Civics & Citizenship

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Candace teaches the fundamentals of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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The First Amendment: Peaceable, Not Permissive

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Does it bother you when our Constitution is misquoted? It sure gets under my skin. The lack of civics education is once again showing up in America. Over the weekend, we heard the twisting of the First Amendment to say something it doesn’t say about protesting. For example, we heard something like this: “The U.S. Constitution allows free speech, assembly, and protest. No time limit is given, so we can protest any time.” (This is untrue. Actually, local governments can require permits and set time/place restrictions for public demonstrations). What the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” When we read the text, what does it say about protesting?  1. Congress can’t establish a law that …

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Remembering MLK: Sit‑Ins, Fire Hoses, and Courage

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My earliest recollections of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are of him leading non-violent, constitutional protests in the 1960s. I was a news consumer from a young age, and Dr. King was on my black-and-white television screen every night, leading throngs of respectfully dressed, well-behaved protesters seeking equal rights in our nation.  Remembering Sit‑Ins and Birmingham Hoses Many questions swirled in my mind as I sought to understand why high-pressure hoses were used to spray water on the nicely dressed, well-behaved people Dr. King was leading in Birmingham. Was their cause just? Yes, indeed, sitting at a lunch counter is not a crime. Neither is the desire to have a soda and a hamburger in peace. No one was asking for a free lunch. They were simply asking for equal treatment under the law.  As time went on, my young mind began to understand that Dr. King and his brave followers wanted the same civil rights as I had. I never understood why the American civics and …

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Recent Articles

The First Amendment: Peaceable, Not Permissive

Does it bother you when our Constitution is misquoted? It sure gets under my skin. The lack of civics education is once again showing up in America. Over the weekend, we heard the twisting of the First Amendment to say something it doesn’t say about protesting. For example, we heard something like this: “The U.S. […]

Remembering MLK: Sit‑Ins, Fire Hoses, and Courage

My earliest recollections of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are of him leading non-violent, constitutional protests in the 1960s. I was a news consumer from a young age, and Dr. King was on my black-and-white television screen every night, leading throngs of respectfully dressed, well-behaved protesters seeking equal rights in our nation.  Remembering Sit‑Ins and […]

Think Like An American Again

This year promises to be an adventurous year, and not for the faint of heart! To prepare for what lies ahead, I will write a series of articles here on our founding documents. After all, ignorance is not bliss in contemporary culture. We need to be prepared, not only with knowledge but with the ability […]

Why the Founders Chose Three Branches

How did our Founders arrive at the concept of three branches of government, and why does it matter?  The Concept of Three Branches of Government Goes Way Back Have  you ever heard of Polybius, the ancient Greek historian? Me neither, until today. He found the three popular forms of governance in his day to have […]

Values That Secure Our Republic

What values will make America strong enough to withstand world threats attempting to bring our nation down? The Role of Suffering in National Victory I submit that suffering is a necessary attribute to achieving victory. How would our nation fare if we had to endure hardship to achieve victory in the end? Do we believe […]

Looking Forward to a New Year

I loved Year In Review segments as a kid, and continued the tradition into adulthood. This year, however, I took a pass. Division and discord seem to summarize 2025. I don’t care to re-live it. I’m ready to move forward, with lessons from the past and a renewed focus on what matters to a common-sense […]

Resilience, Faith, and Courage That Built America    

This post isn’t about blame; it’s about education. Below are examples of courage, sacrifice, and faith that shaped our national character. Read them and share your thoughts in the comments—without naming, blaming, or shaming political parties or people—so we can learn together. Let’s begin with a powerful example from our nation’s early history. From Valley […]

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 Night that Changed the War The army was […]

Questions Every Citizen Must Answer

History shows that socialism is an agenda that entices people groups with promises that have historically yielded a record of failure. How are entire populations won over? Socialists do it with promises of free things and fairness from a “new and improved government” led by someone “smarter” than you. Ask yourself these questions: Who is […]