Lately our national conversation in America has resembled nothing so much as a bad marriage. People talk past each other in a shouting match of the deaf, as common ground and mutual respect crumble, and the nation suffers.

When your marriage is in trouble, a good place to start is by returning to your vows. In America, those vows—the promises we made to ourselves—are called the Bill of Rights. It’s high time we renew them.

I’m sure this sounds quaint to that bleak mindset which sees only worn parchment and faded words. But to those who know anything about history, the Bill of Rights is far more than the founders’ ultimate stroke of genius. It’s a major fault line in human history, where the age-old world of the divine right of kings was forced to yield to a brave new world of the inalienable rights of citizens.

This is not small stuff, which is one reason I get so irritated whenever I hear people mouthing that culture war talking point about the 10 Commandments being the source of America’s laws. The 10 Commandments is a remarkable document, which all are free to choose as their personal moral blueprint, but it is explicitly not the source of our laws. STOP! It is completely necessary that you reread the previous sentence. That credit rests solely with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Remember, even as public officials put their hand on the Bible to be sworn in, they are swearing to uphold the Constitution, and not the other way around. Another good point.

Equally important to remember is that these founding documents have worked remarkably well for most of our history. Which is why I respectfully suggest that, if the goal is reconciliation, we’d do far better putting up the Bill of Rights than arguing endlessly over taking down the 10 Commandments. Not just to bring us together, but also because it’s a terrific deal. I’m presumed to be innocent, invited to speak freely, expected to pursue happiness, and permitted to bear arms. Show me a religion that gives me that deal!

Now I have to break at this point to explain two problems that the last two sentences bring up for me.

1.  Everyone likes to read only a part of the 2nd Amendment, the part where is says, citizens are "permitted to bear arms." The complete Amendment reads as follows: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. Are you in a militia whose sole purpose is to protect the security of a free state? I didn't think so. 

2. He says "Show me a religion that gives me that deal!" Doesn't Christianity? Christians are not bound by the law, but because of their beliefs and Jesus' teachings, their actions should then allow for such rights. Except our weapons are more metaphorical: swords of justice, armor of righteousness, etc. (Yes, the rumors were true: I am a Christian AND a liberal.)

More importantly, the Bill of Rights also tells government what it shalt not do. As our leaders claim the freedom to torture abroad, to spy at home, and even to strip citizens, by Presidential fiat, of all constitutional protections, the Bill of Rights tells us this cannot stand. In America, the people have the right to watch their government, not the other way around. Wow, that is an amazing statement that many of us don't realize and that the gov't is very aware that we don't realize.

Rights have been suspended before during time of war. But in a forever war against a stateless, amorphous enemy, when do we get our rights back? The answer is: only when we, like the founding fathers, demand them.

To these ends, the Phoenix-based MyBillofRights.org has launched a national project to place monuments celebrating the Bill of Rights on the grounds of every state capitol. With the first in the nation about to approved for the capitol grounds in Phoenix, we ask the people of Arizona to join with us in helping rebuild faith in our forefathers’ vision.

You can reach his site through the above hyperlink to read more about this project.

P.S. I don't want crap about our forefathers and what they "really" came here to do. George Washington was a deist and the pilgrims left England because of religious persecution. And don't tell me this is a Christian nation, because that is the biggest bunch of bull I've heard in a long time. Read the first amendment suckas. This is a religiously free nation and people (read: Christians) need to get that through their heads.

P.P.S. So am I saying that I am better than every Christian who doesn't think this way? In a word, yes.

P.P.S.S. Haha, not really, but if you believed that, then I have some land in Florida that I want to sell you.