History gives us many examples of government. My children are learning about two different eras, the middle ages and modern history. My son comes home with tales of lords, serfs and Vikings. He runs around fighting, warring on the unexpected peasants, defending lords and laughing hardly at the treasures he pretends to take. Many of the discussions are centered on the wrong of these actions, helping him understand how the rights of these people were not protected. In contrast, my daughter is learning about the American Revolution.
Throughout history governments have risen and fallen but during the time of the revolution there had never been a group of people who wanted to understand and protect rights of the people not the government. Who discussed and wanted understand the role of government. I was discussing our rights with my children while driving to school. Why did the people of that time decide to write the Bill of Rights? Good question for a nine year old. We talked about the King of England and the fairness of his actions as a ruler of the American Colonies. At last, we concluded with Patrick Henry’s quote, “Give me LIBERTY or give me death.” Feeling satisfied with our debate, we arrived at school and parted ways.
As the day went on I continued to think about our conversation, liberty, the rights of the people, these ideas keep returning to my thoughts. My readings, lately, have centered on the writings, ideals and forms of government the founding fathers would have access to at the time of the break from England. What a monumental task lay before them. What would you want if you could form the government that would protect and lead you?
Personally, I don’t think I would change the constitution. I have inalienable rights; these rights are in place to protect me from the government. The role of the government is not to provide life, liberty and health insurance but to provide for the common defense. Defense against the common cold is not what I think the founding fathers had in mind. My freedom is not being protected now; slowly these rights are being eroded by big government. As the haves and have-nots continue to battle a quiet war, our way of life is changing.
Who will stand and defend the people, Give us LIBERTY! “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. – Patrick Henry”. We should not make ourselves depended on the government, again serfs to a new lord. Maybe we will be lucky and the Vikings will relieve us of this treasure.
We too can stand and say to the tyrants of today, we do not want what you offer.

Sarah C.

Further readings:
Common Sense Thomas Paine
Treatises of Government John Locke
Writings of Hume