225 years ago today, 39 men signed a piece of paper...

and when all was said and done, the United States of American had its Constitution.  It took awhile to be ratified and implemented, but it was on September 17, 1787 that it was born and it's important to stop and reflect on how this document lives today, over two centuries later.

The preamble is worthy of a re-read:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Establish justice?  Our system of justice is imperfect, but it's probably as good or better than any other system in any other nation on the planet Earth.  But it can still be improved upon.

Domestic tranquility?  Los Angeles in 1965 and 1992.  Miami in 1980.  Just three examples of times and events where our nation's domestic tranquility was shattered by rioting.  Those were major riots with loss of life and property.  There have been too many smaller instances to count or discuss.  But again, a goal worthy of striving for.

Providing for the common defense is a topic that will never be debated or discussed sufficiently to make everyone happy.  9/11 reminded us that even though the continental U.S. hasn't been invaded since the War of 1812 by a foreign army, we are all vulnerable every day to acts of terror. 

We as a people treasure our liberty, because that's what our forefathers travelled, fought, bled and died to achieve.  Never take it for granted.

We have a Bill of Rights to remind us that we cannot allow government to infringe upon those rights therein described.  A private employer may be able to fire me for my speech or expression, but government itself cannot silence me or impose a consequence upon me for speaking out against it, as long as I'm not threatening to violently overthrow it. 

Far too many paid too high a price for the Constitution that the majority of us take for granted.  At least today, for one day, let us remember and treasure the ideas and ideals that a few dozen men distilled into this precious document.