America’s 1776-History Is Important

America’s 1776-History Is Important

It is important for us as citizens, and for our children and grandchildren, to learn about the principles of the founding of America.

Understanding our 1776-based history, builds our collective strength so that we can weather the inevitable storms. For us, as a state and a nation, it allows us to maintain one of the greatest gifts we have…a constitutional republic.

That is why I am grateful to the North Dakota Legislature for authorizing Senate Concurrent Resolution 4011. Both Republican and Democrat Senators sponsored the resolution, and approved the resolution by significant margins. The official resolution urges Congress to:

“establish a 1776 Commission, and, urging the United States Department of Education, to develop educational materials that will provide education for students in accordance with the principles of the founding of America, the unifying ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, and the United States Constitution, and other founding documents”.

This resolution didn’t get much attention. Yet, when I talked to one of the co-sponsors, he considers this Resolution to be of utmost importance. Why? The principles laid down in 1776, built the framework of our constitution.

But, here’s what you might not know. These principles weren’t dreamed up in 1776, or even 1619. No, these principles had been fought for over 700 years – by people who were decrying the abuse of power and asserting their rightful liberties.

In The Key to Understanding the Constitution, KrisAnne Hall writes, “Everything, every single principle of government, every security to Liberty, and even at times the very language itself, was taken from lessons learned from over 700 years of history and five essential Liberty Charters.”   It is this long history that confirms that the Constitution was not an arbitrary, snapshot decision. Our Constitution is a living, breathing document designed from blood-bought lessons in the historic struggle between liberty and tyranny.”

Let me go back to my opening comment.

It is important for us as citizens and for our children and grandchildren to learn about our history. In fact, it is not only important, it is crucial.

We must be equipped to identify the alternative history that is being sneaked into our children’s curriculum. Introducing the Critical Race Theory in our schools has been happening for years.

Of course, it is rarely called Critical Race Theory (CRT). The marketing gurus are pacifying parents, grandparents, and citizens with a justifiable narrative…diversity, equality, inclusion, tolerance, and social and emotional learning.

In reality, CRT’s current underlying philosophy, teaches that the U.S.A. is inherently or systemically racist, is rotten to the core, and needs to be destroyed.

I believe that we as citizens, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, need to be vigilant. This is the time to get engaged with the school and the teacher. It’s time to know exactly what is in the text books being used to teach your children. It’s time to talk to our children and grandchildren about the incredible gift of freedom we are stewarding.

How can Concurrent Resolution 4011 help us to make a difference? It holds the “recipe” for how we can fulfil our destiny in North Dakota and America by providing an education that aligns with:

• the principles of the founding of America,
• the unifying ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence,
• the United States Constitution, and other founding documents

This is not a quick-fix. Rather, it is an intentional choice to understand, and to pass on, our 1776-history.

I invite you to reflect on this quote taken from a speech that Ronald Reagan made during a midnight ceremony. The occasion was his inauguration as governor, on January 5^th, 1967.

“Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.  And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” 

By Danita Bye

Stanley, North Dakota