Sudan is located just south of Egypt and west of Ethiopia bordering the Red Sea.  It is the tenth largest country in the world by area and the largest on the African continent.  Sudan history dates back some 60,000 years with the first settlements known around 8,000 BCE. 

 

With the Nile River flowing right through the middle of the country, Sudan is rich in petroleum, natural gas, gold, silver, manganese, gypsum, iron, uranium, copper, and many other elements and minerals.  Agriculture employs eighty percent of the workforce and makes up forty percent of Sudan’s gross domestic product. 

 

Although Sudan is a very rich nation in resources, its per capita income remains extremely low because Sudan lacks the most important resource a country must have for its people to be economically well, individual liberty and freedom.  Omar Hassan al-Bashir calls himself president, however, he is really nothing more than a ruthless dictator murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent individuals, especially children.  Since he took power in 1989 the Sudanese people have known nothing but war and genocide.  Even before Brashir came to power, Sudan was under dictatorial rule generating continuous war. 

 

Three “lost boys” experienced the genocide and tyranny of Sudan rule and lived to tell about it in their book, “They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky.”  Now in their twenties, the boys travel throughout the United States with their American host describing the thousands of miles they were forced to walk with practically no food and water in order to finally reach freedom when they were five and seven years old. 

 

If there was ever a country that exemplifies and substantiates the need of the American founders Constitution, it is 21st century Sudan.  Without individual liberty, there is no peace.  Without peace there is no trade.  Without trade economic poverty exists. 

 

The dictatorial rule that resides in Sudan prevents the rest of the world from hearing about what is happening there.  However, now with several thousand kids relocated to the United States the word about the genocide in Sudan is being exposed.  Free speech is an extremely valuable right.  The American founders thought it so valuable that they incorporated it into the First Amendment to the United States Constitution to forbid government officials from restricting anyone’s speech.  In this way individuals are able to obtain needed information to make freely determined decisions. 

 

Also, since Sudan’s government officials forbid its populace to possess weapons, it is difficult for the citizenry to defend themselves against their government officials, hence the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. 

 

Sudan is a beautiful country as described by the “lost boys”.  Besides being rich in resources the people value life and family.  The key ingredient missing, though, is individual liberty. 

 

Thomas Jefferson mentioned that “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”  Americans are fortunate because the founders saw fit to restrain government officials by the Constitution, and it is the individual’s responsibility to be sure that all government officials abide by it. 

 

The United States Constitution is what stands between liberty and tyranny for Americans.  Without protection from government officials, genocide, tyranny, and war result.  As writer Betty Knowles Hunt warned, "Power is intoxicating to all.  It feeds upon itself. We the people gain nothing by substituting new people for old in Washington.  Our only hope is to take away the power that has been concentrated there, so that no one can use it benevolently or otherwise.  Once we allow ourselves to become the subjects of benevolent power, we shall soon find ourselves the slaves of a very un-benevolent power." 

 

Finally, Daniel Webster warned all Americans, "Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again.   Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world." 

 

All Americans need do is look at Sudan to realize the true value of the document that created the American dream of liberty. 

 

People for the USA, in conjunction with the Yuma Union High School District, will host Mr. James P. Owen, Tuesday, November 15, 7 PM at the Kofa High School auditorium.  Mr. Owen will discuss, “Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West.”

 

Dr. Earl Taylor, president of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, will discuss the applicability of the Constitution to many of today’s situations December 4 at the Booth Machinery conference hall at 6:30 PM.