As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, there's a lot we have to be thankful for as Americans – family, provisions, jobs, faith, and so much more.
This year, I'm thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. All Americans should be the most grateful people in the world because we live in the freest nation in the history of humanity.
There are so many freedoms we have as Americans. Today, these inspired notations enshrined in the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution are easily taken for granted. One historian said about the first ten amendments to the Constitution, "The Bill of Rights is the United States. The United States is the Bill of Rights. Compromise the Bill of Rights and you dissolve the very foundation upon which the Union stands… Nowhere in the Bill of Rights are the words 'unless inconvenient' to be found."
Truer words have rarely been spoken. As Patrick Henry exclaimed, "Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?" Henry's question hits home to students of history. We have seen all too often throughout the annals of world – and even American – history that rulers are not to be trusted without absolute power, no matter how trustworthy or "good" they might be deemed by their citizens. Our Founders were extremely wise to amend the Constitution to protect against abuse by future governments.
And what are these rights?
The first is that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Many regard this amendment as the most important, and it packs several different – yet similar – rights together. As we observed during the COVID-19 era just a handful of years ago, tyrannical government officials attempted to dictate, in the name of health safety, what churches and people of faith could or could not do in the expression of their religion(s). Thanks to this amendment, though, these out-of-control local governments were ultimately stopped. However, other people of faith in countries around the world did not enjoy the same fate, as their governments were not harnessed by anything in their charters to prevent such violations.
The other two provisions of this amendment are just as important, starting with the freedom of the press. Despite how some complain about the biases of the press (much like sports fans gripe about calls of officials), any journalist in America can work without fear of retribution from the government. There are other countries around the world where such employees do not have this luxury, essentially acting as agents of the state. The amendment concludes with protections for citizens to peaceably assemble and petition their governments. Most Americans probably can't comprehend the antithesis of this stipulation. The fact that anyone can wake up on any given day to gather with others for any lawful purpose, or to contact their government official to criticize some action being taken, is absolutely unheard of in much of the world. And yet these rights are our American birthrights. This reality gives us much to be thankful for as Americans.
The Second Amendment is that "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
This amendment is also critical to our nation's future and has received significant backing in recent years from the Supreme Court of the United States. The Second Amendment gives people necessary protections to defend their personal liberties and functions as a check against a future government that could threaten to overwhelm the freedoms of law-abiding citizens. George Mason said in 1788, "To disarm the people…[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them." James Madison added, "A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most effective defense of a free country."
Each year, we hear of how governments in other parts of the world – especially in, but not limited to, underdeveloped countries – exploit, harm, or kill people simply because they can. These terrors, in large part, are due to the population being devoid of personal protections to deter against government aggression. However, the benefits of an armed populace extend beyond protection against a tyrannical government to defense of private property or personal rights. Government officials can't be everywhere, and armed citizens are necessary to stop those who are intent on depriving innocent people of their God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Without good people carrying weapons – and using them in lawful ways – dangerous criminals would rule the streets, causing chaos and fear in our communities. So, the Second Amendment gives us much to be thankful for as Americans.
There are many other freedoms in the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Those freedoms include a prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures, protection of due process, guarantee of public trials, equal protection, privacy, voting, and more. These amendments have been tried and tested for generations, ensuring that American freedoms are passed down from our fathers to our children.
So, this Thanksgiving season, I'm thankful I have the opportunity to live in the United States of America to enjoy these God-given freedoms. They are ours to enjoy as long as we remain true to the Constitution. Happy Thanksgiving – and may God bless America!
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