By Mark David Blum, Esq.

In my travels and travails about the Upstate New York lecture circuit, I talk endlessly about our nation’s founders and the original intent underlying the United States. It is always fun to challenge people to prove the Constitution says there is a right to “life”, or who should vote, as well as the definitions of liberty and freedom.

In response to one such recent presentation, the instructor gave his students a quiz about my presentation. Students were asked three questions: What did they learn from me? Questions they still had for me? Was there something I said that challenged their beliefs or understanding of the law? Some of the responses (with names omitted) were forwarded to me for my consideration. A few responses are provided here for your entertainment and consideration. The average age of the student was 16.

1. Things learned from Mr. Blum:

a. We have the same rights as adults
b. We don’t have to tell a cop anything
c. We allow the government to take away too many of our rights
d. Only tell a police officer, “I want my lawyer”
e. A person should be allowed to do anything they want that hurts nobody else
f. The government is the #1 enemy of the People
g. Hippies make good lawyers. (Me? Hippie?)
h. Cops use dirty tricks to get you to confess

2. Questions they have for me. (Answers provided)

a. Are police allowed to search a school locker? Yes.
b. Should there be limits on gun use? Yes on use, no on possession.
c. Why are adults but not students allowed to possess cigarettes on school property? Because adults can vote.
d. What are my views on abortion? If you don’t like abortion, don’t have one.
e. Should a teacher get into trouble for sharing drugs with kids? Yes.
f. Is there a country closer to my beliefs? Yes, the United States which is a concept in addition to a geographic location
g. What do I think of the “Izraly”political hunters? Huh? This is a high school student?
h. What will become of the nation in 10 or 20 years? That is up to you young folks and your dreams and visions.
i. How can we change the country into something I want. Nobody wants to live in a country that you want. Who wants to live in a country where everybody is the same? Vote, speak out, convince folks that your way is the better way and let them follow you – or disagree and not.
j. What can we do as students to get our rights back. Stand up, speak out, get active.
k. Do I ever regret defending a sex offender. No. I have no regrets defending anybody. The only law is criminal law; everything else is about money.
l. Do I think I am going to jail for advocating rebellion against the government? I never advocated or spoke of rebellion; not all revolutions are violent. So, no I am not going to jail in the United States for my words as that would violate the First Amendment.

3. Something that challenged me on the law

a. We do not have a “right to life”.
b. I do not have to talk to police
c. Anyone should be able to own a gun
d. You can be a democrat and believe in small government
e. Some lawyers are out to get everyone
f. We are a Libertarian nation and shouldn’t have so many laws

Clearly our high school students, even those in higher grades lack basic and fundamental understandings of our constitution, our nation’s founding, and the basic principles upon which it is based. Shame on our teachers and high schools for not requiring every student to read the Constitution and understand it. These are the same folks who walk out of school and into a voting booth and vote for whichever candidate’s ten second commercial tickles their fancy.

This is a blight on the American dream. To not know of the words of Jefferson or Adams, to have never read Paine or DeTouqeville, to go through your entire school experience and not even understand the fundamental arguments in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers is a shame.

One of the first questions I always ask a class is how many of them have actually read the Constitution. More often than not, no hands go up at all. To me, this speaks loudly and clearly that our Boards of Education and teachers are ignoring the basics and focusing instead on creating a generation of sheep. We need these adults-in-training to be able to discern rhetoric and dangerous policies before they are implemented. The power to protect comes from the voting booth and the soap box. Ignorance, however will prevent any use of either.

And so another generation goes the way of its predecessor: the government will decide for you what is good for you and you will go along because might makes right. Fortunately, I will not be alive long enough to see the end result of generations of ignorance. This is not the legacy I had hoped to leave for the children of my grandchildren. But I am just one voice. Where is yours?