All great change in America begins at the dinner table

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
Ronald Reagan

My friend Peter Roff sent me a book for my birthday, "Ratification - The People Debate the Constitution 1787-1788," written by Pauline Maier. I, a revolutionary buff, and founder of "Constituting America," am loving this book.

What captures my attention is something Ms. Maier states in her introduction. She likens the fervor over the Constitutional debate before ratification to today's fervor over the World Series. People were talking about the
Constitution and debating the Constitution everywhere - in their homes, local taverns, even women joined the lively, passionate discussion

Do we have passion today for our Republic? Are we willing to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution?
Are we engaging our children in the lively debate? Do they know our governmental structure of checks and balances and basic human rights? Do they know how relevant it is to today? Do they know that most of those "old men in tights and wigs" were young men in the 30's?
Do they know how they sacrificed their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor?

Do they realize that, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction?"
Ronald Reagan.

Ignorance of our Constitution is a malady that will kill our country and our children's future. Our founding fathers gave us a great gift - a Republic. It is up to us, "the genius of the people" to keep it alive. If only we had the same passion for our Republic as we do for the World Series or the Super Bowl.

We can no longer afford to be idle.

Thus, I ask you to join Juliette and me in a nation wide adventure. Patriot Clubs. Please join us and start a Patriot Club for your children and your community, even adults. Spread the word in your schools, your churches and through your e-mails and Facebook.

Juliette and I are starting ours this January, or maybe even between December 25 and January 1. We are going to have our Patriot Club meetings once a month. All kids of all ages should join the fun. At the meetings the kids could bake some Revolutionary cookies, play Revolutionary charades, read from the Constitution, (they are available in booklet form on Constituting America's website, http://www.constitutingamerica.org) and discuss 5 ways the Constitution is being utilized today. They may also plan how to join our nation wide, "We the People 9.17 Contest" - scholarships, trips, nationwide publicity -
Best poem, artwork, essay, original song, public service announcement, short film and add on best speech for college kids. No one is too young or too old. The meetings may be as simple or scholarly as desired but they must be hip, cool and fun!

I marveled just yesterday at how our Constitution is at work: the Congress repealed, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and then President Obama signed it into law. Yet, he could have vetoed it and it would have gone back to the Congress - the Constitution at work. The Senate ratified President Obama's nuclear arms treaty with Russia.
The President negotiated the treaty but the Senate had to approve it - our Constitution at work. And recently, certain parts of the healthcare bill have been declared unconstitutional by courts in a couple of states - our Constitution at work.

There are so many ways to stress with our children how vital the United States Constitution is.

What are your examples? What ideas do you have for the Patriot's Club activities?
Blog with me and let me know. I need ideas and I am going to start planning our exact date. Be sure to get your teenagers to the club! They are almost voting age and we need them. They are the torchbearers of freedom!
Ask them what amendment gives them the right to vote - our Constitution at work.


P.S. Read and Discuss the United States Constitution with your family at the dinner table. Let's put passion back into our political responsibility. World Series, Super Bowl and our Republic! Let's examine how our Republic makes available the liberties to have a World Series and a Super Bowl.