My dad, an American World War II veteran who landed at Normandy and was eventually wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, later belonged to a German club that served ethnic food one night a week and played German folk songs on a regular basis.

While attending some of those functions, as a nine-year-old boy, I heard a few German immigrants speak of Hitler's atrocities.  I still can see their wrinkled faces as they waved their crooked, nicotine-stained fingers and said, "Watch out, Walter.  Watch out.  It can happen here, you know."  They would then go on to describe Hitler's rise in a nation that arguably had Europe's most literate population; her finest educators, scientists, and doctors; and an extremely hard-working middleclass.

As I heard each of the warnings, I remember thinking: You don't know anything about America, Mister.  We'll always be free.

The first stanza of our national anthem ends with a question which every generation (whether they like it or not) is obligated to answer. To prevent despots, demagogues, and tyrants from enslaving us, our Forefathers gave us a very precious gift.  Many of the signers of our Constitution paid dearly for their loyalties to our then fledgling nation.

The U.S. Constitution was established-by the states-to limit federal power.  If we have a federal government that feels the need to grow, and grow, and grow (which is what we have), it must overcome constitutional restrictions.

Clearly, the beloved document (as written) does not allow for such intrusive, malevolent, malignant federal governmental growth.  The powers that be, which wish to become even more intrusive and more powerful, have two basic ways to change the treasured gift those wise men bequeathed to us.

First, amendments may be added to change the document.  Amendments, however, take time and may not even be passed.  What to do?

Well, (thankfully for the left) there is a second road to change: Convince the majority of our "dumbed-down, public educated population" that the Constitution is a living document.  We certainly don't have to change anything, just interpret what is written correctly.

That's a far easier road to travel.  Put five liberal judges on the Supreme Court and sprinkle a plethora of liberal judges throughout the lower courts and it really doesn't matter what any state or federal constitution says.  The only thing that really matters is what the judges say the constitutions proclaim.  Voilà-instant change.

My biggest concern with what is happening revolves around our lethargic, complacent, disloyal national media.  There was a time when the media was known as "The Fourth Estate."  Both Lyndon Baines Johnson and Richard Nixon hated the press.  Both presidents went months without a televised national press conference because the ever-snooping press was a constant irritant to them-as it should have been.

Today, however, our media are in bed with the slave masters.  Heaven help us. Could it be those old German immigrants, from the days of my youth, saw the future?

Walt Osterman is the author of "Not Home Yet: A Tale Concerning Israel's Rebirth." He served in Vietnam and is a Bronze Star recipient. He lives in Wyoming.

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