When : Always December 15
Today is Bill of Rights Day. To Americans, the Bill of Rights are key amendments to the U.S. Constitution, that protect our individual rights.
On March 4, 1789, the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified by the (former)13 colonies, and went into effect. States and individuals were concerned that the Constitution did not properly cover and protect a number of rights of individuals. The Constitution was signed by the original 13 states with the requirement, or understanding, that a Bill of Rights would be created, amending the new U.S. Constitution.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. 10 of these amendments were added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights includes these Amendments:
Amendment 1- Freedom of speech, press and religion
Amendment 2 – The right to bear arms
Amendment 3- Protection of homeowners from quartering troops, except during war.
Amendment 4 – Rights and protections against unreasonable search and seizure
Amendment 5 – Rights of due process of law, protection against double jeopardy, self incrimination
Amendment 6 – Rights of a speedy trial by jury of peers and rights of accused
Amendment 7 – Rights to trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 8 – Protection from cruel and unusual punishment, excessive bail
Amendment 9 – Protection of rights not specified in the Bill of Rights
Amendment 10 – States rights, power of the states
Of the 12 original amendments, which ones were not approved? Amendments # 1 and 2. These dealt with the number of representative to congress, and compensation to representatives.
On Bill of Rights Day, we hope you celebrate you American Citizenship, and spend a few minutes reflecting upon the freedoms that you enjoy. These freedoms do not exist in many countries of the world.
Posts Tagged ‘Bill of Rights’
Happy Bill of Rights Day!
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009Independence Day Downer
Saturday, July 4th, 2009The celebration of American independence on July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. It marries two important concepts: patriotism without jingoism and the desire to use explosives and incendiary devices. Seriously, it is a great day to reflect on those ideals that make the United States of America a unique nation. A good use of your holiday time would be to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, including the Bill of Rights, in their entirety. Discuss anything that stands out with your friends and family. Try to learn something new. I was unaware of Virginian George Mason’s contributions and influence on the completed work. Nifty!
The downer involves the explosives. As much as I like big booms, I hate to see stories of destruction and death like this one from the AP wire:
OCRACOKE, N.C. (AP) — A worker preparing for an Independence Day celebration was killed and four colleagues critically injured after fireworks exploded Saturday morning on a remote North Carolina island dock, authorities said. <link>
Be safe out there, gang,
Oh, great…
Friday, May 15th, 2009Not only do I have a crush on a lesbian, now I am in love with two middle-aged men. Damn it! All these guys have to offer is acidic wit, biting commentary on The Bill of Rights and hilarious stage magic. Although Penn does do a bit using a bass guitar they don’t even have a catchy song like my unobtainable female.
I bitch quite a lot about airport security measures being primarily theatre, merely providing the illusion of security, but they have worked it into a routine that I might have the balls to try the next time I fly. Assuming of course that I am not going anywhere important enough that I couldn’t risk being detained.
Penn & Teller put airport security to the test
By Harriet Baskas, special for USA TODAYLike many travelers, the infamous, eccentric, libertarian-leaning magicians known as Penn & Teller have a gripe with airport security. “What really bothers us about the TSA is not the men and women employed there,” says Penn Jillette, the taller, more talkative (at least on stage) member of the performance team. “We’re just against the idea of people allowing themselves to give up freedoms when confronted with fear.”
…Penn & Teller bring out one of those wands we’ve all had waved over us at the airport when the change in our pocket or the wire from our bra causes the machinery to beep. An audience member is invited up on stage to make sure the equipment is working, and when Jillette’s pocket beeps he hands over a playing-card-sized piece of metal that just happens to have the Bill of Rights printed on it with the Fourth Amendment highlighted. Jillette says it usually elicits a big laugh when he gives the audience-assistant the mini-metal Bill of Rights and tells him how much fun it will be if he keeps it in pocket when going through the security checkpoint at McCarran International Airport.
Once it’s established that the metal detector is working, the always-innocent-looking Teller walks through it and sets off no alarms. But then, from somewhere inside his coat pocket, he pulls out a metal pan that’s on fire. Next, he produces a fire extinguisher and, after that, a full-size shovel. “The point we’re making,” says Jillette, “is that if two goofball magicians can slip this stuff by with full lights shining on them and the full attention of the audience, then what could a really bad person do?” – [Be sure to read the entire story at The USA Today]
I remain a huge fan and will catch the new Vegas act at my first opportunity. Tag along if you wish. It will be a blast.