I ask because it definitely isn't in my head, which is currently hitting itself against a cubby desk in the State Library. I am well and truly sick of writing papers.
I will say this, however: being an American Studies major rocks, if only because I get to reference the constitution all the time. And I love the constitution. Its freaking amazing. "We the People, in order to form a more perfect union..." I mean, who doesn't love that? Mean constitution-haters, that's who. The bill of rights? The first amendment?!! This stuff is genius, people. THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE. "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
In the last day of my Australia and America class, Lauren V. and I finally broke down and asked the Australians how they could survive without a bill of rights. They looked at us like we were crazy, which only baffled us more. At one point I might have even yelled, "the third amendment! How can you live without the third amendment?! Now you can't trust your government not to force you to let soldiers live in your house!" And Lauren got all worked up about how Australians didn't have the right to remain silent, or to privacy. They responded with something about implied rights, but I was so keyed up about the constitution that I didn't actually pay attention. But seriously, no bill of rights? That's like outright admitting that you trust your government. And really, who does that? I need that piece of paper that promises me protection from unlawful search and seizure, and a tiny part of me will always be distrustful of any country that can't provide it for me. (it should be noted that Lauren V. is equally in love with America and we have been freaking out about Australia's lack of important legal documents for a couple months now, so I'm not sure how rational we are anymore.)
Sidebar: Bill O'Reilly was on Oprah today and I almost cried. Oprah, what are you doing letting that man on your show? He is sullying it! Now I don't know if I can support her candidacy for god anymore.
4 months ago
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Is it bad that I am almost equally disturbed by the Bill O'Reilly/lack of Bill of Rights issues??
Woohoo America!! (in the non jingoistic sense, of course.)
Not to sound like Charleton Heston or anything, but knowing that if Bush suddenly declared himself The Sun King and the world went all 1984 or Children of Men (not sure how popular this movie is but you've probably read a review of it), the American people have the right to lift up our shotguns and join the militia men, serves me a tiny slice of comfort.
Bonus: Try diagramming that sentence.
I've decided never to travel abroad again without a pocket sized constitution on my person at all times.
Yuck, I didn't hear about Bill O'Lie'y (awww SNAP) on Oprah.
You know he fought in a war. Well kinda, he was a journalist reporting on a war. Well kinda, he was working for Hardcopy. What an a-hole.
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