Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the notions of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Declaration: Rights From Creator, Not Government

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Two senators had an exchange on the Declaration of Independence regarding the rights of Americans this week. One Senator said, "The notion that rights don't come from laws and don't come from the government, but come from the Creator… That's what the Iranian government believes. So the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling." What the Declaration Of Independence Says About Our Rights Now, why would declaring our rights come from God and not from the government be troubling to some Americans (whom we elected to run our country)? I've been challenged on this point here at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. Let's review what the Declaration of Independence says on this point and why it is said in this way. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to …

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Has America Normalized “Throwing Dirt” on Each Other?

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“Every time you throw dirt on her, you lose a little ground.”- George Strait. We digest a lot of “dirt” as Americans. Shovels full, in fact. A lot of “dirt” gets thrown in our “everyday” in the form of fake news, bending the law, starting arguments to move an agenda forward, and slander. We seem to prefer language that entertains rather than educates. We have become prey to sensationalism over understanding one another. As an example, “dirt” gets thrown on this page in the form of name-calling, expletives, and venting. BTW, those posts get deleted. I believe in discussing principles where we can learn, rather than slamming personalities, which doesn’t teach us anything.  Shoveling and Losing Ground Is Tiring “Dirt” is thrown by us and at us in the workplace. Today, almost everywhere we turn, everything is an argument rather than an attempt to understand. Families and friendships break down because, frankly, no one really likes to have dirt thrown on them or worse, be the …

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Recent Articles

Declaration: Rights From Creator, Not Government

Two senators had an exchange on the Declaration of Independence regarding the rights of Americans this week. One Senator said, “The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator… That’s what the Iranian government believes. So the statement that our rights do not come from […]

Has America Normalized “Throwing Dirt” on Each Other?

“Every time you throw dirt on her, you lose a little ground.”- George Strait. We digest a lot of “dirt” as Americans. Shovels full, in fact. A lot of “dirt” gets thrown in our “everyday” in the form of fake news, bending the law, starting arguments to move an agenda forward, and slander. We seem […]

Labor Day Reflections On Work

Besides looking forward to a fun final summer weekend, Labor Day affords us one more opportunity to reflect and reassess before busy fall schedules “kick in.” I was reading about the history of work in the United States and was so impressed with our humble beginnings. What made the USA into an industrial powerhouse?  Hard […]

Champion of Freedom: Charles Carroll’s Legacy

Let’s meet another unsung hero of the Declaration of Independence: Charles Carroll, the longest-living signer of this founding document. He was a champion of civil and religious liberties and spoke out against oppressive British taxation as well as slavery. Carroll, courageous as he was,  took no prisoners when it came to ad hominem attacks. Courage […]

Essential Lessons for Today’s Students

When you see the yellow school buses rolling down your street in late August, you know it’s back-to-school time for America’s children. Whether children are public, private, or home-schooled, I wonder what they will learn about America this year. Will the curriculum be laced with political ideology? Or will their books be fact-based? Will there […]

Caesar Rodney: Unsung Hero of Independence

In the heart of the summer of 1776, as the fate of our nation hung in the balance, one man’s courage and determination would alter the course of history. As we continue in our study of the Declaration of Independence, let’s meet this unsung hero. The Call for Independence A little background about our first […]

Understanding D.C. Governance: Laws and Authority

What laws govern the situation in Washington, D.C.? Let’s discover the civics lesson in our nation’s latest controversy. The District of Columbia has been under Home Rule since 1973. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 provided a framework for local governance by citizens of the District. The federal government retains oversight responsibilities.  […]

The Next Civil War Seems Unlikely

Do you think America is headed for another Civil War? I get comments from readers that don’t simply question the possibility. They assume it. Or fear it. Or both. Similarly for some media commentators from time to time. So, I’ve been thinking this through and doing some research. Looks like the idea of another Civil […]

Pursuit of Happiness: Rights and Civic Responsibility

As we continue in our study of the Declaration of Independence, let’s dive deeper into the meaning of the “Pursuit of Happiness” as per a request from one of our participants. Understanding the Pursuit of Happiness When I teach teens this phrase, I start by telling them what it is NOT, i.e., the government buying […]