"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and
demand your rights, even if you don't know what
your rights are, or who the person is you're talking
to. Then on the way out, slam the door." - Jack Handey
"The first 10 amendments, which constitute the
Bill of Rights, were added within two years of
the signing of the federal Constitution in order
to ensure sufficient guarantees of individual liberties."
united states constitutionThe Bill of Rights was the people's response to
their new Constitution, and the first great act of
a new democracy.
So what was the people's response? What did the people
want from their new country more than anything else?
They wanted a guarantee.
Here's (most of) the opening sentence to the Bill of Rights:
"... a number of the States, having at the time of their
adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order
to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that
further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be
added: And as extending the ground of public confidence
in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends
of its institution."
Early America knew that so long as these rights existed
the abuse of power could not.
Today it is said there are certain circumstances where
the Bill of Rights does not hold. According to the
constitution, and according to early Americans, that
circumstance is the abuse of power.
As Yogi Berra once said, "the future ain't what it
used to be"
-------------------------------------
US Bill Of Rights
-------------------------------------
First Amendment : Freedom of religion, speech, press,
and peaceable assembly as well as the right to petition
the government.
Second Amendment : Right to keep and bear arms.
Third Amendment : Protection from quartering of troops.
(The troops used to crash at your pad if they wanted.)
Fourth Amendment : Protection from unreasonable
search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment : Due process, double jeopardy,
self-incrimination, private property.
Sixth Amendment : Trial by jury and other rights
of the accused.
Seventh Amendment : Civil trial by jury.
Eighth Amendment : Prohibition of excessive bail,
as well as cruel and unusual punishment.
Ninth Amendment : Protection of constitutional rights
not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights.
Tenth Amendment : The powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to
the people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights
Fortunately, "life is like a photograph. We use the negative
to develop." -
Some Guy
* actual freedom may vary
This text published originally in the newsletter
The Random Factor at
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