My son was a participant last year in the ‘We the People’ program. As I watched his team prepare for competition, it became evident to me that ‘We the People’ is a valuable and effective method of preparing young people to be citizens. It also occurred to me that not only high school students could benefit from this curriculum. All Americans need a refresher course.
Sandra Day O’Conner spoke to this not long ago when she said, “Although over 200 years ago most Americans hotly debated the merits of the proposed Constitution, recent polls indicate that today almost half of our citizens do not know that there are three branches of government. Thirty-five percent believe the Constitution establishes English as our national language”. Such ignorance would be humorous if the consequences of an ignorant citizenry were not so dire. The Constitution is what binds our nation of immigrants together and makes us one people. It is our creed. The statement of Benjamin Franklin, made in 1787, is still true today. This is a Republic, if we can keep it.”
With this in mind, I approached the Center for Civic Education with a simple idea. Broadcast the National Finals of ‘We the People’ on national television. Use this powerful medium to honor the students and teachers from across this great country and simultaneously bring the message of the Framers into every American living room. Producing a television series is an expensive undertaking and you may be instrumental in raising the money we will need to make a program of which we can all be proud.
We will offer fair value for corporate support. In addition to the tax advantages, corporate sponsors will receive cross promotion in both print and radio. And, finally yet importantly, they will bask in the reflected glory of the Constitution of the United States of America.
I ask you to consider the words of the venerable West Virgina Senator Robert Byrd, “Why study the Constitution? Study the Constitution because it is both the foundation and the guardian of our liberties. Study it also with the knowledge that as strong and enduring as our Constitution has been, it is nevertheless a fragile, almost intangible thing that cannot survive without the dedication and constant support of citizens
Sandra Day O’Conner spoke to this not long ago when she said, “Although over 200 years ago most Americans hotly debated the merits of the proposed Constitution, recent polls indicate that today almost half of our citizens do not know that there are three branches of government. Thirty-five percent believe the Constitution establishes English as our national language”. Such ignorance would be humorous if the consequences of an ignorant citizenry were not so dire. The Constitution is what binds our nation of immigrants together and makes us one people. It is our creed. The statement of Benjamin Franklin, made in 1787, is still true today. This is a Republic, if we can keep it.”
With this in mind, I approached the Center for Civic Education with a simple idea. Broadcast the National Finals of ‘We the People’ on national television. Use this powerful medium to honor the students and teachers from across this great country and simultaneously bring the message of the Framers into every American living room. Producing a television series is an expensive undertaking and you may be instrumental in raising the money we will need to make a program of which we can all be proud.
We will offer fair value for corporate support. In addition to the tax advantages, corporate sponsors will receive cross promotion in both print and radio. And, finally yet importantly, they will bask in the reflected glory of the Constitution of the United States of America.
I ask you to consider the words of the venerable West Virgina Senator Robert Byrd, “Why study the Constitution? Study the Constitution because it is both the foundation and the guardian of our liberties. Study it also with the knowledge that as strong and enduring as our Constitution has been, it is nevertheless a fragile, almost intangible thing that cannot survive without the dedication and constant support of citizens
James Moxom
Executive Producer
WTPfilms