People crave freedom. We know that all too well. If you’ve raised children, you “get” it. If you’ve lived in the United States for any length of time, you’ve experienced it. If you were born here, it’s in your DNA. How many of you know someone moving to where they can inhale an independent spirit […]
Who Are“We the People”?
“We the People” is us, not the government. Recently, a prominent public official said that “We the People is all of us.” When public servants are not in their official roles, i.e., mowing the lawn, doing carpool, grocery shopping, a day at the beach, they are “We the People.” When they serve in their official […]
United? Or Divided States of America?
Aren’t we focusing on the wrong thing? How is dividing America into factions and groups making us a better nation? Are we not straying farther and farther away from our national motto, “Out of Many, One”? Everywhere I turn, I hear more and more stories of how we seek to honor our differences, not unite […]
Could We Lose Our American Identity?
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Frauds? Or Heroes?
Are you hearing the courage of American patriots this week? Or are you witnessing a bunch of everyday Americans as frauds? Notice, I didn’t ask you what you are seeing. More on that in a moment. What I see happening is that people are divided into two camps. They either see frauds or heroes. For […]
Thanksgiving 2020
Amid controversy in our nation, I’m incredibly grateful for my freedom. Freedom involves choices. I’m not a victim. I can take a stand. I can defend the Constitution. I can celebrate with traditions or make new ones. I can exercise common sense. I can celebrate the gift of liberty that our forefathers gave to us. […]
At What Price?
Is there a cost to abandoning our American traditions? Think about the traditions that we have been asked to set aside because they might be coronavirus super spreader events. I’m thinking of events like the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a traditional outdoor event. (The event has since been reinstated due to […]
