Constitution

About 220 years ago, shortly after the American colonies had won their freedom from the British, it became quite apparent that the Articles of Confederation formulated by the new nation were unworkable as a governing document. So, in 1786, at the instigation of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, a convention was agreed upon to be held in Philadelphia. A few statesmen such as Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee, refused to attend and serve. But, eventually, despite bad roads, bad weather and a lack of money in some cases, the convention began debate in May, 1787, with members from nine of the colonies present, among them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

No more crossings should be closed I live in northwest Glendale, on Allen Avenue. Our street was closed at the railroad tracks a few years ago for safety reasons. I am opposed to closing any more crossings and, in fact, would like to see my street reopened. Those who wish to commit suicide or cause mayhem will find ways to do so regardless of what the city does to stop them. Let those of us who live here have convenience. I don't believe this is a race issue, simply overreacting to a tragedy that would not have been prevented by the closing of one crossing.

by Mary O'Keefe With waving flags and smiling faces, La Crescenta Elementary students celebrated Constitution Day. The federal government requires all public schools to recognize Sept. 17 as Constitution Day. Schools can do this through a variety of programs, such as assemblies or in-class projects. "I think it is a good thing," said Alice Petrossian, Glendale Unified School District's Assistant Superintendent. "Children should celebrate the birth of our nation." The school's principal, Kim Bishop, came up with the idea of having the school celebrate the day with an assembly full of patriotic songs and poems.

A working draft of the U.S. Constitution, secretly printed for use by delegates of the Constitutional  Convention in 1787, is one of several rare documents that will be displayed in honor of Constitution Day at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Constitution Day will be observed nationwide Sept. 17 with a variety of programs at schools, libraries and federal institutions to promote awareness of the document that forms the framework of American government.

An attempt on the greatness of America Re: "On the National Lawyers Guild and ACLU," by Nathan C. Samples, (Oct. 20 News-Press). My, my, another mindless socialist stuck somewhere in the pages of his Bible and an unknown work of fiction, and who hasn't an iota of understanding of America's greatness and its constitutional protection of his kind of worthless, vitriolic blather. Mr. Samples is obviously suffering from some personal trauma, resulting in a logic couched in nothing but bitter rhetorical dissent, and as eloquent and righteous as it might first appear.

Thoughts from Dr. Joe by Dr. Joe Puglia Fridays are my easy days, so I head to Penelope's Café and enjoy a chi latte. I brought my copy of "The Odyssey" and vowed to finally get through it. Attempting to avoid the ramblings of Homer which lately have taken me nowhere; I picked up a copy of the Valley Sun and read "Election Tensions" and "Report Vandalism" by Lisa Walker and Celina Lew (Our Readers Write?Or Wrong). Lisa and Celina spoke of a recent wave of flagrant intolerance directed toward their right to express their political views as evidenced by stolen yard signs, and vandalism toward their property.

Allen Brandstater continues to publicize Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" ("Opponents of Patriot Act 'ill-informed,' " Aug. 17). Mr. Brandstater didn't mention examples of the "59 separate lies, half-truths or distortions" that he stated this film "reveals," but readers interested in articles attacking "Fahrenheit 9/11" and Moore's factual backup for the film can go to www.michaelmoore.com. Mr. Brandstater assured readers that the 2001 Patriot Act does not represent a threat to constitutional liberties, and hurls words like "paranoia," "delusion" and "ill-informed" at those who disagree.

Re "Looking forward to democracy in action with a referendum" by Aram Barsoumian: Glendale, as is all of the United States, is a "representative constitutional republic." It isn't "a democracy" as ignorantly quoted by Barsoumian out of a "dictionary." Try the Constitution. And neither can it be "ruled by the majority or co-exist with a democracy." Glendale appears so messed up because its voters and officials, those on both sides of most issues, seem to believe Glendale is unique.

Ryan Carter Clark Magnet High School government teacher Nick Doom found a topic Tuesday that really got his students talking. It was a proposed amendment to the state Constitution, co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge), that would give teens younger than 18 the right to vote in state elections. The idea, called "Training Wheels for Citizenship," was proposed Monday by state Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) and backed by legislators including Liu, Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes (D-Fresno)

The letter by Barbara Pallos concerning her jury experience is a testimonial to what appears to be a growing trend with juries that sit on civil cases. One of the greatest safeguards we have as citizens is the right to a jury trial. The right to a jury trial was not originally written into our Constitution. It became part of the Constitution by the Bill of Rights. The reason for including trial by jury in the Constitution was because our founding fathers felt it was one of those important inalienable rights given to all people.