[W]e must recover our appreciation of the beauty of constitutional government. That beauty consists first of all in an appreciation for the place of man in nature, not so high as the angels, not so low as the beasts. To recognize that place is to recognize the dignity of every human being and the responsibility to defend the rights written by the hand of the Creator in man’s nature. It is to recognize also that, just as government is necessary, it is for the same reason necessary that it be limited. It cannot make angels of us. It cannot be run as if angels were in control of it. — Larry P. Arnn in Imprimis
“The Constitution protects our freedom; we must protect the Constitution.” That was the headline, and theme, of one in a series of three ads my wife and I developed as a public service campaign immediately following 9/11. Both the public service campaign (directed at adults) and my U.S. History Chant (targeting children) are designed to inspire admiration and appreciation for the great fortune we enjoy as citizens of a free country with a constitutionally-limited government. Who will defend what they do not even know, much less understand, admire, and appreciate?
Larry Arnn, quoted above, is the president of Hillsdale College, one of a number of excellent institutions committed to inculcating an appreciation for our unique history and form of government. That commitment includes an amazing offer: a free subscription to its monthly publication, Imprimis, to anyone who requests it. I’ve been reading it for over 20 years now.