By: Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

As in previous years, the Lees College Campus of Hazard Community and Technical College celebrated “Constitution Day”. This year was no exception, as those in attendance agreed that the precious document drawn up by our founding fathers in 1787 continues to serve this country in a way they would be proud of.

The celebration began Monday morning at the Life Skills Center downtown, where people watched HCTC’s Public Relations Director, Evelyn Wood, emcee the festivities from Hazard. The event was broadcast on streaming video via the college’s interactive television system, and seen at several sites, including Jackson. After reciting the Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home” by the Hazard High School Chorus, Ms. Wood introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Bradley C. Cannon, a Professor at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Professor Bradley spoke of topics that have become controversial lately, and their relationship to the Constitution. Issues like the displaying of the Ten Commandments on public property and President Bush’s discussion on the treatment of prisoners of war were two of those topics, which led to interesting discussions from a panel in Hazard, and a smaller group discussion here in Jackson.

After the telecast, Lees Director of Student Life, Cluster Howard, asked his group to “sound-off” on those topics. On the posting of the Ten Commandments, one person said that “it was in direct violation of Constitutional Law. It violates the separation of church and state.” Another attendee disagreed, saying “It should be posted in public, because it’s so much a part of our history in America. It’s part of our country’s foundation.”

On the reported issue of abusing prisoners of war, one who was in favor thought “it was alright because our country’s at war, and because the people who were being tortured are terrorists. It’s a different situation when we’re at war.” That viewpoint was countered by another person’s reply of “The fact of the matter is the rest of the world hates the United States. Why should we stoop to their level and torture those prisoners? We need to lead by example.”

Howard and all the participants agreed that these “hot button issues” discussed “drum up a wide range of emotions and test the limits of the Constitution. It’s a tough call on what is and can be interpeted.” He also took time out to ask those what they thought of the topic of “gerrymandering”, where Senate and House seats both in Congress and in the state General Assembly are changed to suit an incumbent’s chances for re-election better. “The Constitution, in my view, never intended this to happen. The Founding Fathers never had it in mind. There were 13 states then, there are 50 now. And we’ve seen the country go from a rural population, to an urban and suburban population. This is one subject I think needs to have a Constitutional Amendment on.”

In closing, the people there agreed on one thing - the Constitution has, and continues to , serve its purpose as a system of laws in which our nation exists. “It’s a good document,” Howard added. “Our Founding Fathers had the right idea, and it’s adapted to the times for over 200 years.” As one of those who participated in the Jackson discussion noted, “This nation may not be perfect, but as the Constitution says: ‘…In order to form a more perfect union’…, it works for ‘We, the People.”