The Week That Was

Between the end of the Fall semester, hunting season, and the approaching holidays, I let a couple of things slip last week that are worthy of going back and revisiting.

The first is the 220th anniversary of the Bill of Rights becoming part of the U.S. Constitution. Conservative and liberal groups both noted that event, and both shared a common perspective on it -- praising the original intent, and bemoaning its erosion over time -- something that is at once surprising and encouraging.

The Cato Institute commented on the amendments one by one, coming to the conclusion that the only one which retains much of its original scope is the Third Amendment:

The Third Amendment says soldiers may not be quartered in our homes without the consent of the owners.  This safeguard is one of the few that is in fine shape...

The Huffington Post takes a different approach, tracing the historical evolution -- or perhaps a better word is de-evolution -- of the Bill of Rights.

U.S. history reminds us of why so many early Americans wanted a Bill of Rights. They understood that governments abused their power, a truth that has since been corroborated by our presidents' actions time and again.

Interestingly, both organizations used the TSA as an example of violating the Bill of Rights. And both came to the conclusion that it is the responsibility of We the People to ensure that our rights are not violated by the government.

HuffPo: "If we want to have a Bill of Rights Day worth celebrating, we must demand that officials at all levels respect our freedoms -- and not let the government get away with abusing them."

Cato: "The key point is this: A free society does not just “happen.”  It has to be deliberately created and deliberately maintained ... let’s resolve to be more vigilant about defending our Constitution."

That sounds like a resolution worth keeping during the New Year.

A second, more troubling anniversary, also took place last week. It was the one year anniversary of the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry at the hands of Mexican drug cartel members, armed by Eric Holder and his flunkies at the U.S. Department of Justice.

It turns out, the gun used to kill Brian came from the Obama Justice Department through Operation Fast and Furious. One year later we have no details about what really happened that night, no justice for Brian, no justice for the Terry family and an Attorney General who thinks he is above the law in providing details about the lethal Fast and Furious operation which has left more than 200 dead in Mexico and tied to the murders of two federal agents. Even Eric Holder admits more people will be killed because of his department putting over 2000 guns into the hands of ruthless cartel members.

Brian, the Terry family and the American people deserve better.

So please, take some time during your holiday activities to say a prayer for Brian Terry and his loved ones. And resolve to honor Brian by doing whatever you can to 'preserve, protect, and defend' the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights during these turbulent times.