Confessions of an Extremist

In the last few years I have decided to pursue my education again. No, I am not going back to "school," but I am studying, writing and discussing great books and ideas with others. One of the areas that I am pursuing is the study of freedom and the founding of our great country. I am ashamed to admit that until recently I had never read the constitution (Oh, I probably did in 8th grade civics class - but it didn't leave much of an impression!).

I am truly amazed at what an inspired document our constitution is. As I have been studying the federalist papers, the writings of Thomas Paine, the lives of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, I am coming to appreciate the sacrifices that were made in my behalf. I am gaining a vision for the freedom they wanted me to have. And this saddens me greatly, because I am also realizing that most of these freedoms have slowly been stripped away from us. How could we, as Americans, have allowed this to happen? Why have we been sleeping?

I am also seeing that many of us who were asleep are now waking up, and this is scaring those who are in power. Those with "power" don't want us to wake anyone else up. They don't want us to realize what we have lost. They don't want us to bring the constitution back. They tell us that it is "outdated" and shouldn't be honored because it was written by "rich, white, slave owners." They label us as "extremists" and "anti-Americans" to try to discredit us. They try to frighten us into being quiet by telling us they are keeping "a list" of anyone who disagrees.

But anyone who has truly gained a vision of freedom will not give up without a fight. Those who fought the Revolutionary War were called rebels and ruffians. I know that I am willing to take a stand. I want MY children and grandchildren to be free, even if that means I have to suffer or even die. So I guess being an extremist just puts me in good company.