“We the people” is how our founding fathers chose to open the Constitution. These three words appear in large font on the opening Preamble. For years children across America memorized the Preamble. It speaks to the true authority and power behind the Constitution.
Lincoln would stand on the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg shortly after that terrible battle cost the lives of thousands of Americans. He begins by talking about the birth of this nation “conceived in liberty.” He closed his famous speech by stating “that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish on earth.”
On the 100th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower encouraged Americans to perpetuate those ideals. After referencing Lincoln, he encouraged his generation to “defend, protect, and pass on unblemished, to coming generations the heritage–the trust–that Abraham Lincoln and all the ghostly legions of patriots of the past, with unflinching faith in their God, have bequeathed to us–a nation free, with liberty, dignity, and justice for all.”
Ronald Reagan said it was the reason he went into politics. These three little words–”We the people!” He said it means “‘We the people’ tell the Government what to do, it doesn’t tell us.” Stating further in his Farewell Address, he said, “Our constitution is a document in which ‘We the people’ tell the government what it is allowed to do. ‘We the people’ are free.”
We have a long history of leaders who have understood power to be held by the people. More importantly we have a long history of the citizenry understanding the power is in the people. We must not cede our power to a government or to a given leader. John Basil Barnhill said, “When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.”
We the people have responsibilities, rights, privileges, and power. We have freedom! This freedom has been paid for and preserved by the blood of our valiant soldiers. “We the people” have to protect and defend our freedoms today so our future generations will continue to enjoy the liberties and dignities that we possess in America. On this Fourth of July holiday 2019, remember freedom comes from “We the people” maintaining it through responsible citizenry and stewardship.
