The framers of our Constitution and Bill of Rights considered life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness God-given rights — rights that should not be controlled by those in power, whether it be kings or presidents. The Constitution was a gift; it was a transfer of power from the government to its Ppeople. It was unique and powerful — the lion, in grace, surrendered to the lamb. No people on earth have a more powerful document protecting their freedom.

History is populated with the record of people who collectively surrendered their rights for the good of the collective. You may recognize the names of their trusted leaders: Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Mao Tse-tung, and closer to home, Fidel Castro.

The future of our country depends on protecting the Constitution. We the People — all the people, Democrats, Republicans, and independents — should agree on this. To weaken the Constitution weakens us all and puts the government and politicians in charge of our lives.

Issues such as gun control, women’s rights, immigration, health care, and others can be debated and settled at the polls, by legislation, and at the state level. We should never surrender our protected freedoms. It is a fool’s trade; we will never get them back. Protecting the Construction is protecting ourselves. Supreme Court justices should hold the Constitution as sacred — that belief, and that belief only, protects our freedom.

Joseph Grant

Wiscasset