As we enjoy the lights and festivities of the holiday season, Dec. 15 seems to get neglected.

On this day 219 years ago, in 1791, the first 10 amendments to our Constitution known as the Bill of Rights were ratified.

Dedicated Bill of Rights Day by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, it is a call for all American citizens to reflect and review the historical significance of this anniversary and ponder how these amendments affect our daily lives and ensure our most sacred basic rights — rights that we take for granted.

These rights have been abused, ignored and violated throughout our history, and are under constant attack from inside and out. Our Constitutional rights include the freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion, the right to trial by jury, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, the right to bear arms, to name a few.

The governmental officials who violate the Bill of Rights, which was put in place to protect “we the people” from abuse, are breaking the very law that employs them and that they swore to uphold.

So please take a moment to celebrate Bill of Rights Day and renew our commitment to freedom because our country’s great promise, being the envy of the world, needs protecting.

Rick Rubin
Friday Harbor