It can
rightfully be said that the only thing that differentiates the United States
from any other country has been the extent to which government–federal, state
and local–adhered to the Bill of Rights.

Those
first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibit some
governmental action and they were the first in history to do so. They even go
so far as to say that people have rights even if the Constitution doesn’t
enumerate those rights.

But
over the years government, on all three levels, has evaded that responsibility,
quietly and sometimes not so quietly chipping away at our guarantees of
liberty.

So it
is no wonder that most people are unaware that Dec. 15 is Bill of Rights Day.
It was Dec. 15, 1791 when a U.S. Congress–who lived through the War of
Independence–ratified the Bill of Rights. It was 150 years later, in 1941, when
the day was officially proclaimed Bill of Rights Day.

There
will likely be some official resolutions in various state legislatures
acknowledging the day, and maybe some classrooms will discuss the significance
but, by and large, the day will pass as just another shopping day until
Christmas.

It is,
however, much more significant. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to James
Madison in 1787: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to
against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just
government should refuse, or rest on inference."

The
Bill of Rights is, what some call, “the great protector of American liberties.”

Yet,
such a bill can’t be a protector without the people protecting it. And the
people can’t and won’t protect what they don’t know or understand.

The
Bill of Rights, and its significance to actual as well as the concept of
liberty should not only be taught is school, but discussed in the home. People
should have ready reference to it and the rest of the Constitution whenever
discussing politics. They should know what is at stake every time some
politician from state representative to United States president says he or she
wants to make things better.

Until
that time here is a summary provided by Sharon Harris, president of the
Advocates for Self Government:

The
Bill Of Rights

1.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble
peaceably, right to petition the government about grievances.

2.
Right to keep and bear arms.

3.
Citizens do not have to quarter soldiers during peacetime.

4. No
unreasonable searches and seizures.

5.
Rights of the accused.

6.
Right to a fair trial.

7.
Right to a trial by jury in civil cases also.

8. No
cruel and unusual punishments.

9. Un-enumerated
rights go to the people.

10.
Reserves all powers not given to the national government to the states or the
people.

Those
who don’t know their rights will lose them, sooner or later.

Happy
Bill of Rights Day.