What Shall I Do During 2008 to Help
America?
We are pleased to report that an increased number of
Making of America seminars around the nation has produced a number
of newly educated citizens who are anxious to do more to help
America.
In our seminars, we review the Founders' story of
where they obtained their good ideas and how they put their ideas
into practice in the Constitution. As we have said so many times,
the Founders had answers to nearly every problem we have in America
today. These ideas are so logical, so simple, and so appealing that
those who hear them for the first time always exclaim, "Well then,
why are we not doing it this way?" To a teacher, those kinds of
questions indicate the power of the Founder's message and, of
course, presents the challenge of helping people know what they can
do to be most effective in the freedom effort. The next most oft
asked question is usually, "What can I do and how can I get involved
to really make a difference?"
We wish to discuss several things that each American
can do in 2008 to make for a better America and to spread the good
news of freedom across the land. Some of these are very time
consuming; others are not. Some will present as much of a challenge
as a person may think he is capable of, others may be done rather
simply and easily. There is work enough for anyone to do no matter
what his situation in life may be. But every American can do
something in relation to the preservation of our American system.
One thing I have learned is to have the right overall
perspective. That is, in our challenge to correct things in our
country, we must keep in mind that the big picture might not change
much, given our present situation. But if we keep the goal in mind
and work hard at it, we are converting individual souls to freedom
in the process. To me, this is most important because it is what
individuals do with the moral agency the Creator has given them that
each individual will be held accountable for in the next life. I
have often thought that the area of politics is perhaps one of the
best ways to test us on how developed our belief is in the eternal
concept of moral agency.
What can I do to make a difference?
Here are suggestions for your New Year's
consideration:
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Read and discuss the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution in your family. No matter what the level
of understanding may be, this can be an extremely rewarding family
activity. There are no better discussions around the dinner table
than relating good principles of government to what is happening
daily. It is a way of bringing family members together in a
meaningful way. I have found that when parents relate to their
children with principles of freedom, other areas of family life
seem to go better. NCCS has study tools to help. Stories and
coloring for the younger ones, or study
questions and outlines for the older ones.
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Get to know your public officials. Most public
officials really want to do what is right. The
problem is they think the right thing to do is what they hear
people say. If the wrong people have their ear, then decisions are
made based on false information. Good public officials will tell
you they are lonely many times in making decisions. They wish to
hear from people other than the paid lobbyists who hover around
these decision-making bodies. Let them know who you are and that
you are sincerely interested in the decisions they make.
Congratulate them when making proper decisions and gently remind
them of mistakes when they make wrong decisions. They really do
want to hear from you - and more than just an email.
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Volunteer to work on your city's Constitution Week
celebration committee. NCCS has plenty of material and
suggestions for you to take to your mayor in order to have a
Proclamation ready to be signed several weeks before September
17th. Schools, churches, service clubs, patriotic organizations
can all be rallied in a spirit of Americanism to put on a
meaningful, annual celebration. In my city of Mesa, Arizona
(population 450,000), we have had an official City of Mesa
Constitution Week Celebration Committee now for almost 30 years.
Each year they stage marvelous celebrations and productions with
hundreds of citizens involved.
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Become involved in the political process. This
can be as simple as running for Precinct Committeeman. Most of the
time these positions remain unfilled. These are actually party
positions. One of the best ways to become involved gradually is to
become active in your political party. There are regular meetings
to attend which are very informative. Public officials give
regular reports at these functions and you will be kept up-to-date
on the latest issues and candidates. As you become known in
political circles and learn the system, you will know when the
time is right for you to perhaps run for office. Most people in
the parties want to support someone who has been involved and
"paid his dues" first. Political Parties do not represent the best
choice of the Founders in good government, but our system today
has given them legal standing and we are usually bound to work
through them if we want to have an influence.
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Be a constant source of influence and information in
schools, libraries, and churches. Our NCCS catalog is
filled with quality books, DVDs, pamphlets, artwork,
and other helps which can be given periodically to interested
people in these organizations. Our website is attracting hundreds
of new people who have expressed delight at finally finding a
reliable source of information on good government. Our monthly
newsletter may be had by email now and hundreds of new families
are signing up to receive it. Others continue to get it by regular
mail.
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Give a Freedom Gallery to a local school, business,
church, or public building. The Freedom Gallery is made
up of seventeen documents and paintings with tremendous historical
significance to Americans. The permanent display covers a sixteen
by four foot wall space and each piece is protected by a
poly-carbonate cover for lasting beauty. One high school teacher
writes: "Your Freedom Gallery is one of the greatest things I've
seen to teach needed lessons from our great national history. I've
watched dozens of students stop and study the gallery and learn
from the great art and history that is depicted in the prints on
display. I've visited with teachers who plan on making the gallery
part of their curriculum." Efforts from an organized local
committee can make the Freedom Gallery a part of any public
building.
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Host a Making of America seminar.
If you've ever wanted a way to "charge up" your community, here is
the answer. An all-day seminar will leave participants in
amazement as the story of America is opened to them in a way the
Founders would do it if they were here. Developed by Dr. Skousen
over many years of teaching, this seminar forms the backbone of
NCCS efforts. It has prepared citizens to run for public office;
it has answered many questions concerning local and national
issues; it has launched on-going study classes in the community;
it has been a source of strength for citizens wishing to have the
knowledge and courage to become involved in political affairs.
Most of us owe our beginnings in the freedom effort to our
attendance at such a seminar. If you have ever wondered what you
could do in your area, this is the kickoff that your friends will
than k you for forever. Complete outlines of suggestions are
available from NCCS on how to get started. We have recently made
it possible for you to host a seminar without the fear of not
being able to meet certain monetary commitments. If you have the
desire, then we have the answers and would love to talk to you
about a seminar in your area.
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Organize a monthly study class. This is best
done as a way to keep the study going and the enthusiasm high
after attending the Making of America seminar. Every American
should be able to give one evening a month for the study of
principles of good government. The specially prepared Study
Guide outline contains study questions for the methodical
study of The Five Thousand Year Leap and The
Making of America. These two books are a must read for any
citizen wishing to be grounded in the proper role of government.
The once-a-month format provides time to have guest speakers or
video presentations to add variety to the 31-month study class.
Local office holders love to respond to such invites to explain
their positions on local iss ues.
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Help flood the nation with The
Five Thousand Year Leap book and
A More Perfect
Union DVD. These are appealing
study materials which have already been distributed in huge
quantities to families and schools around the nation. They are
helping to gradually awaken the nation's citizens to principles of
good government. They have been endorsed and promoted on national
television and radio. Priced so that people can purchase them by
the 10s and 100s, they make excellent gifts to anyone, especially
public office holders.
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Promote NCCS's semester long courses on American
Government. This course is a complete curriculum for
the teaching of the principles of liberty and the United States
Constitution. Reading assignments, video discussions with
PowerPoint notes, quizzes and exams are provided to make this a
complete semester-long course for public, private, and home school
environments. Through these and our other materials, NCCS is
quickly becoming the schoolmaster of the nation in teaching the
Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. A sample of
this course is contained on our "Principles of Liberty" DVD (2-hours) which
highlights some of the principles discussed in this course. This
DVD is not only designed to introduce the course but als o to
teach some important principles of good government. It is
available for $9.95 for 1 copy, or take advantage of our 10 for
$10 offer.
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Work through an organization to which you currently
belong. Many of our supporters have had great success
working through organizations of which they are members. Service
clubs, political units, churches, schools, parent-teacher
organizations, home school associations, businesses, etc., all
provide excellent spheres of influence to introduce and teach
principles of good government. We have had large orders of books,
DVDs, pocket copies of the Constitution, and have taught Making of
America seminars sponsored by these groups. They are a ready made
audience who are usually anxious to hear of such worthy efforts as
NCCS. Don't pass up the opportunity to involve those with whom you
work and associate.
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Support NCCS. As you can see, NCCS is active
in continuing to educate Americans. We are excited for the
increased interest shown in the efforts of The National Center for
Constitutional Studies and our message. As we have said before,
Dr. Skousen spent many years packaging the message of the Founders
and now it is our responsibility to spread the message of freedom
throughout all the land. Of course, this takes financial resources
to continue to do this. There remains no paid staff at NCCS,
however, many thousands of hours are donated annually to make this
effort succeed. Volunteer organizations usually have short life
spans, but NCCS seems to be weathering each storm. It is a
testimony to the truthfulness and value of the message. It still
takes large sums of money to print or reprint books and brochures
and produce other teaching aids. Some people can't or choose not
to do any of the activities in this letter, but are able to
contribute something financially so that others can carry on the
work outlined above. Your regular donations are most sincerely
appreciated.
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Can you see yourself and your family doing one or more of the
above activities? It is a rewarding experience to help someone
catch the vision and conviction of the Founders message.
Earl Taylor, Jr.
National
Center for Constitutional Studies
37777 West Juniper Road
Malta,
ID
83342
US
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