There is much to value about our existing constitution. Our freedoms under the First Amendment protect our right to differ. It is always timely for voters to become more responsible citizens and 2025 is an excellent year to start or continue with education, awareness, and communication to protect our constitutional rights as American citizens.
Dear Neighbor,
Elections do have consequences. Pleased or not with the results, you might agree that a better understanding of how our government actually works and what our rights AND our responsibilities are as citizens is overdue; a civics education for all of us – not just the school-aged. If you agree, how will you begin to engage as an active citizen this new year and beyond?
Consider taking everyday actions within your community as an exercise of your first amendment rights. Subscribe to and read the local paper regularly and support the freedom of the press. Write a letter to the editor and express your opinion, even if in disagreement with others. Attend a service at a place that is an expression of your faith and enjoy your freedom to not agree with your neighbor’s choice of religion while continuing to exercise your right of freedom of, or freedom from, religion. Petition your elected officials and call them about an issue without fear or threat of retaliation because you disagree with their politics and decisions. Assemble with your neighbors at community events over topics of concern and to publicly express your views.
As you imagine those you disagree with expressing their rights, opinions and actions remember that a democratic republic can be messy and uncomfortable. Increase your civic knowledge about the First Amendment by visiting constitution.congress.gov rather than allowing fear of others to override your democratic values. Learn more about what it means to exercise your freedoms as a United States citizen under our existing constitution.
Next, stop and imagine losing any of your personal freedoms because of actions you chose to engage in as part of your first amendment rights as a United States citizen. Sadly, we might find we are comfortable with our choices while being suspicious of others who are also exercising their freedoms as granted by our constitution. We can’t allow suspicion of our neighbors to become a new norm.
Lastly, don’t ignore that our NC legislators voted at the last minute, 12/2/24, to add NC to the list of states asking Congress to call for a convention to study and recommend changes to our U.S. constitution. Did anyone consider if this call to look at congressional term limits might inadvertently lead to a constitutional crisis or a sweeping rewrite of our existing U.S. constitution? Or did elected legislators vote for something that seems popular rather than studying the possible consequences of their actions? Some constitutional scholars consider that the NC Legislature’s limited resolution is still a danger to our existing constitutional rights because once convened, the body of the future could propose other amendments they want beyond term limits. That’s a sobering thought. Could this NC vote lead to changing the First Amendment or affect other current rights?
There is much to value about our existing constitution. Our freedoms under the First Amendment protect our right to differ. It is always timely for voters to become more responsible citizens and 2025 is an excellent year to start or continue with education, awareness, and communication to protect our constitutional rights as American citizens.
“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.