Why is having a "National Spirit" important?

Having a Constitution helps us define our values, our ideologies, our sacred rights. It reminds us who we are, where we have been and where we can go. Having these national views we as a country are more unified and know what it means to be an "American."
The purpose of a national government should be to:
Preserve Peace
Relieve Distress
Provide Happiness (allow the freedom for the pursuit thereof)

Powerful Leaders (for better or worse) have a BIGGER picture of what they want accomplished.

The purpose for Americans to own guns is for self-defense.

James Wilson, Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention
"With what propriety can we hope our flag [nation/constitution/values] will be respected while we have not a single gun to fire in its defense?"

"There are not on any part of the globe finer qualities, for forming a national character, than those possessed by the children of America. Activity, perseverance, industry, laudable emulation, docility in acquiring information, firmness in adversity, and patience and magnanimity under the greatest hardships; from these materials, what a respectable national character may be raised! In addition to this character, I think there is strong reason to believe that America may take the lead in literary improvements and national importance. This is a subject which I confess I have spent much pleasing time in considering. That language, Sir, which shall become most generally known in the civilized world, will impart great importance over the nation that shall use it. The language of the United States will in future times be diffused over a greater extent of country than any other that we now know."

*Knowing and speaking the English language is something to take seriously and take pride in, as it is one of the last things that tie Americans together.*

Despotism- a country or political system where the ruler holds absolute power. 

*A properly educated person uses logic and support form great minds  of history to come to conclusions, while an unintelligent person uses threats, absolutes, and belittlement. 

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (signer of the Constitution), South Carolina House of Representatives

"We ought to date that invaluable blessing [the Dec of Ind]... our babes should be taught to lisp in their cradles; which our youth should learn as a carmen necessarium, or indispensable lesson; which our young men should regard as their compact of freedom; and which our old should repeat with ejaculations of gratitude for the bounties it is about to bestow on their posterity: I mean the Declaration of Independence, made in Congress the 4th of July, 1776."
#Wow. How far we have come... Teach it to my children!
*Without the unity of our states, we would be neither free nor independent. 
*Call America: The United States of America. Give respect and recognition to the power of the states!
*Congress should have what is termed "the powers of the purse and the sword." Which to many = total power.
* A great politician = a great salesman! He creates urgency!
#Teach Children: persuasion power
The Founder's (John Jay) frequently quote scripture- also part of our national spirit, "You cannot but be sensible that this plan or Constitution will always be in the hands and power of the people..."

What DESTROYS our National Unity/ Spirit:

John Jay, An Address to the People of the State of New York

"Let us all be mindful that the cause of freedom depends on the use we make of the singular opportunities we enjoy of governing ourselves wisely; for, if the event should prove that the people of this country either cannot or will not govern themselves, who will hereafter be advocates for systems which, however charming in theory and prospect, are not reducible to practice? If the people of our nation, instead of consenting to be governed by laws of their own making and rulers of their own choosing, should let licentiousness, disorder, and confusion reign over them, the minds of men everywhere will insensibly become alienated from republican forms, and prepared to prefer and acquiesce in governments which, though less friendly to liberty, afford more peace and security."

John Quincy Adams to William Plumer
"The spirit of party has become so inveterate and so virulent in our country, it has so totally absorbed the understanding and the heart of almost all the distinguished men among us, that I, who cannot cease to consider all the individuals of both parties as my countrymen, who can neither approve nor disapprove in a lump either of the men or the measures of either party, who see both sides claiming an exclusive privilege of patriotism, and using against each other weapons of political warfare which I never can handle, cannot but cherish that congenial spirit, which has always preserved itself pure from the infectious vapors of faction, which considers temperance as one of the first political duties, and which can perceive a very distinct shade of difference between political candor and political hypocrisy."

*NEVER associate with a particular party. I am an AMERICAN.*

WHY should I care??

“But some have said, it is not the business of private men to meddle with government. 

In truth, our whole worldly happiness and misery (abating for accidents and diseases) are owing to the order or mismanagement of government; 

and he who says that private men have no concern with government, does wisely and modestly tell us, that men have no concern in that which concerns them most; 

it is saying that people ought not to concern themselves whether they be 

naked or clothed, 

fed or starved, 

deceived or instructed, 

and whether they be protected or destroyed: 

What nonsense and servitude in a free and wise nation.”

Cato’s Letters, Number 38 by Thomas Gordon

22 July 1721 

The REAL reason we have the Right to Bare Arms

Federal Farmer, No. 8, Richard Henry Lee, Signer of the Dec of Ind (Founder's Constitution 3, pg. 178)
Jan. 25, 1788
"...whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion." 

James Burgh, Political Disquisitions (Founder's Constitution 3, pg. 125)
"No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own master, and has what he can call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself, and what he possesses; else he lives precariously, and at discretion. And though for a while, those, who have the sword in their power, abstain from doing him injury, yet by degrees he will be awed into submission to every arbitrary command. Our ancestors" [the Caledonii, see Tacit. &c.] "by being always armed, and frequently in action, defended themselves against the Romans, Danes and English, and maintained their liberty against the incroachments of their own princes."

Family and Govt

James Wilson:
[T]hat important and respectable, though small and sometimes neglected establishment, which is denominated a family . . . . [The family is] the principle of the community; it is that seminary, on which the commonwealth, for its manners as well as its numbers, must ultimately depend. As its establishment is the source, so its happiness is the end, of every institution of government, which is wise and good.
NEED SOURCE

Benjamin Franklin's "Religious" View

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles

Benjamin Franklin
March 9, 1790 

This was Franklin's final and most famous description his personal faith. He offers a concise "creed" and expresses skepticism about the Divinity Jesus. He died the next month, on April 17, at the age of 85. Stiles was President of Yale College.

Philada March 9. 1790

Reverend and Dear Sir,

I received your kind Letter of Jany 28, and am glad you have at length received the Portraits of Govr Yale from his Family, and deposited it in the College Library. He was a great and good Man, and has the Merit of doing infinite Service to your Country by his Munificence to that Institution. The Honour you propose doing me by placing in the same Room with his, is much too great for my Deserts; but you always had a Partiality for me, and to that it must be ascribed. I am however too much obliged to Yale College, the first learned Society that took Notice of me, and adorned me with its Honours, to refuse a Request that comes from it thro' so esteemed a Friend. But I do not think any one of the Portraits you mention as in my Possession worthy of the Place and Company you propose to place it in. You have an excellent Artist lately arrived. If he will undertake to make one for you, I shall chearfully pay the Expence: But he must not long delay setting about it, or I may slip thro' his Fingers, for I am now in my 85th Year's and very infirm.

Here is my Creed: I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we can render to him, is doing Good to his other Children…. I think the System of Morals [devised by Jesus] and his Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes, and I have with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity.

I send with this a very learned Work, (as it seems to me) on the antient Samaritan Coins, lately printed in Spain, and at least curious for the Beauty of the Impression. Please to accept it for your College Library. I have subscribed for the Encyclopedia now printing here, with the Intention of presenting it to the College; I shall probably depart before the Work is finished, but shall leave Directions for its Continuance to the End. With this you will receive some of the first Numbers.

You desire to know something of my Religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it: But I do not take your Curiosity amiss, and shall endeavour in a few Words to gratify it. Here is my Creed: I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we can render to him, is doing Good to his other Children. That the Soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its Conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental Principles of all sound Religion, and I regard them as you do, in whatever Sect I meet with them. As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes, and I have with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity: tho' it is a Question I do not dogmatise upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble. I see no harm however in its being believed, if that Belief has the good Consequence as probably it has, of making his Doctrines more respected and better observed, especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the Believers, in his Government of the World, with any particular Marks of his Displeasure. I shall only add respecting myself, that having experienced the Goodness of that Being, in conducting me prosperously thro' a long Life, I have no doubt of its Continuance in the next, tho' without the smallest Conceit of meriting such Goodness. My Sentiments in this Head you will see in the Copy of an old Letter enclosed, which I wrote in answer to one from a zealous Religionist whom I had relieved in a paralitic Case by Electricity, and who being afraid I should grow proud upon it, sent me his serious, tho' rather impertinent, Cautions. I send you also the Copy of another Letter, which will shew something of my Disposition relating to Religion. With great and sincere Esteem and Affection, I am, Dear Sir, Your obliged old Friend and most obedient humble Servant

B Franklin

p.s. Had not your College some Present of Books from the King of France? Please to let me know if you had an Expectation given you of more, and the Nature of that Expectation. I have a Reason for the Enquiry. (I confide, that you will not expose me to Criticism and Censure by publishing any part of this Communication to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious Sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me insupportable and even absurd. All Sects here, and we have a great Variety, have experienced my Good will in assisting them with Subscriptions for building their new Places of Worship, and as I have never opposed any of their Doctrines I hope to go out of the World in Peace with them all.)

Source(s):
The Writings of Benjamin Franklin: Boston and London, 1722 - 1726 .

http://www.beliefnet.com/resourcelib/docs/44/Letter_from_Benjamin_Franklin_to_Ezra_Stiles_1.html

What do we give in the name of "safety?"

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist, no. 8, 44--50

The Founder's Constitution: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 12, pg 134

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war--the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty, to resort for repose and security, to institutions, which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe they, at length, become willing to run the risk of being less free.

The institutions alluded to are STANDING ARMIES, and the correspondent appendages of military establishments.

James Wilson

The opinion has been very general, that, in order to obtain the blessings of a good government, a sacrifice must be made of a part of our natural liberty. I am much inclined to believe, that, upon examination, this opinion will prove to be fallacious.

Philosophy of Education ground rules

One of the greatest disservices a teacher can do is BORE a student about an amazing subject. 

What do I want to gain from this class? Apply all I learn to that goal.

What is Education??

A teacher is just an advanced learner... with experience.

Balance the the importance of the subject and knowledge with the student.

It will not be intwined in thetheir soul unless they receive knowledge at their own efforts.

“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” 
― Albert Einstein

What are the differences between the teacher and the learner?

*Joseph Conrad, "The Secret Sharer"