Constitution

My three favorite phrases are, in reverse order: No. 3. "What the Founding Fathers really said was ... " No. 2. "What the Founding Fathers were trying to say was ... " No. 1. "What the Founding Fathers meant to say was ... " I think it's really cool the way we can, two centuries hence, all travel back in time and place ourselves squarely in the Founding Fathers' respective lemons. The woman who's running for Senate in Nevada recently said if one reads the Founding Fathers' writings, it's clear they were conservative.

Today marks 234 years since our nation declared independence and less than 219 years since our most precious freedoms were secured. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified as part of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, promising Americans freedoms that we will exercise today by going to the church of our choice, or not going at all. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" is the first part...

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he is handing his powers over to his vice president, Omar Suleiman, and ordered constitutional amendments Thursday. But the move means he retains his title of president and ensures regime control over the reform process, falling short of protester demands. Protesters in Cairo's central Tahrir Square, hoping he would announce his resignation outright, reacted in fury and disbelief. Many watched in stunned silence to his speech, slapping their hands to their foreheads in anger and shock, some crying or waving their shoes in the air in a sign of contempt.

Thumbs up to Spc. Jeffrey Reedy, son of Don and Nancy Reedy of Hagerstown, for volunteering to join the Tennessee National Guard after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When his unit was called home from Iraq, he stayed on and was assigned to a Pennsylvania unit and was shot in the hand March 18. He was awarded the Purple Heart, which was pinned on him by his grandfather, Yale Hanks, a WWII vet. Thumbs up to federal Judge Royce C. Lamberth, for dismissing a suit brought over the sale of the former Fort Ritchie Army base because it might result in "environmental damage and the loss of valuable historic buildings ... " It's been eight years since the base closed.

Gun lobby perpetuating myth about Nazi Germany To the editor: One of the myths being perpetuated as faux hysteria by the gun lobby is that we could learn a lesson from Nazi Germany by not letting government take our guns. First off, nothing has ever been suggested in America about “taking” anyone's guns. The means proposed to reduce U.S. gun violence is to limit access for violent and deranged persons. As for the Hitler gun control lie, the Nazi Weapon Law of 1938 actually deregulated the purchase and sales of rifles, shotguns and ammunition for all but the Jews.

It didn't take very long for the angry opponents of the newly passed health care law to strike back. Fourteen states have filed lawsuits to nullify this fiercely contested piece of legislation. If there was any doubt about their zeal to wreck Obamacare, that doubt might be removed. When the attorney general of Alabama advised the governor that the case was unwinnable, the governor hired a lawyer to file the suit. The arguments against the new health care law are based upon two points - a state does not need to obey a law it finds abusive (Virginia)

andrews@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Authority, constitutional law and the First Amendment are the roots of a protest over the removal of a North Hagerstown High School student government officer. Principal Robert T. "Bo" Myers said he removed the officer last week because "there was a need for a change in direction," not because there was any wrongdoing. Some Student Government Association members said they have been told little. They questioned whether the move violated the removal process in their school constitution.

Editor's note - Please be as brief as possible when calling Mail Call, The Daily Mail's reader call-in line. Mail Call is not staffed on weekends or holidays so it is best to call Mail Call during the week. The Mail Call number is 301-791-6236. You are welcome to leave a recorded message on any subject, but some calls will be screened out. Here are some of the calls we have received lately: "I am calling about the Lakeside Mobile Park trick-or-treat night. Does anyone know when it is going to be held?"