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 […]
What Will We Do As a Nation?
What do you do when a potential confrontation is looming? Think about how, in the past, you felt, the plans you made, and the split decisions involved. How did you handle it? Let’s look at some mega-tense moments in our nation’s history to see what others have done. Our nation’s first Constitutional Convention was deteriorating, […]
2021-Ready! Set! Go!
Everybody’s talking about 2020’s misery. Let’s look ahead. How well are you prepared for 2021? With 2020 almost in the rear view mirror, I think we can all agree. After a rough ride, Americans have a strong need to prepare, focus, and resolve to have a better year in 2021. Prior preparation prevents poor performance. […]
Christmas Overnight, 1776
Christmas overnight, December 25-26, 1776. Rain turned to sleet, turned to ice, turned into a biting storm from the northeast. Who would brave a night like that with a poorly clad, hungry, tired army and the need to cross the ice-choked Delaware River? George Washington would. The army was battle-weary and in bad need of […]
Christmas-An American Tradition
How do you celebrate Christmas? If you are not a “religious” person or not a Christian, read onAmeric. Christmas is an American tradition and a national holiday. All are welcome. I’ve heard some say, “It doesn’t feel like Christmas this year.” Others have said they personally “are not in the mood.” Here are my top […]
