Yesterday, the Constitution celebrated its 225th birthday. On September 17, 1787, The Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. The holiday was made official in 2004, and the Department of Education has mandated that there be educational programming about the Constitution on this day every year. To many, it’s just another day, or another silly holiday on the schedule. Many Americans don’t understand what the Constitution does for us on a daily basis, and why we should take a day to recognize that.
The National Archives states that “The Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.” It is culmination of men from differing backgrounds and dreams putting everything on the line for one common goal: liberty. The Constitution is what still protects our liberty today. In the past 225 years, the Constitution has only been amended 27 times, proving that it is a timeless guide for our country.
Our Constitution is the bedrock upon which America was built, and remains front and center in our lives today, though we may not realize it. It is the crux of every criminal trial and the very thing our Supreme Court was designed to protect. It is what keeps us free to live as we wish and express ourselves freely. The Constitution is an old document, but it is by no means antiquated.
As we honor another year celebrating Constitution Day, take a moment to consider what it protects in our everyday lives, and how many around the world long for such a document. As Thomas Jefferson said, “It is every American’s right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.” When we take the time to reflect on what that means, Constitution Day really is a day of celebration.
