{"id":10392,"date":"2008-12-15T12:57:13","date_gmt":"2008-12-15T17:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/?p=10392"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:53:14","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:53:14","slug":"its-bill-of-rights-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2008\/12\/15\/its-bill-of-rights-day\/","title":{"rendered":"it&#8217;s Bill of Rights Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/x-2012-Denver-Education-Reform-Examiner~y2008m12d14-Getting-reacquainted-with-our-Bill-of-Rights\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/image.examiner.com\/images\/blog\/wysiwyg\/image\/2331B~Bill-of-Rights-Resized.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"77\" height=\"89\" \/><\/a> .. <strong><em>A<\/em><\/strong>s <em>Blawg Review<\/em>&#8216;s righteous editor <a href=\"http:\/\/blawgreview.blogspot.com\/2008\/12\/mark-these-observances.html\">reminded<\/a> us a few days ago, President Bush has declared today to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.billofrightsinstitute.org\/teach\/freeresources\/borday\/\">Bill of Rights Day<\/a>.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll find the text of the Bill of Rights &#8212; the first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution &#8212; at the foot of this posting (click <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"..\/2008\/12\/15\/its-bill-of-rights-day\/#more-10392\">more<\/a>).\u00a0 The Bill of Rights was ratified by Congress on December 15, 1791.<\/p>\n<p>No matter how ironic it might seem that GW is celebrating the Bill of Rights, I&#8217;m happy to say that you can find tributes and reminders of our rights (and our responsibility to work to uphold those rights) across the web, and especially on lawyer weblogs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/12\/billofrightsplaza-779503.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10394\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/12\/billofrightsplaza-779503.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"46\" height=\"46\" \/><\/a> For example, see Eric <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com\/2008\/12\/bill-of-rights-and-john-peter-zenger.html\">Turkewitz&#8217;s tribute<\/a> to John Peter Zenger, who helped establish the right of freedom of the press in Britain&#8217;s American colonies. Eric&#8217;s post includes an inspiring reference to a shopping mall, <a href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=1+mayfair+road,+eastchester,+new+york&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=38.502405,76.025391&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=40.956129,-73.811978&amp;spn=0.002244,0.00464&amp;z=18&amp;iwloc=addr&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=40.956169,-73.811995&amp;panoid=rHYCogvFPcxRwSYdqtdlxg&amp;cbp=12,221.1863951907575,,0,5\">Bill of Rights Plaza<\/a> in Eastchester, NY.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is no coincidence that our blawging paisan, the oft-irreverent libertarian Prof. Marc Randazza, is hosting <a href=\"http:\/\/randazza.wordpress.com\/2008\/12\/15\/blawg-review-190-bill-of-rights-day\/\"><em>Blawg Review #190<\/em><\/a> today at <em>The Legal Satyricon<\/em>.\u00a0 Normally not fans of theme-based Blawg Reviews, the <em>f\/k\/a<\/em> Gang (<a href=\"http:\/\/blog.simplejustice.us\/2008\/12\/15\/bill-of-rights-day-at-the-legal-satyricon.aspx\">like Scott Greenfield<\/a> at <em>Simple Justice<\/em>) is grateful that Marc has focused on each of the<em> ten Amendments<\/em>, reminding us that (beyond the Biggies that get all the attention) there are several important Rights that rarely get mentioned in the media or in our everyday conversation.\u00a0 Head over to <em><a href=\"http:\/\/randazza.wordpress.com\/2008\/12\/15\/blawg-review-190-bill-of-rights-day\/\"><em>Blawg Review #190<\/em><\/a> <\/em>to find links to recent posting at lawyer weblogs about every one of the Amendments contained in the Bill of Rights. <em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>F<\/em>resh from a liberating weekend, during which an ice storm prevented us access to the internet and freed up a bit of time for just lazying around our 4th-Amendment-protected home, the <em>f\/k\/a<\/em> Gang doesn&#8217;t feel much like heavy pundit-lifting this morning.\u00a0 So, we&#8217;re merely going to praise the Founding Fathers for adding the Bill of Rights:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">&#8220;in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of [the powers of the federal Government . . . and] best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And, as we have every right to do, we&#8217;ll also try again to clear up a misconception that is far-too-prevalent about the First Amendment.\u00a0 To wit, as we&#8217;ve <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2005\/08\/23\/not-fade-away\/\">said before<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">. <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/12\/logolarge.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10393\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/12\/logolarge.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"43\" height=\"38\" \/><\/a> <em> T<\/em>he mistaken invocation of the First Amendment against private action is something that every American has heard since birth. [Try living with a teenager and see how often you face such arguments.]\u00a0 Those who erroneously believe that all Americans have the right to say whatever they want whenever they want come from all walks of life and all ideologies and parties.\u00a0 . . .\u00a0 The Bill of Rights limits Government action, not private action. It is basic ignorance of the meaning of the Bill of Rights . . and not some &#8220;lex-centric&#8221; liberal worldview that causes most Americans to decry private forms of \u201ccensorship\u201d as <em>un<\/em>American.<\/p>\n<p>In the context of weblogs, <a href=\"http:\/\/secularright.org\/wordpress\/?p=279#comment-1778\">Walter Olson put<\/a> this right rather well last week at the new website <em>Secular Right <\/em>(<a href=\"http:\/\/blog.simplejustice.us\/2008\/12\/13\/post-2000-a-retrospective.aspx\">via SHG<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">&#8220;Let\u2019s make it clear right now, though, that this is a moderated comments section. It may resemble a very broadminded letters-to-the-editor column; it is not going to resemble a public-access cable channel, graffiti wall, or Hyde Park Speakers\u2019 Corner if I or DH can help it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">&#8220;What\u2019s more, it\u2019s moderated for the benefit of this site\u2019s intended audience, bearing in mind that some lines of discussion more quickly become tedious and irrelevant to that audience than others. . . .<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">&#8220;One group we\u2019d be better off without are those who feel that commenting on this site is somehow a matter of right, no matter what the tedium factor, and radiate wounded entitlement when they learn that\u2019s not how it\u2019s going to work. They really would be happier elsewhere.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/x-2012-Denver-Education-Reform-Examiner~y2008m12d14-Getting-reacquainted-with-our-Bill-of-Rights\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/image.examiner.com\/images\/blog\/wysiwyg\/image\/2331B~Bill-of-Rights-Resized.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"56\" height=\"65\" \/><\/a><em> F<\/em>inally, here are some favorite haiku from two Bills who never bring tedium or irrelevance to this website:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;text-align: center\">early spring<br \/>\nbefore she can tie it<br \/>\nthe balloon escapes<\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">in the park<br \/>\nmy dog fetches<br \/>\na better stick<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px\">\n<p>werewolf movie<br \/>\nat the commercial<br \/>\nletting the dog out<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;text-align: center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">prostate exam<br \/>\nthe doctor and I<br \/>\ntrade jabs<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;text-align: left\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">long day<br \/>\nhis finger slows<br \/>\nthe spinning globe<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">&#8230; by <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wf-owen-archive\/\">W.F. &#8220;Dr. Bill&#8221; Owen<\/a> &#8212;<br \/>\n&#8220;prostate exam&#8221; &#8211; HSA Brady Contest 2001; <em>The Loose Thread: RMA 2001<\/em><br \/>\n&#8220;werewolf movie&#8221; &#8211; HSA Brady Award &#8212; Second Place 2001<br \/>\n&#8220;early spring&#8221;\u00a0 &#8211; Selected poems by w.f. owen<br \/>\n&#8220;long day&#8221; &#8211; Two Autumns Reading (San Francisco, 2003)<br \/>\n&#8220;in the park&#8221; &#8211; Modern Haiku XXXI:3 (2000); A New Resonance 2<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">November chill\u2013 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/alaskagray.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><br \/>\na barefoot man waits<br \/>\nfor the northbound ferry<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;text-align: center\">avalanche warning\u2013<br \/>\nhow very still<br \/>\nthis winter night<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;text-align: left\">storm clouds roil<br \/>\nacross the prairie\u2014<br \/>\nshe marks her place<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;text-align: center\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">trail\u2019s end\u2014<br \/>\nthe taste of wild onion<br \/>\nstill sharp on my tongue<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">&#8230; by <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2005\/04\/23\/billie-wilson-archive\/\">Billie Wilson<\/a> . . click for publication <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2008\/09\/13\/this-lady-from-alaska-is-a-winner\/\">credits<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>The Bill of Rights <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The Ten Original Amendments to the Constitution of the United States<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px\">Passed by Congress September 25, 1789<br \/>\nRatified December 15, 1791<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment I<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment II<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment III<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment IV<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment V<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment VI<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment VII<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment VIII<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment IX<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">Amendment X<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px\">The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>.. As Blawg Review&#8216;s righteous editor reminded us a few days ago, President Bush has declared today to be Bill of Rights Day.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll find the text of the Bill of Rights &#8212; the first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution &#8212; at the foot of this posting (click more).\u00a0 The Bill of Rights was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[555,1414],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-haiku-or-senryu","category-qs-quickies"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-2HC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10392"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12088,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10392\/revisions\/12088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}