Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

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Resilience and Courage: Lessons from Valley Forge

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Seeking Courage in Troubled Times As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I want to share stories of unparalleled American bravery. When terrible scenes, whether in government or on our streets, flood the daily news, seek out courageous stories and pass them on. We need encouragement to be who we are as a nation, to revive, and not give up. Or, as ancient wisdom says, “to repair the years the locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25) Endurance Through the Hardships of Valley Forge Today’s story begins with a powerful example of resilience from our nation’s early history. Winter at Valley Forge, 1777. Lacking food and supplies, soldiers died at the rate of twelve per day. Over 2,500 froze to death in the bitter cold, or perished from hunger, typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia. In addition, hundreds of horses perished in the freezing weather. A Committee from Congress reported on the soldiers: “Feet and legs froze till they became black, and it was often …

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From Victimhood to Civic Responsibility

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It’s admirable that many of us take on the hard work of preserving our Republic — our Founders warned that eternal vigilance is required to keep liberty. But defeatism (e.g. "We are doomed as a nation!") won’t protect our rights: victimhood is not a strategy. Responsibility and local action are. Why Victimhood Fails Blaming “others” ignores the choices we have made: who we elect, whether we vote, and how we engage with our schools and communities. When civic education faded and participation slipped, we didn’t lose our rights overnight. We let the conditions form where rights are easier to erode. If we perceive ourselves as victims, other government systems are ripe to take us over. Whining wastes time that should be spent defending liberty. Natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness don’t preserve themselves. While these God-given rights are our birthright, and the DNA of our nation, remember: no one will guard your freedom for you. If more people choose …

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Candace has a variety of teaching experiences and is a certified instructor for adults and homeschoolers through the Institute on the Constitution. Her hobbies include walking, world travel, Pilates, writing, and spending time with her grandsons. …

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Recent Articles

Resilience and Courage: Lessons from Valley Forge

Seeking Courage in Troubled Times As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I want to share stories of unparalleled American bravery. When terrible scenes, whether in government or on our streets, flood the daily news, seek out courageous stories and pass them on. We need encouragement to be who we are as a nation, […]

From Victimhood to Civic Responsibility

It’s admirable that many of us take on the hard work of preserving our Republic — our Founders warned that eternal vigilance is required to keep liberty. But defeatism (e.g. “We are doomed as a nation!”) won’t protect our rights: victimhood is not a strategy. Responsibility and local action are. Why Victimhood Fails Blaming “others” […]

Understanding the Supremacy Clause and ICE Agents

Can the Supremacy Clause protect ICE agents from prosecution? I have this question, and maybe you do, too. To answer this, let’s explore what the Supremacy Clause means and how it works. What is the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause? The Supremacy Clause is a part of the U.S. Constitution. It says that the Constitution, all […]

Deeply Divided: Rekindling Civic Virtues and Values

One of our participants in Common Sense Civics and Citizenship expressed concerns that our nation’s divisiveness may be irreparable for these reasons:   -He says two, maybe 3 generations have been indoctrinated rather than educated.   -This participant believes such indoctrination has negatively altered our country’s core values.   -He argues that coping with these […]

Quiz Time! 5 Basic Civics Questions

As many Americans celebrate the beginning of summer, why not test your civics knowledge? It’s a good time to do a brief review. Here are a few civics questions. Answers appear below to help you check your basic knowledge.  Answer key: 1. 27 2. Publius (John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison 3. The 13 […]

Rediscovering Civics: How Culture Hides the Declaration’s Claims

What is the most disputed American concept these days? It is found in the Declaration of Independence. “…that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights..” Here are three reasons why Americans would dispute this claim as untrue: First, they might be receiving their civics lessons from their favorite t.v. personalities, popular unbelieving […]

Memorial Day: Celebrating Heroes Who Served

Memorial Day is a day to celebrate the lives of our American heroes who have died in service to defend the freedoms we enjoy today. Below, I’ve gathered the names of a few heroes to help inspire us as we remember why we pause to celebrate. Note their deeds of valiant courage as they served […]

Understanding America’s Shift towards Socialism

Why are so many Americans voting for socialists, Marxists, or communists? The common reason given is that people are finding it hard to “make ends meet,” so they are looking to politicians for food and housing. History has been around this block more than once, and it’s been a disappointment, albeit an abject failure, yet […]

The American Dream: Liberty, Responsibility & Limited Government

There are many interpretations of the American Dream. I just read one by author Walter Isaacson (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster). He talks about how the American Dream is brought to us by our government through economic means. I disagree. I believe the American Dream rests on limited government plus personal […]