Our Constitution is at the very core of our democracy providing us laws that govern our free and democratic way of life. The Constitution guarantees us certain unalienable rights, which we have cherished and respected throughout our history. The Bill of Rights has protected these freedoms for us for more than 200 years.

The spirit of the Constitution was not followed after the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. We had a golden opportunity to unite the world’s countries to develop strategies to combat terrorism. However, our executive branch decided to use American power and might to go after terrorists unilaterally. Providing Congress with inaccurate information, they made them unable to make a well-informed decision as to the need to go war.

As a result of our “going it alone” attitude, the executive branch circumvented their constitutional obligation and sent young men and women into harm’s way. In the process, we lost the respect of the citizens of planet Earth and a real opportunity for a more peaceful resolution.

Since 9-11, the Constitution has continued to be under assault by the executive branch. We have seen our personal freedoms, guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, be challenged and eroded by the enactment of the USA Patriot Act. Government officials for no just reason have illegally harassed many people. People have been imprisoned without just cause.

Our private property has been searched without a warrant. Illegal wiretapping has been conducted. We are supposed to be protected against the above invasions of privacy by the Bill of Rights. This abuse and misuse of constitutional power by the executive branch of government is an insult to American citizens, their intelligence and love of their country. We must all recognize that the rules the present administration imposes on us will result in freedoms lost not gained.

Our Constitution allows only Congress to declare war on another country. The executive branch convinced the Congress, under false pretenses, that might makes right against the war on terrorism. They sent our men and women to a war in Iraq and Afghanistan to make the world a safer place for all to live in and to establish a democratic form of government. Moving into the war’s fourth year and after many turning points, we do not seem much closer to a resolve.

In the meantime, because of the executive branch’s unilateral decision to go to war outside the powers vested in it by the Constitution, American families have lost more than 2,600 loved ones. Many thousands have been wounded or permanently maimed.

Many of our National Guardsmen have served several tours of duty, more tours than in any other conflicts and wars. This has caused real hardships for families and employers back home. We are forever indebted to their commitment, dedication, courage and willingness to serve their country, but was their sacrifice necessary?

We have allowed our leaders to make poor decisions and waste our resources, both human and material, for this war effort. They, through their actions, have created an uncontrollable war monetary debt that is a threat to the economic fabric of the nation.

We need to bring our troops home as soon possible, but only after we have helped to stabilize the governments. We should leave behind only enough people to continue the training of security personal, so they will be able eventually to care for and protect their own citizens. Rebuilding the country should be a task they take on themselves with support from the United Nations and NGOs.

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We are a government by the people and for the people. Let us not forget this fact. On this July 4th we honor those who have toiled, fought and sacrificed for all the rights and freedoms that we have in this country today. We must continue to hold ourselves to the high standards the founding fathers set forth for us in the Constitution of the United States of America.

We should continue to trust the principles set forth in the Constitution and not be influenced by fear, the hunger for excessive power, selfishness and greed that is encouraged by the administration.

Let liberty’s flame for freedom and democracy shine brightly forever.

Robert Chaplin is a teacher at the Conners Emerson School in Bar Harbor.