“BEEEP” I smack the snooze button for the fifth time (yeah … Mornings and I have a rocky relationship). Mustering every ounce of will power, I pull myself out of my toasty sheets and commence with my morning routine: get dressed, make a smoothie, brush teeth, and double-check my backpack laptop slot.
It’s a typical morning, I drive to either school or work, and then I plunge into whatever my courses have in store or how full my inbox is at work. When the clock chimes the magical time, I can return home to my husband, and we rehash our day’s events and sink into a heavenly slumber.
I happily live a typical American lifestyle. But, what does it mean to live an American lifestyle? Is it having an iPhone and drinking Starbucks? Or, is it operating a dairy farm in California, or being a lawyer in Boston? The American way of living is remarkable. Only three billion of us can say we enjoy an American lifestyle in the world. Living as an American can take various forms; however, we share an extraordinary similarity.
As citizens of the United States of America, we all partake, exercise, and share the U.S. Constitution. The United States of America has been profoundly unique for over two hundred years. No country has ever created a document so radical, so revolutionary, or so strong and durable as the U.S. Constitution.
A phenomenal woman, Olga T. Weber, from my beloved hometown, Louisville, Ohio, recognized the sheer significance and utter value of the U.S. Constitution and did not stop until our federal government nationally recognized September 17 as “Constitution Day.” With all the conviction in my heart, I can state that my life would not be the same without this woman and her efforts. I am forever grateful to Mrs. Weber.
Our Constitution was the world’s first wobbly attempt toward democracy, and it resulted as the most enduring democratic government. Many other nations have modeled their governments from the U.S. Constitution in response. Protecting us from our government while simultaneously reigning as the “Supreme Law of the Land,” the Constitution is a gift, value, and right that is frequently forgotten or taken for granted.
The Constitution constructed our nation and planted the roots of “unalienable rights” that are ingrained into our culture. This document influences every aspect of our lives. From the toothpaste on my toothbrush to the gas in my car, from posting a Facebook status to praying in my church—the Constitution made all of this possible and more.
The Constitution enables all of us to live with liberty—to live the American lifestyle—that is the ability to live freely, protected, and with a voice. Only three billion of the seven billion in the world can choose their career, simply drive their car to the grocery store, or tweet their opinions without fear or consequence from the government.
One of the many key components of the Constitution is its capacity to adapt. Our Founding Fathers realized that times would change and for the Constitution to sustain, it must be able to evolve with the world. This crucial element enables our Supreme Law of the Land to remain just as relevant as it was two hundred years ago.
Another pivotal ingredient to this indenture is its interpretation. Whether it be a Greenback, a Republican, a Democrat, and more, the Constitution can be viewed and understood in many ways. This characteristic may seem like a weakness on the surface; however, the many explanations allow for more options and methods to govern.
The United States has grown and developed, due to the differing ideas and interpretations of the Constitution, into a more stable nation with healthy opposing ideas. No one view can carry a country through a Civil War and a Great Depression. America has weathered many storms because we can use and apply different conceptions of the Constitution when necessary.
Do I believe that even in this political frenzy and economic downturn that our Constitution is still as striking and outstanding as it was 50 years ago? Absolutely. The faces, voices, and opinions of our government may change, but our steadfast institution and inalienable rights do not.
Just as each American citizen is versatile and distinctive, so is our Constitution and nation. As we all have a variety of lifestyles, the Constitution has a variety of interpretations and abilities to accommodate for us.
“We the People of the United States” reminds us that the Constitution was written by us, for us. It is a government created for the citizens by the citizens. In today’s day and age, the Constitution could not be more relevant. There is a reason I can live the lifestyle I choose to live.
The Constitution holds more than guidelines for our cherished republic, laws, and rights. It binds each and every American citizen. Be it a student graduating from medical school or a newly naturalized mother of three, we are one.
We can flourish in a land abundant with opportunities and liberty, shine in the grace of our own individuality, and be joined as a protected nation.
As I look around my home, I recognize objects that I would not have without the Constitution. But, as I look at my life, I see the opportunities, passions, and aspirations that I would not have without the Constitution. As I look at our nation, I see the spirit, hope, justice, and brilliance that would be forever gone from the world without the continued relevance of our United States Constitution. So please, in the middle of the craziness unfolding around us, celebrate on September 17 with me.
