Muslims Infiltrate Capitol Hill

Conservative Group Calls on Justice Dept. to Investigate Muslim Prayers on Capitol Hill

 

Published November 12, 2010 

| FoxNews.com

 

A conservative advocacy group on Friday called on the Justice Department to investigate a weekly prayer session on Capitol Hill that Muslims with terrorist ties have been participating in since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The American Center for Law and Justice, founded by the Rev. Pat Robertson, issued the demand one day after FoxNews.com revealed that notorious Al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki was among the controversial figures who has attended the weekly Friday Jummah prayers hosted by the Congressional Muslims Staff Association during the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations.

The group held prayers informally for about eight years before gaining official status in 2006 under the sponsorship of Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., one of two Muslims currently serving in Congress.

“It is unbelievable that the very terrorists who want to destroy America are permitted to meet in a congressionally sanctioned setting on Capitol Hill,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of American Center for Law and Justice. “This raises a host of significant questions – including concerns about national security.

“We’re demanding that the Department of Justice conduct an investigation and take immediate action to halt what appears to be a pattern of inviting Islamic extremists with ties to terrorism to participate in these events,” he continued. 

Related Links

Some Muslims Attending Capitol Hill Prayer Group Have Terror Ties, Probe Reveals

The Justice Department declined to comment.

There appears to be no public record of the people the Congressional Muslims Staff Association has invited to Capitol Hill, but FoxNews.com was able to glean a portrait of the Jummah prayer meetings through video footage, news reports, court records and social media posts. Among those who have participated are an Al Qaeda leader, the head of a designated terror organization and a confessed jihadist-in-training

Sources told FoxNews.com that Congressional Muslims Staff Association is comprised mostly of young Hill staffers who, for the most part, do not play a role in bringing in speakers; they say organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations have a heavy hand in selecting and bringing in outside guests.

Christians vs Muslims – Christians Win

Columnist: Bob Grafe

As the ninth anniversary of the Muslim attack against the United States on September 11, 2001 comes to an end, the following six-minute video really sums up where we are in America today.  There can be no denying that the U.S. government has, once again, displayed cowardly weakness in dealing with the growing number of Muslim thugs all around the world by effectively denying freedom of speech to a U.S. citizen minister through the clear use of Nazi-like strong-arm tactics.  While burning the Muslim’s unholy book the Quran may seem somewhat pointless, the video’s American speaker makes it clear that Christians need to stomp out “all” Muslims around the world in order for Christianity to survive.

Important Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a185HQ_HfhU

U.S. Military Burns Bibles – Do As I Say, Not As I Do Policy?

Editor’s Note:  This CNN story (from May 22, 2009) re-surfaced this morning (September 9, 2010) in reaction to the U.S. military’s and the U.S. president’s call to “stop” the planned burnings of the Muslim holy book, The Quran, scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010 at the Dove World Outreach Center Church in Gainesville, Florida.  Is this just another example of the U.S. government having a policy of “Do as I say, not as I do.” … in this case with regards to the burning of any religion’s holy writ?

        Story Highlights

• Unsolicited Bibles sent by U.S. church were confiscated about a year ago
• The Bibles were printed in two most common Afghan languages
• Military feared they could be used for proselytizing, which is forbidden to troops
• Military didn’t want to risk any distribution of the Bibles and angering Muslims 

May 22, 2009 — Updated 0624 GMT (1424 HKT)

  VIDEO

//

(CNN) – Military personnel threw away, and ultimately burned, confiscated Bibles that were printed in the two most common Afghan languages amid concern they would be used to try to convert Afghans, a Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday.

Afghan workers enter a walkway on March 3, 2009, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

The unsolicited Bibles sent by a church in the United States were confiscated about a year ago at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan because military rules forbid troops of any religion from proselytizing while deployed there, Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.

Such religious outreach can endanger American troops and civilians in the devoutly Muslim nation, Wright said.

“The decision was made that it was a ‘force protection’ measure to throw them away, because, if they did get out, it could be perceived by Afghans that the U.S. government or the U.S. military was trying to convert Muslims,” Wright told CNN on Tuesday.

Troops at posts in war zones are required to burn their trash, Wright said.

The Bibles were written in the languages Pashto and Dari.

This decision came to light recently, after the Al Jazeera English network aired video of a group prayer service and chapel sermon that a reporter said suggested U.S. troops were being encouraged to spread Christianity.

The military denied that earlier this month, saying much in the video was taken out of context.

“This was irresponsible and dangerous journalism sensationalizing year-old footage of a religious service for U.S. soldiers on a U.S. base and inferring that troops are evangelizing to Afghans,” Col. Gregory Julian said.

The military says a soldier at Bagram received the Bibles and didn’t realize he wasn’t allowed to hand them out. In the Al Jazeera video, which shows the Bibles at the prayer service, an unnamed soldier says members of his church raised money for them.

The chaplain later corrected the soldier and confiscated the Bibles, Wright said.

Military officers considered sending the Bibles back to the church, he said, but they worried the church would turn around and send them to another organization in Afghanistan — giving the impression that they had been distributed by the U.S. government.

That could lead to violence against troops or U.S. civilians, Wright said.

Al Jazeera English, a Qatar-based international news service, said its reporters tried to get a response from military officials for its story but were unable to do so.

The U.S. military air base at Bagram is home to thousands of troops from all branches of the U.S. military. The vast majority of the troops do not leave the base and are in various support roles for U.S. troops across Afghanistan.

First Day of School – 1950s Style

Columnist:  Bob Grafe

One of the advantages of being a “senior” citizen is the ability to reflect back over at least a half-century of real time — and to finally be truthful about it!

About 55 years ago, my fifth-grade elementary school teacher, Mrs. Rumbleheart, was welcoming her new class of students back to school after our summer vacation.  She met us at the classroom door with her new class roster in one hand and, “Whack,” her 18-inch ruler gripped confidently in the other.

“Welcome back.” she said with her all-knowing voice.  Most of the girls smiled and said something nice in return while most of us boys just looked down to avoid that familiar teacher’s glare of suspicion.  

In those days we didn’t return to school until after Labor Day was celebrated.  Well, celebrated wasn’t exactly the way we looked at it.  We kids weren’t ever really sure what Labor Day was all about anyway; except we all knew that we were about to return to “slave labor” in that big building called a school where they made us “practice” all kinds of stuff like reading, writing … and that other one as soon as Labor Day was over.

We knew from experience that our only break from true forced “labor” at school was when we were allowed out for recess into “the yard,” complete with concrete flooring and a “protective” (very tall) cyclone fence all around — with school teacher “guards” at every gate.

Modern-day prisons have a resemblance to many earlier-day schools.

The first day back to school was always bad.  But, this one seemed particularly bad.

The teachers, Mrs. Rumbleheart included, were everywhere when we went out for that first recess.  My friend Bruce secretly showed us guys some cigarettes and matches that he brought from home.  Unfortunately, he also unknowingly displayed them in a way that Mr. Kling, the vice principal, could also see them.

A couple of hours later I saw Bruce and his parents leaving Mr. Kling’s office at the end of our hallway.  Mrs. Rumbleheart never called out Bruce’s name for the remainder of that day … or the next day for that matter.  It wouldn’t have made any difference since Bruce didn’t come back to school for a couple of days.  When he came back to school he said that Mr. Kling sent him home to “think about” smoking. 

That didn’t make any sense to us.  He could have thought about smoking while at school.  That way, we guys wouldn’t have had to choose a girl to be on our dodge-ball team since Bruce wasn’t there.

Soon, it was time for our first lunch.  My mother had paid some money so that on “special days,” like the first day of school, I could eat a “hot” lunch at school.  Usually, I would bring a bag lunch with a hand-sliced piece of bologna on thin white bread with mayonnaise and a leaf of Iceberg head lettuce sandwich in a brown bag with a cookie.

My brown bag had my name written on it and would sit proudly on one of the shelves in the overly warm cloak room until it was time to go to lunch.  The school provided a “free” carton of milk for all of us brown-baggers.

I think my mother let me have a hot lunch in the school cafeteria on occasion just to make those bologna sandwiches seem better.  I don’t know if the school cooks only knew how to heat up spaghetti or not; but, it seemed as if every time I ate the school’s lunch it was spaghetti and they always added way too much water to the sauce.

After lunch it was back to the books in Mrs. Rumbleheart’s class.  She told us that we would have a different teacher than her for music and art classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that we “Best be good!” or she would hear about it … and so would we … from “Whack!”

Before the first day of school was over, Mrs. Rumbleheart had us read out-loud some pages from a book so she could check our reading ability.  We all read from the book except for Donald and Doreen.  Neither one of them ever said much in class either.  They had a really funny sounding last name.

After the reading time, we had to write some sentences about what we had just heard.  All I could remember was a couple of guys chuckling when I couldn’t pronounce some big word correctly when it was my time to read.  So, I wrote about them.  Mrs. Rumbleheart was not amused.

Finally, as the end of the first day of school was approaching, Mrs. Rumbleheart handed out a paper to everyone with a whole bunch of numbers on it in various forms and fashions with lines and strange looking symbols. 

“We still have some time to do a little math.” she announced.  Her voice had the same friendly ring to it as does the guard’s voice on death-row asking “Sir, what would you like to enjoy for your last meal with us?”

I recall turning in the paper empty to Mrs. Rumbleheart; and then, years later, having to re-take college algebra three times to finally graduate.

And, so ended another miserable first day back to school after completing a perfectly wonderful summer vacation. 

How long until Memorial Day?

Some things in life really never change … now, do they!

BREAKING: Dove World Outreach Center shut down? Another Janet Reno-style “burn” like the one in Waco, Texas?

Survivaltimes Columnist: Bob Grafe

Editor’s Note:  This story broke early this morning.  Survivaltimes was the first online source (see full story below) to question the status of not only Dove World’s website interruption but also interruptions to their telephone service and their eBay online store access, all of which appear to have been at least temporarily disrupted and/or disconnected.  These questions were in addition to questions raised with the Dove World’s mortgage being “called” and their insurance policy being cancelled–all within the last few days.  This certainly raises serious questions about all American’s rights to “free speech” … at least free speech without obvious punishment penalties attached by a variety of providers and indirectly by the U.S. and Dove World’s local municipal governments who have announced that they are considering sending Dove World extra bills for providing municipal security as a result of “others” being upset with Dove World.

BREAKING (Update):  September 9, 2010 – 2:30 p.m. Easter Time

2010 Posted in Internet by Dan Evon with View Comments

People from all over the world have come out to condemn the Dove World Outreach Center over their plans to burn Korans on September 11th, and now, Rackspace, the popular webhost, has officially pulled the plug from the Dove World Outreach Center’s website.

“This is not a constitutional issue. This is a contract issue,” said Rackspace spokesman Dan Goodgame.

According to CNN, Goodgame said that The Dove World Outreach Center violated Rackspace’s “hate-speech provision under its acceptable-use policy.”

It appears that the “Islam is the Devil” website has also been removed.

Here is the statement from Rackspace.

“In response to a complaint, Rackspace has shut down the websites of the Dove World Outreach Center, a small 50-member church which has received national and international criticism for a planned book burning of the Quran on the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. The center ‘violated the hate-speech provision of our acceptable-use policy.”

Terry Jones, the pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center says that Rackspace is violating his freedom of speech, but says that it will have no impact on stopping the church from burning the Koran.

“This is not going to affect the event going forward,” Jones said.

Read The Full Story: Rackspace Cancels Dove World Outreach Center’s Website – Indyposted

BREAKING:  September 9, 2010 – 9:40 a.m. Easter Time

What has happened to the Dove World Outreach Center’s website?  Where did it go?  Did its Internet Provider pull the plug?  The service has not been accessible for the past 12 hours.  Also, the church’s telephone number is not reachable any longer nor is their eBay Store site.

With all of the U.S. government’s interest and voiced concern, even from President Obama, about the church’s plan to burn copies of the Muslim Quran this coming Saturday, has that somehow caused the church’s contact with the outside world to be removed through government influence? 

Perhaps the on-the-ground mainstream media and/or other concerned citizens in the Gainesville, Florida area will check on the status of this church and its members.  America certainly does not need another Janet Reno-style attack like the one years ago in Waco, Texas.

The questions surrounding freedom of religion and freedom of speech in America for the Dove World Outreach Center are equally as important as the same questions pertaining to the Muslim Faith.

Dove World Outreach Center Church Vs The Koran (Qur’an) … Burn Baby Burn

By: Columnist Bob Grafe

UPDATE:  September 8, 2010 – As of 10 p.m. Easter Time, the Dove World Website is not accessible. 

The malignant minds of Muslims everywhere never ceases to amaze one who studies the Muslim non-religion.  This very sick Muslim society of malignant minds, frequently focused daily to the east in lemming fashion, is guided by none other than the Anti-Christ in Chief Satan and one of his mentally ill generals Muhammad The Maleficent.

While Muslims around the world continually desecrate the American Flag, the symbol to many of freedom and of one nation under God, they apparently feel that their unholy comic book, the Qur’an aka Koran aka Kookcrap, is worthy of killing over.  Muslims have called for not only the “death of America” but also the death of Obama—one of their own shirt-tail leaders. 

If their (Muslims) whole world view wasn’t entirely insane, it actually might even be a bit humorous.  But, it certainly is not humorous in the least.  Muslims are very threatening to the existence of all people of good will everywhere on Planet Earth. 

If the occupants of Planet Earth don’t wise up soon, very soon, it will be too late.  Those who follow the teachings of this unholy Muhammad and his mad writings must either be retrained into civility or eliminated in the flesh.  They can fight their battles for their 72 virgins in the next world where they will be looked upon as poor insects subject only to integrated pest management techniques applied by their God.

If I were a so-called Muslim (by the way, I’m not and never will be) I think I’d want some answers from my Muslim “so-called” leaders  to questions about Islam’s continuing to follow the Satanic practices of burying their members (for punishment) up to their heads and then taking rock-throwing practice as the victim attempts to dodge the onslaught of rocks until he (or she) gives up their last breath; things like cutting off various parts of the body (including heads) of their enemies da jour for all the world to see as if they had just killed a long sought-after trophy animal; forgetting about any sense of the word “equal” when it comes to women’s rights; specifically naming Jesus Christ as being “not” the son of God in their un-holy book; the killing of thousands of Christians, Bahai’s and others who do not believe in their devil worshiping Islamic non-religion hate society; and their practice of just being nasty, mean, threatening accidental members of the human race (or so I assume)! 

In the meantime, those who want to warm up the climate on the anniversary of the Muslim’s attack against America carried out on September 11, 2001 will symbolically burn Korans at a Florida church (Dove World Outreach Center at http://www.doveworld.org/blog/ten-reasons-to-burn-a-koran) and elsewhere on September 11, 2010. 

My only suggestion is for every non-Muslim good person in the world to read and understand the anti-Christ teachings of the Muslim unholy book first in order to better understand the real threat that modern-day Muslims present to the remainder of the non-Muslim world. 

Then … burn baby burn!!  Let those unholy books turn to toast as a display of Constitutional freedom of speech regardless of what a misguided U.S. General in Afghanistan and the current U.S. President have to say about the matter.  They both wish (Maybe the general was ordered by Obama to wish!) that all truth-seekers who want to expose the Koran for the Muslim hate-the-rest-of-the-world-book that it really is, would just go away.  God-loving people won’t do that without a fight! 

To stand up for the right Gospel principle in this matter is nothing more than a display of  freedom of speech in action.

Kingston Trio Comfort Music Continues

By:  Columnist Bob Grafe

When I mention to friends that I grew up along the banks of San Francisco Bay, I have to be careful these days how I mention that I was always attracted to the goings-on at the hungry i (or as people referred to it then as “the eye”) night club in North Beach, San Francisco.

At that time, the club was located in the basement of the International Hotel at Kearny and Jackson streets. The club only sat about 300 people around its three-sided stage and would usually run a couple of shows each night — frequently offering up yet-to-be-discovered talent appearing on stage just before the headline act.

During my youth, the hungry i (the club’s name remains a mystery with some thinking the lower-case “i” was meant to represent “intellectual” while the club’s owner, Enrico Banducci always claimed that it was Freudian and short for “the hungry id.”) was one of “the city’s” hot spots to launch a performing arts career.

Today, however, (and this is why I have to be careful how I tell this story today) the hungry i has relocated from its original location to Broadway Street and is now a topless strip bar operated by Déjà Vu beginning their business venture after the original club closed its doors in the very late 1960s and the “hungry i” name was sold off separately.

What I think about most from those “early” days of my race to adulthood, is the music that was generated from within the walls of the hungry i from the likes of The Limeliters, jazz legend Vince Guaraldi, master folk singer Glenn Yarborough, a young Barbra Streisand and my favorite folk group, The Kingston Trio.

I could hardly wait for the moment when I was actually old enough to enter into the depths of the club to actually see and hear “in person” The Kingston Trio.

No longer would I be relegated to standing next to a side door of the club where I could actually hear Trio member Bob Shane knock out his favorite rendition of Scotch and Soda or Trio member Nick Reynolds verbally play with the audience while singing his story of The M.T.A. or Tom Dooley.

By the time I actually made it “legally” through the doors of “the Eye” the original Kingston Trio had dropped (via an expensive buy-out) singer/banjo player Dave Guard from its ranks and welcomed in John Stewart, a 21-year-old member of the folk group Cumberland Three.

Over the years, I have been a side-line follower of the Kingston Trio collecting bits and pieces of their history as I could — intended to enhance the listening pleasure that I have always received from them during most of my life. From written biographies of the original and subsequent members of the Trio, to song books, to albums to tapes and now to CDs.

Now, after 50+ years of being a true “fan” of this singing group, it finally dawned on me, and I reluctantly accepted the fact, that “they” wouldn’t be around forever to share their musical talents with us.

Original Trio members Dave Guard and Nick Reynolds have already passed on and Bob Shane resides relatively quietly in Arizona fighting an uphill battle with chronic health problems.

At that same time, I pondered just how much time “I” (not to be confused with “i”) would have left as I phase into the early years of senior citizenship, how I would miss the actual live performances of the Kingston Trio that I’ve attended or viewed electronically over the years, and I questioned how I could keep their “comfort” music for me going on forever during the remainder of my life.

While today three new members of the Trio continue performance tours as a tribute to the original and later Kingston Trio members, it just is not quite the “same” as it was originally.

In a deliberate rather than a desperate effort, I began to search out ways that I could still enjoy the original Kingston Trio performances and the other musical skills of many wonderful performers who have provided me with a variety of musical enjoyment excellence over the years.

When I searched the Internet for my personal selections of “comfort” music, I really hit a treasure trove. Not only did the Internet sites offer access to the lyrics of most of the music that I was interested in, but many sites actually offered full or abbreviated sheet music — especially for piano and guitar.

But, when I searched www.youtube.com for the Kingston Trio and hundreds of other performing artists, I was absolutely amazed at how many films from actual live performances and musical movie excerpts were available to me.

Music has always been a comfort for me throughout my life. Now, as a slower-than-I-used-to-be senior citizen, I really appreciate the skill and knowledge of computer geniuses that now allows us to access literally unlimited musical forms — right in the comfort of our own homes.

I guess if I ever return to my city-by-the-bay — San Francisco — there won’t be the pull to once again stand by the side door of the hungry i with my ear near the opening attempting to pick up on any new musical numbers.

And, I certainly won’t be trying to get a peek in the door to see any new talent!

Vegans Underground Natural Love Finally Exposed!

Vegans Underground Natural Love Finally Exposed! It's amazing what teenage carrots will do when left alone! - Photo Credit: Bob Grafe

Flag Day – A Time To Salute The American Flag

By:  Columnist Bob Grafe

Flag Day has always been one of my favorite days of reflection. As a native born citizen of the United States of America, the flag brings back many positive memories as I look back over the years.

My earliest recollection of the American flag having special meaning came during my elementary school days when I stood at attention each school day morning and recited my Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

As I recall, I did not then, nor would I ever, pledge “allegiance” to any other country’s flag; I knew in my heart that I was a part of a very special “republic” for which the flag stands; I gave many thanks that I was a part of one nation “under God” that was indivisible, a group of like-minded mostly righteous men and women from the various states; and that I was proud to live in a land allowing liberty, free from the tyranny of an unfettered government, and a land where justice for all of its citizens was a common goal.

I can remember many of my public school teachers explaining the history of the flag and sharing the inspirational story of Betsy Ross, the woman who sewed the original stars and stripes flag for the United States in her Philadelphia upholstery shop under the direction of George Washington and others.

Also, I can remember back to the time when I was so proud to become a Cub Scout at the age of 8 years old. With two fingers extended I was able to actually salute the American flag when I was in uniform as I recited the Pledge of Allegiance. That salute to my flag has continued as I progressed through life as a Boy Scout (a three-fingered salute), as a member of the United States military (a full-hand salute), and today as a member of the American Legion.

During all of those experiences, the American Flag was never far from sight — often being displayed on my various uniforms, at various schools of learning, at my place of employment, at my place of worship, and at my home.

For the vast majority of citizens of the United States, the American flag represents all that is good about our country.

However, occasionally, there are anti-American flag burners who catch their brief moment of notoriety with some media coverage — but, the incidents are few and are dramatically over-shadowed by the showing of strong American pride by the majority of citizens throughout the year.

Perhaps the most flagrant disregard and lack of respect for our nation’s flag has come recently from visitors to our home country who choose to display another country’s flag in place of our American flag in an effort to gain attention to their various political causes.

Those who use the American flag in disrespectful ways to further perpetrate their frequently anti-American causes should be strongly reminded that if they are legal citizens of the country they should be ashamed; and if they are “visitors” to our country perhaps they should re-think how they would react if American citizens came to their country, took down their country’s flag, and then replaced it with our Old Glory.

Bad manners regarding our flag should not be tolerated regardless of who is being disrespectful to it. The patriotic and rightful use of our American flag belongs to the legal citizens of the United States — not to anyone else.

The American flag is our country’s most precious symbol. It is a strong part of what binds us together as a nation of those who believe strongly that our Constitution was written by men of God through divine inspiration.

As we approach another Flag Day in this great country, let us not forget that the flag deserves our constant respect, attention and protection. And, when the cloth of our nation’s flag no longer has the physical strength to withstand the burdens of the wind, the sun and other natural elements let us remember to retire the American flag with the dignity and respect that it has so dutifully earned.

A look at the law regarding respect for our Old Glory … our Stars and Stripes … our American Flag:

Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.

The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.

The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.

The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

A Pop Quiz On The U.S. Constitution

By:  Columnist Bob Grafe

Most senior citizens living in the United States are familiar with the country’s Constitution. In fact, many of us have actually read it “cover to cover.”

Remembering what year in elementary or high school that we actually read it may be difficult to accurately recall. However, we do remember reading it … don’t we?

Therefore, we can declare with all honesty that we have “read” the Constitution!

Can we state with that same honesty that we also comprehend the Constitution? That may be much more of a “stretch” for us to answer in the affirmative.

The Constitution actually only contains 4,543 words in the original, unamended Constitution, including the signatures. Average English readers, reading for comprehension, will average reading between 200 — 400 words-per-minute.

Even using the slower rate of the “average” results in the total time to read the Constitution with comprehension to less than 23 minutes. If you throw in reading the amendments to the Constitution as well that pushes the total time commitment to actually read the entire Constitution to 30 minutes or less for the average English reader.

Interestingly, if you are a legal immigrant to the United States you had to pass a naturalization test in order to be granted citizenship — including some questions pertaining to the Constitution.

Here are a couple of questions (and correct answers) from the actual United States naturalization test which is administered in the English language:

Q: What is the supreme law of the land?

A: The Constitution.

Q: What does the Constitution do?

A: Sets up the government; defines the government; and protects basic rights of Americans.

Q: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

A: We the People.

Q: What is an amendment?

A: A change or an addition to the Constitution.

Q: What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

A: The Bill of Rights.

Q: What is one right or freedom (of several) from the First Amendment?

A: Speech, religion, assembly, press and/or petition the government.

Those questions require some limited recall, but other parts of our Constitution require much more thought process to fully grasp the real significance of the document keeping in mind the prophetic wisdom of John Adams who stated “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Perhaps it is time that senior citizens and others dust off their copy of the Constitution (or just go online and Google “United States Constitution text”) and take a few minutes to regain familiarity with that document that permeates all aspects of our American way of life.

If we just look at the opening words of the Constitution we realize how important this document is to our very existence as a sovereign country and society.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union …”

Our founders had the vision for all of us that we should continually strive to better ourselves and others. This perfect “union” of the states took many drafts and many revisions to the Constitution before it was adopted. Not everyone got everything they wanted in the document; but, everyone involved had a place at the negotiating table during those 116 days during the hot summer of 1787 when the Constitutional Convention took place.

“ … establish justice …”

Even with all of its warts, our judicial system is still the envy of the world thanks to the judicial foundations laid out in the Constitution.

“ … insure domestic Tranquility … ”

This goal continues to be a work in progress as the Constitution seems to mandate that our country’s leaders strive to provide a peaceful atmosphere for its citizens to dwell within — something that is occasionally illusive.

“ … provide for the common defense …”

If not “the” most important provision in the Constitution, it certainly ranks near the top.

“… promote the general Welfare … ”

The founders never intended that a corruption of this concept into today’s “welfare system” would exist.

“ … and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity … ”

The Constitution clearly sets forth the responsibility of each generation to “secure” the blessings of liberty for both the current generation and for the generations to follow. The strict reading of this would suggest that it was intended to apply to citizens of the United States as stated in the closing words which are:

“… do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

If Thomas Jefferson were alive today he would probably challenge all senior citizens and others to reacquaint themselves with their Constitution. He might even repeat this admonition that he stated while he walked among us: “Say … whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government, or information to the people. This last is the most certain and the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”