You could lose your identity as: an employee an owner an individual a countryside dweller an outspoken critic an inventor a sports enthusiast an American Wait. Could we lose our identity as Americans? Not “American in Name Only.” I mean the traditions and values that make us uniquely American. I believe we could lose our […]
Common Sense Applied
One of the goals of this page is to encourage wise and responsible citizenship. I hope that we find value in practicing common sense citizenship as a part of everyday life. We look around and wonder if that goal has “left the station.” Let’s look at a few items that Americans are dealing with and […]
Justice Clarence Thomas’ Dissent-a learning opportunity
So many voices, and for me, so little clarity. Let’s do some discovery. Justice Clarence Thomas issued a dissenting opinion on the Pennsylvania election case, specifically, the denial of a writ of certiorari. (What is that? See below) His writing presents a learning opportunity for us. The opinion is short, readable, understandable, and gives us […]
Are America’s Best Days Over?
I get notes these days from people who want to give up on America. They say its best days are over. So, I got to thinking about this. Having traveled a fair amount, I’ve seen how other parts of the world live in Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, South America, New Zealand, and […]
Civics and Citizenship Issues: Emergency Preparedness
Have you been watching the Texas weather-related energy crisis? Who could have anticipated what happened there? What if something similar occurred within the entire United States? (Electromagnetic Pulse aka EMP)? It’s a civics and citizenship issue that requires a common-sense discussion and application. When I observed what is happening in Texas, I thought it might […]
Presidents Day
Read their words. If you have the time, find a photo and look into their eyes. After all, the eye is a window to the soul, they say. I was looking for words of wisdom from past U.S. presidents in honor of President’s Day. In particular, I was looking for comments from past Chief Executives […]
Have We Taken Our Freedoms for Granted?
Have we taken our freedoms for granted? Have we, as a nation, become dependent on others to keep the fires of liberty burning? According to the Declaration of Independence, our government gets its power from you and me by our consent. We agree to place people in our national government that will represent our concerns […]
Your Words Have Power
Have words gotten you into trouble lately? It happens. As a family member, neighbor, and as a citizen, my “applecart” has been turned over a few times recently. Let’s take a brief look at the power of words. Words are born in our thoughts. Raw, even wrong words usually stem from thoughts that have been […]
Note from Candace
Welcome! Thank you for subscribing to this weekly newsletter. At Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, we look to find what we have in common- our founding American documents, and all that America aspires to be. Our country is going through a tumultuous time. Our freedoms are at risk on certain fronts. It’s not time to […]
What a Challenging Week!
Welcome to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! Thank you for being here. It’s been a very challenging week as I try to get my articles posted on social media. My mind has been on the basics of our founding, as is reflected by the article below. Posts that I have written on social media have […]
Remembering Martin Luther King
Do you have a favorite quote or remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King? I have several, one being Amos 5:24, which is in the photo that accompanies this post. I recall the peaceful protests that Dr. King led. His mission in life became the headlines on the nightly news. His pastoral demeanor, his resolute posture, […]
Personal Note from Candace
What brought us together as a country in the beginning? What helped us overcome our differences and become one nation? This week, I began a series called “The Ties that Bind.” People are asking me what to do. They have also pitched some anger my way. Has that happened to you? Let’s go back to […]
The Ties That Bind (Part 2)
The Ties That Bind, part 2 What ties bind you in your fidelity to your family, job, or interests that you pursue? Why do you stay loyal to your circle of friends or specific causes? Our Founders agreed on certain principles. That’s what kept them together. Fifty-six of them signed the Declaration of Independence. Congress […]
Personal Thoughts from Candace
Tempers and emotions are high. I have received notes indicating people think I am in a position to control what is happening in our country. I am not in that position. We can only control the two feet we each stand on. The goal here is to help us to think, not take on the […]
A Road Map for What’s Next
“These are the times that try men’s souls…”- Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense. As Americans, we can relate to Thomas Paine’s pain, if you will. We wonder, what will happen in the next days and weeks to our country? What will be the outcome? Since this is a civics education page, I will summarize […]
