One thing I love in school is government and law. I just love learning about what our government does and what the laws are and such. I have actually not taken too much on the subject, but it still is very interesting to me. One of my assignments this past month was to take a closer look at original intent. So here is my "essay" on the meaning of it and if we are still practicing the founding father's original intent.

Are We Following The Original Intent of the Founding Fathers??
One thing I have a big issue with is original intent. My issue is with the government that think they have to change the original intent of the founding fathers.
 When our government was first created it was based on Christian principles. And though we still use most of them, we have strayed from the original meaning of them.
 We now make laws and things based on our own agendas.
 When the founders of our country started this country, they took alot of time figuring out what would make our country run smoothly, so we would have unity.
 I have read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and I have seen how much we have strayed from original intent.
 I believe the constitution clearly states what the original intention was when they made up this country. It was:
 "WE the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to oursleves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
 Now from reading that, see how far we are from their original intent?? I got out my Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary to get an idea of what they meant and what the meaning of the words back then meant.

Perfect Union:
"Perfect":
 Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is
requisite to  its nature and kind.
"Union":
 The act of joining two or more things into one, and thys forming a
compound body or mixure; or the junction or coalition of things thus
united.

 From those descriptions, I would have to say we do not have a perfect union. We are not a finished or completed people or country. We don't have any unity. We fight against each other in politics because we don't have that same party. In the beginning, there was not the division of the parties as there is now. I mean, there was the parties, but they were not so totally against each other as nowadays. They meant something different back then when our country was just starting.
 They were still united together. We are called the UNITED states, not the divided states. Unless we look at the meaning of those words and take action into making them work, we will not have a perfect union.

Establish Justice:
"Establish":
 To set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permantly.
"Justice":
 The virtue which consists in giving to everyone what is his due;
practical conformity to the laws and to principles of rectitude in the
dealings of men with each other; honesty; integrity in commmerce or
mutual intercourse.

 We do not have justice established. Justice is not set permantly in our country. We change justice to fit what we want. We do not give justice to those who deserve it, yet we give it to those who don't. This goes back to being unified. If we are not unified, then we will not be able to hand out justice.

Domestic Tranquility:
"Domestic":
 Belonging to the house, or home; pertaining to one's place of residence,
and to the family.
"Tranquility":
 Quiet; calm; undisturbed; peaceful; not agitated

 I think this is something we have upheld. I have peace about my residence, home, and family. They have kept that one from the original intent. Back when they wrote this, they had just come out of tyranny, that would come into their homes and take things. So I believe we have kept that one.

Provide for the Common Defense:
"Provide":
 To procure beforehand; to get, collect or make ready for the future use;
to prepare.
"Common"
 Belonging equally to more than one or to many indefinitely.
"Defense":
 Anything that opposes attack, violence, danger or injury; anything that
secures the person, the rights or possessions of men; fortification;
guard; protection; security.

 Now, I don't know alot about our armed services, but I think that we are doing a good job providing for our common defense. We are being defended everyday as our brave soldiers fight in other countries. Our government provides for our safety and defense from terrorists. Although I don't think it would be fair to the service people to just up and pull them out of combat in Iraq. Sure I bet they want to come home, but its like this: If they just come home and don't finish what they started, there won't be a home. It will just keep being attacked by terrorists. We have to put an end to the terrorism. Once you get in a fight, you don't leave. You stay
til its finished.

Promote General Welfare:
"Promote":
 To forward; to advance; to contribute to the growth, enlargement or
excellence of anything valuable.
"General":
 The whole; the total; that which comprehends all or the chief part.
"Welfare":
 Exemption from misfortune, sickness, calamity or evil; the enjoyment of
health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness.