state within the U.S. Constitution. Why does our current government have the right to change our Constitution? Christ himself would be ashamed and throw them out of the temple. If such a matter is brought up and brought to light, the people of the state of Texas should have the right to vote on any such law being passed. I do not feel that our elected state representatives have the right to take a vote without the people of our state being informed. They have broken the laws of our Constitution by imposing this mandate upon the state. Be aware, Texas has many, many wonderful citizens from many countries and different religions. If you impose a rule that the Ten Commandments shall be placed in every classroom in every public school, then all religions, such as, Judaism: the Tanakh, Christianity: the Apocrypha and the New Testament, Islam: the Quran, Confucianism: the Analects of Confucius, Hinduism: the Rig Veda, and Buddhism: the Dhammapada should also be posted within schools.

I am appalled by the thought that this vote was made without allowing the people’s voices to be heard. Please, no matter who you are, stop, think, and vote responsibly in upcoming elections. It is each individual’s right to decide on his or her personal religious and spiritual beliefs without the government imposing laws that are actually unconstitutional.

As you ponder this post, remember these words: We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Our government should not mandate what religion should be displayed or followed in schools. When they do so, they are breaking down the very structures of our United States Constitution. I pray for our country that we will overcome the hatred and bigotry that is being handed out by too many “good old boys” who have somehow wormed their way into our government, and whom are trying to destroy our constitutional rights as citizens of this great United States.

This is not the blog I had planned to post this week, but it is essential that everyone is made aware of elected officials who have taken it upon themselves to rewrite our constitutional laws, and in doing so, are endangering your constitutional rights, as well as mine. I do not take this lightly, and I pray, neither do you.

Blessings,

Susan