Some Context Please... Pt. 1 of 3

The Constitution was not written in disappearing ink. Our framers knew that a decentralized but democratic means of making decisions in our government would preserve the government. Most citizens today cannot talk about with certainty the articles in the Constitution, most cannot talk about the Bill of Rights. Most of us can only express outrage that the mass media has relinquished their responsibility. Yet, we find that when we talk to people their “belief” in the Constitution is absolutely present though somewhat intangible.

People equate that belief with the love of one's country. All Americans were reminded after the events of September 11, 2001 that the love of our country, that indescribable feeling is not obtained through a rational exploration but rather through emotion. Let us look together at an example. The following four Constitutional points sound good when first reading them – when reading, we as humans get an initial good feeling, a feeling of “safeness”:

1. Citizens are guaranteed freedom of conscience (that is the right to profess or not to profess any religion; the church is separated from the state and the school from the church)…

2. Citizens are guaranteed inviolability of the persons. No one may be arrested except by a court decision or on the warrant…Citizens are guaranteed inviolability of the home. No one may, without lawful grounds, enter a home against the will of those residing in it…

3. The privacy of citizens and of their correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications, is protected by law.

4. Respect for the individual and protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens are the duty of all state bodies, public organizations, and officials. Citizens have the right to protection by the courts against encroachments on their honor and reputation, life and health, personal freedom and property.

There are many more of these exact types of points that can be found. For illustration purposes and in no specific measure or order of importance, four were taken to use here. These four points or articles were taken from the Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This Constitution is the most recent constitution and is the current governing version. It was adopted in 1977.

This illustration should demonstrate the importance of not taking words out of context. Understanding what the words mean and of course why were those words ever written to begin with. We as Americans have our suspicions about how the citizens in Russia really live and how those same citizens really want to live.