A most interesting discussion on this week’s topic “The Constitution” was broadc

A most interesting discussion on this week’s topic “The Constitution” was broadcast from NPR’s Throughline podcast of September 30th, 2021… In this 43-minute discussion (which you will listen to on the link below), the topic of the meaning and the purpose of our Constitution is reflected on … <
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https://www.npr.org/2021/09/29/1041650865/the-shadows-of-the-constitution-2020 (Links to an external site.)<
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The United States Constitution is the oldest active constitution in the world today … officially ratified on June 21st, 1788 and became active on March 4th, 1789. It serves as the basic structure of our government. It is a relatively brief document of only 4,400 words that contains a Preamble, seven Articles, and twenty-seven Amendments. This powerful document has endured for more than two centuries because American citizens have supported its framework and have stood behind the basic concepts of democracy that are operated through our adherence to its text.<
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But this great foundation of our nation is currently under great strain. Political forces from within our country are tearing its very fabric apart. Many citizens clamor that we need to protect our Constitution, yet no real efforts are made by them or by the people that they elect, to provide any valuable safeguards. The document, like our nation, is flawed. It is rightfully revered, but also correctly criticized for all that it does and does not do. As the great activist James Baldwin declared … “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” … The same concept can be applied to our Constitution. But it has endured longer than any other democratic constitution on earth because it has successfully allowed our nation to survive and grow within its basic construct.<
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As you will discover from the podcast, What the Constitution Means to Me is the title of a play written and performed by Heidi Schreck … You can watch the entire play if you like on Amazon Prime Video … Among various topics discussed in the play, Ms. Schreck speaks of the Constitution’s make up of mostly enumerated inactive negative rights, and its intentional lack of enumerated active positive rights … (Negative rights are the requirements of someone else not to interfere in your ability to obtain something. Positive rights are a requirement of someone else to provide you with something.) … Ms. Schreck also takes notice of the immense power of the Nineth Amendment which clearly states …The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. <
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But her most pressing issue speaks to the obligations of the Constitution.<
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So, with that last issue in mind, this week’s individual discussion question to you is simply …<
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What are the obligations of the Constitution to you ?<
What are your obligations as a citizen to the ideals of the Constitution ?<
Is the Constitution obligated to look out for all of us and why does that matter to our understanding of the role of the government in our lives?<
In the first part of this assignment, you are asked to answer the specific question(s) regarding the stated topic in two or more complete paragraphs. (Full multi-sentence paragraphs that are composed in complete sentences please) ….<
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(This part of the exercise is worth 3 of the 4 points attainable for this assignment)<