>> THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK TON THE U.S. CAPITOL SHOCKED THE NATION.

AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AS CONGRESS GATHERED CERTIFYING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RESULTS.

THE TAKE ON DEMOCRACY AND THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LEADERS PAST AND PRESENT IN CONGESTION WITH GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL STUDY AND THE GERALD R. FORD FOUNDATION RESOLVE TO EXPLORE THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AS THE ROAD MAP FOR HEALING AND DEEPER POLITICAL UNDERSTANDING IN A SERIES OF PLANNED EVENTS WGVU NEWSMAKERS PREVENTS THE FIRST WGVSU FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ROUNDTABLE, THE CONSTITUTION FEATURING THE PRESIDENT AND THE CEO OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ALONG WITH WGVSU PRESIDENT AND FORMER PRESIDENT MARK MURRAY ALONG WITH PRESIDENT E MARRY US DR. THOMAS HAAS AND HERE TO LEAD THE DISKISSING JEFFREY ROSSEN.

>> WONDERFUL TO BE BACK EVEN VIRTUALLY AT GRAND RAPIDS, I WAS LONERRED TO JOIN YOU ON CONSTITUTION DAY 2019 TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND IT IS EXTREMELY MEANFULFUL TO RECONVENE DURING THIS HIS TO TICK TIME IN 2021 TO THINK AGAIN ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN LIGHTS OF THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6th.

I WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH OUR TOPIC IN THE SPIRIT THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE FRAMED WITH THAN IS NONPARTISAN SPIRT.

LET'S SEPARATE OUR POLITICAL FROM OUR CONSTITUTIONAL VIEWS AND LET US REASON TOGETHER AS JUSTICE LOUIE SAID ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CONSTITUTION WORKED IN LIGHT OF THE REMARKABLE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6th HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE GUARDRAILS MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK I WILL BEGIN BY INVOKING PRESIDENT FORD WHO WAS SUCH A GREAT CITIZEN OF GRAND RAPIDS AND OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT FORD WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE IN AUGUST OF 1974 SAID OUR CONSTITUTION WORKS, OUR GREAT REPUBLIC IS A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS AND NONE OF MEN AND HEAR THE PEOPLE RULE.

FRIENDS, DESPITE THE REMARKABLE CHALLENGE THAT IT CONFRONTED ARE ON JANUARY 6th, OUR CONSTITUTION DID WORK THE STN TATIONS HELD.

CONGRESS FULFILLED ITS DUTY TO SERT TIE THE ELECTION AND THE JUDICIARY WHO REPEATEDLY AND NEARLY U NAUM OSLY REJECTED EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION AND ULTIMATELY THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER WHICH IS THE CORE OF OUR DEMOCRACY PROCEED.

BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE CONSTITUTION FACED ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE TESTS IN OUR HISTORY BECAUSE IT WAS FEAR OF MOBS IN CREATED BY DEMO GOING TOES THAT IN CITED THE FRAMERS TO DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION IN MAY 1787.

THE FARMERS CAME TO PHILADELPHIA TO DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION IN ORDER TO CREATE GOVERNMENT STRONG ENOUGH TO AVOID 3:00 WHAT THEY PERCEIVED AS THE ONGOING DANGER POSED BY MOBS LIKE SHEA'S REBELLION WHICH WAS REPEL BILLION FARMERS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

DERTS WHO DID NOT WANT TO PAY THE CREDITORS.

JAMES MADISON SPENT THE SUMMER BEFORE THE CONVENTION READING A TRUNK FULL OF BOOKS THAT JEFFERSON HAD SENT OVER FROM PAR BRIS THE FAILED DEMOCRACIES OF ROME AND CONCLUDED THAT ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT DEMOCRACY RAN THE RISK OF MOB RULE AND IN ALL VERY NUMEROUS ASSEMBLY IS OF WHATEVER CHARACTERS COMPOSED HE WROTE IN FEDERALIST 55 PASSION NEVER FAILS TO REST THE SECTOR FROM REASON HAD EVERY CITIZEN WOULD HAVE ABOUT AND MOB SO THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN REASON AND PASSION BETWEEN CITIZENS GOVERNED BY THE COOL VOICING OF REASON AND THOSE INFLAMED BY DEMO GOING TOES TO BECOME MOPS WAS SEN CRAWL TO THE CONCERN AND 40 YEARS LATER A YOUNG LINCOLN HAD THE SAME WARNING ABOUT VIOLENCE HE SAID UNLESS AMERICANS COULD GOERN BY REASON OR PASSION AND WOULD FALL TO ON THE POLITICAL IN STITUTIONS DELIVERED TO THE YOUNG MEN'S IN SPRINGFIELD AND RESPONDING TO MOB VIOLENCE AND RACIST MURDER IN ST. LOUIS AND THE LYNCHING OF THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR ELIJAH LOVEJOY AND IN THE SPEECH WHICH DENOUNCED AND MENTIONED THE WORD MOB EIGHT TIME AND BLAMED THE VIOLENCE ON THE FOLLOWERS OF THE ANDREW JACKSON KNOWN AS KING MOB AND THE ONLY WAY FOR AMERICANS TO ENSURE THE SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION REMAIN THE POLITICAL RELIGION OF THE NATION WOULD BE TO REAFFIRM THEIR COMMITMENTS TO ARE RESTRAINING IRRATIONAL PASSIONANCE HAT DREADS WITH THE COOL VOICE OF REASON AND PASSIONS AND SAYS CAN DO SO MO NO MORE AND REASON, COLD CALCULATING REASON PLUS FURN IR!ISH AL THE MATERIAL FORCE OUR FUTURE SUPPORT AND DEFENSE.

THIS DISTINCTION BETWEEN REASON AND PASSION, I HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY STRUCK THE MORE I READ WAS CENTRALLED TO THE FRAMERS UNDERSTANDING OF VIRTUE AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WHEN THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE "THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS" IN THE DECORATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

HE HAD IN MIND NOT FEELING GOOD BUT BEING GOOD.

HAPPINESS IS THE AIM OF LIFE.

VIRTUES THE FOUNDATION OF HAPPINESS AND FRANKLIN AND ADAM AND JEFFERSON ALL TOOK THE DISTRICT, BETWEEN REASON AND PASSION FROM PLAY DOE AND ARISTOTLE WHO DIVIDE THE SOUL INTO THREE PARTS: REASON, DESIRE, PASSION.

FOR THEM THE WORD PASSION MEANT EMOTIONS.

S THAT YOU OUR WORD.

AND THE DEFINITION OF VIRTUE WAS USING OUR POWERS OF REASON TO MODERATE OUR GOVERNMENT AND UNREASONABLE OR SELFISH DESIRES AND EMOTIONS SUCH AS HATRED, AMBITION AND ENVY SO YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE CLASSICAL VIRTUES, TEMPERANCE AND PRUDENCE WHICH THOUGHT WERE NECESSARY TO PURSUE THE LONG-TERM WELL-BEING IN THE PUBLIC GOOD SO THE CLASSICAL VERSION OF THE MARSHMALLOW TEST.

RESIST IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION AND PLEASURE TO OBTAIN LASTING VIRTUE AND TO SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD.

SO IT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE CONSTITUTION TO SLOW DOWN THE LIBERATION.

3:00 SO THAT CITIZENS RATHER THAN BEING GOVERNED BY OUR HASTY AND IRRATIONAL, AND IMMEDIATE PASSIONS COULD BE GOVERNED BY THE COOL VOICE OF REASON AND THAT IS WHY THE FRAMEWORKERS PUT IN MIND A WHOLE BUNCH COOLING MECHANISMS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THOUGHTFUL DEACISION BASED ON THEIR LONG-TERM AGGREGATE INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN THE SHORT TERM IMPULSES OF IM FLAMED MOB OR FACTIONS.

MADISON DEFINED AS A PUMP BEFORE HE CITIZENS WHETHER AMOUNTING TO MAJORITY OR MINER TO OF THE WHOLE WHO WERE UNITED AND SOME COMMON IMPULSE OF PASSION OR INTERESTSED A STORES THE RIGHT OF OTHER CITIZEN OR TO THE AGGREGATE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

KNEE WAS A MOUTHFUL BUT IT IS USUAL TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE CENTRAL CONSTITUTION'S DESIGN TO AVOID AND MAYOR CITY OR MINE TY AND A GROUP OF CITIZENS ANIMATED BY SELFISH PASSION AND SELFISH INTEREST RATHER THAN PUBLIC REASON OR THE INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

NOW THIS IS WHAT INFORMED THE FRAMERS DISTINCTION BETWEEN VIOLENT MOBS AND VIRTUAL CROWDS, IT IS INTERESTING HISTORICAL DISTINCTION BUT WE NODE NOTE, THAT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY ITSELF DURING THE REVOLUTION WAS EXAMPLE OF CROWD ACTIVITY.

AND THE CROWD GATHERED.

WAS IN FLAME BY LEADERS LOOK THE SOONS OF LIBERTY AND SAMUEL ADAM THEY GO TON THE SHIPS OF THE BRITISH MERCHANT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE TAX IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DUMPED THE HARBOR SO CANNOT ARRIVE IN BOSTON AND TRIGGERS THE TAX AND BUT WHEN THEY BREAK THE LOCKS ON THE SHIP IN ORDER TO GET THE TEA, THEY REIMBURSE THE CAPTAIN FOR THE BROKEN LOCKS BUT NOT FOR THE TEA.

THAT IS HOW CAREFUL THEY ARE TO ATTEND THE PRIVATE PROPERTY INTEREST OF THE COMPANY AND THE CAP FAIN WHICH THEY RESPECT AS OPPOSED TO THE TEAM WHICH IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAXED SO IT WAS GNAT VIOLENT MOB.

I WAS CAREFULLY REGULATED CROWD WHICH TOOK SERIOUSLY THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN CONE STITIALAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS.

AND THAN DISTINCTION IS WHAT INFORMED ALL THE COOLING MECHANISM THAT'S THE FRAMERS WERE TRYING TO ENSURE.

THE SEPARATION OF POWERS, CHECKS AND BALANCES, FEDERALISM WITHIN CONGRESS ARE SUPPOSED TO REFINE AND ENLARGE THE PUBLIC VIEWS SO THE MAJORITY RULE CAN BECOME JUST RULE THAN MOB RULE.

MADISON IS CONFIDENT THE LARGE SIZE OF AMERICA WILL BE OUR GREATEST PROTECTION AGAINST VIOLENT MOBS BECAUSE HE THINKS BY THE TIME THAT A CROWD GATHERS, IF IT IS IRRATIONAL, LIKELY TO COMMIT VIOLENCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND EACH OVER BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS SO BIG THAT ORGANIZERS IS DIFFICULT OR BY THE TIME THEY DO FIND OTHER PASSION WILL COOL WHEN EVERYONE WILL GO HOME.

AND IN THE MEANTIME.

THE LEADERSHIP CLASS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY DELIBERATE WITH CITIZENS PERSUADING THEM TO FOCUS ON QUESTIONS INVOLVING THE COMMON GOOD RATHER IN THIS THE PARTISAN PASSIONS OF THE MOMENT.

6:00 AND SO, THAT IS THE FIRST COOLING PECK NISM MADISON IS POINTING TO THE LARGE SIZE OF AMERICA AND THE IN SECONDS THE REPRESENTATION BECAUSE HE THINKS VIRTUAL LEADERS WILL BE GUIDED BY LONG TERM INTERESTS RATHER THAN SHORT TERM PARTISAN PASSIONS CAN ENGAGE IN THE REASON DIALOGUE SIT ZEN AND PASSION WILL PREVAIL.

ALL RIGHT.

DOES IT SOUND A LITTLE IDEALISTIC POST JANUARY 6th?

OF COURSE.

WE ALL KNOW THE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL CHANGES THAT HAVE UNDERMINED THIS VISION OF VIRTUALOUS GROUP OF ENLIGHTENED REPRESENTATIVES AND JOURNALISTS WHO MADISON CALLED THE LITTER RATTY WHO ARE RUNNING THOUGHTFULLY WITH CITIZENS USING MEDIA TECHNOLOGY LIKE THE BROADSIDE NEWSPAPER AND THE PAPERS WERE PRINTED SO THAT THE COOL VOICE OF REASON CAN PREVAIL.

AND WITHOUT DISCUSSING ALL OF THE MANY CHALLENGES TO THIS VISION, LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THE MOST OBVIOUS AND THE IMMEDIATE ONE AND THE MOST RELEVANT IN LIGHT OF JANUARY 6th.

THAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS CLEAR THAT POST BASED ON EMOTION TRAVEL FURTHER AND FASTER ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND YOUTUBE THAN THOSE BASED ON REASON AND THE EXISTENCE HAS TOTALLY RUN WITH ERMINED THE STICKINESS OF LARGE GAE OH BRAVE IF I AND THE FAITH THAT EVERYONE WOULD GET TIRED BEFORE THEY COULD ORGANIZE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, NOT APPLICABLE IN A WORLD OF TWITTER AND FACEBOOK WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND EACH OTHER INSTANTLY AND ORGANIZE QUICKLY AROUND THE MOST INFLAMED AND EXTREME POSITIONS RATHER THAN THE MOST THOUGHTFUL ONES AND WE ALSO KNOW THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ALLOWING THE MOB ON JANUARY 6 TOT ORGANIZE THE MOB ACTION WAS PLANNED ON SOCIAL NEED YA AND IT WAS, AND IT HELPED GATHER PEOPLE TO WASHINGTON AND PLAN THEIR ACTION AND RESULTED IN THE FRAMER'S NIGHTMARE AND THAT IS JUST, I THINK, WE CAN SAY THAT, THAT IS HISTORICAL FACT THAT, THAT MOBS IN CITED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ARGUING TO TAKE VIOLENT ACTION TO COMMIT ILLEGAL ACTS IS WHAT THE FRAMERS ARE TRYING TO AVOID.

NOW, WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

NOW, I HAVE GOT ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW.

SIX MINUTES LEFT IN THIS TALK, SOIL NOT SOLVE THIS MOST URGENT QUESTION OF OUR TIME, BUT YOU HAVE ASKED ME TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE THE CONSTITUTION SO LET ME DISCUSS A FEW IMPOSSIBLE OF AS OF REFORM FOR STRENGTHENING THESE DEMOCRATIC GUARDRAILS THEN WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION.

AND DOW WANT TO SAY, AS I DID AT THE BEGINNING, THE CONSTITUTION DID HOLD, I MEAN, SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR IT TO FAIL AND IT DIDN'T.

SO THAT DESPITE THE GRAVE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN PARTICULAR FOLK SING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA ASPECT TO IT.

WE CAN BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS INSTITUTIONS CREATED BY THE CONSTITUTION WHICH ALLOWED THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER TO TAKE PLACE.

BUT THAT WE FACE SERIOUS CHALLENGE THAT THE FRAMERS IN MADISON WOULD HAVE HAD TO CONFRONT.

THE THING I WANT TO BEGAN BY SAYING IS THAT THIS IS NOT, IF THE CHALLENGES ON-LINE AND RADICALIZATION THEN IT IS NOT ONE THAT IS IMPLEMENTED TO THOSE WITH LESS EDUCATIONAL TUNES WHICH MAY BE THE TENDENCY OF SOME LETS TO ASSUME AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" RECENTLY RAN A FASCINATING ARTICLE ABOUT A WOMAN WHO BECAME RADICALIZED ON YOUTUBE AND BECAME A QANON FOLLOW AND HAPPENED SHE WAS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CLASS MATE OF MINE.

IT WAS PRIVILEGED TO GO A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY THEN TO THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND SHE HAD GREAT EDUCATION AND SHE WAS VERY SORT OF THOUGHTFUL PROGRESSIVE PERSON BUT EXPERIENCE OF SEEING ON YOUTUBE SUGGESTED VIDEOS AND THE ALGORITHM THAT CENTERED DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES STORY AND VIDEO ABOUT BRYISH YOGI PSYCHICS LED HER TO SOMETHING EXTREME AND PRETTY SOON SHE WAS ENJOYING THE AFFIRMATION SHE WAS GETTING FROM THE-LIKE LIKES OF THE QANON FOLKS WHO GOT HER INTO THE FILTER BUBBLE FROM WHICH SHE HAS NOT EMERGED SO THAT SUGGESTS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM AND A PART OF THE SOLUTION COULD BE AL AL GO RHYTHMIC IN OTHER WORD, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE COULD BE MORE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY RECOMMEND BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS WATCHING HABITS NOT RECOMMEND EX INCREASINGLY EXTREME VERSION OF WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN SAN FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH PRECISELY THIS KIND OF TWEAK TO THE SYSTEM IN LIGHT OF CENT EVENTS, BE BEYOND THAT.

THERE IS A LARGE AND VIGOROUS DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SPEECH SHOULD BE RESTRICTED ONLINE PREVENT RADICALIZATION AND THIS IS TOO LARGE OF A QUESTION FOR US TO RESOLVE TONIGHT EXCEPT I WANTED TO SHARE MY VIEWS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CONTACT REGULATION IS THE SOLUTION.

THINK THAT THE GLORY OF THE AMERICAN DONE CITY CONSTITUTIONAL TRADITION IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT PRINCIPLE WHICH PROTECTS SPEECH MORE VIGOROUSLY THAN ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD.

THEN IN AMERICA, WE LEARN DURING THE IMPEACHMENT HEARING BECAUSE IT WAS THE CENTRAL LEGAL TEST AND SPEECH EVEN SPEECHED A ROW CAUGHT VIOLENCE IS PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT UNLESS IT IS INTENDED TO AND LIKELY TO IN SIGHT IMMINENT VIOLENT OR LAWLESS ACTION.

INTENDED TO AND LIKELY TO IN SIGHT VIOLENCE T. THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULT TEST TO MET AND WE HEARD DURING THE DEBATES OVER THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL THAT HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP IN CHARGE IN A CRIMINAL CASE WITH ILLEGALLY IN CITED VIOLENCE AND IT WOULD BE A CLOSE CASE.

THERE ARE ARGUMENT ON BO BOTH SIDES WHETHER THE SPEECH WAS DIRECTED AND INTENDED TO PRODUCING A VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL ANDLOGICAL ALSO THE SPEECH WAS LIKELY TO DO SO.

AND WHETHER THE VIE RENS WAS IMMINENT.

CUE ARGUE IT EITHER WAY.

I THINK THAT IS THE GREATEST STRENGTH OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAT WE ALLOW EVEN ADVOCACY OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BECAUSE WE ARE SO COMMITTED THE PRINCIPLE THAT IS JUST AS SAID THE BEST RESPONSE TO EVIL COUNCILS IS A BOOED ONE DEBATE MUST BE ROBUST, WIDE OPEN AND FREE AND THAT THE BEST TEST OF TRUTH IS THE ABILITY TO GET ITSELF ACCEPTED IN THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS OR TO USE THE EQUALLY INSPIRING THE KNOW MORE REPUBLICAN VISION OF JUSTICE AND THOSE WHO WANT OUR REVOLUTION BELIEVE THAT THE FINAL END OF THE STATE WAS TO MAKE MEN FREE DEVELOP THEIR FACULTIES IN THE GOVERNMENT THE DELIBERATIVE FORCES SHOULD PREVAIL OVER THE ARBITRARY AND VALUED LIBERTIES A END AND MEAN MEANANCE BELIEVE LISTEN TY TO THE COURAGE TO BE THE SEC CRATE OF LIBERTY AND THEY THOUGHT THAT FREEDOM TO THINK AS YOU WILL AND TO SPEAK AS YOU THINK ARE MEAN TO THE DISCOVERY AND THE SPREAD OF POLITICAL TRUTH THAT WITHOUT FREEZE SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY, DISCUSSION WOULD BE FUTILE THAT WITH THEM, DY DISCOVERY ORDINARY OUT OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE DISSEMINATION OF OBNOXIOUS DOCTRINE THAT IT IS INERT PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND THE POLITICAL DUTY AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND MORE OR LESS GOT FROM WHITNEY VERSUS CALIFORNIA IN 1927, CAN YOU READ THAT AMAZING CONCURRENCE AFTER OUR TALK TONIGHT AND IT IS SUCH AN INSPIRING AFFIRMATION OF FAITH IN CIVIL DIALOGUE WHICH IT BEGAN BY REMINDING US THE REASON WE'RE CONVENING HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE URGENT NAS NECESSITY OF RUNNING TOGETHER EVEN IF WE DISAGREE ABOUT POLITICAL ENDS AND LEARNING HOW TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE SO WE CAN CULTIVATE OUR FACULTIES AND BEING GOFF DERNED BY REASON.

SOP THAT, THINK THINK I HOPE TIES TOGETHER MY THOUGHTS ON BEGINNING OF THE FRAMER'S CONCERN WE BE GOVERNED BY PASSION RATHER THAN REASON AND MOB VIOLENCE BY DELIB RIGS AND THEIR BELIEF THAT THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THE RULE OF REASON WAS TO ALLOW COMPLETELY UNINHIBITED EXCHANGE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO RESPECTFULLY LISTEN TO THOSE WHOM THEY DISAGREE AND MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS, FRIENDS , THESE ARE ANXIOUS TIME MACHINES THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE AND OPEN DEBATE IS UNDER GREAFOUS ASSAULT FROM ALL SIDES AND THE PLATFORMS.

AND ENGAGE IN VIGOROUS CONTENT REGULATION.

JUST AS THEY CALLED IT.

THESE MEASURES COME FROM USERS THEMSELVES BUT HARD TO RESIST BECAUSE THESE ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR USER BASE.

BUT I GUESS I WILL END MY THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW BY SAYING TO RESIST THOSE CLAIMS AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS READ THE PRIMARY SOURCE.

DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.

I DID THAT LITTLE RIFT AND FROM MEMORY.

READ WITH ME VERSUS CALIFORNIA IN -9D 27 AND READ JUSTICE HOME'S OPINION AND THE ABRAMS CASE.

READ MAD DYSON'S MEMORIAL AGAINST RELIGIOUS ASSESSMENTS OR MADISON AND JEFFERSON IN THE VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY ROSE LOSING.

READ THE WORKS THINK OF SECOND FOUNDERS OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS' DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH IN BOSTON AND THE PRINCE HALL AND THE LITTLE KNOWN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ABOLITIONISTS WHO MADE IM BATION IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR THE FREE SPEECH SAN FREDERICK DOUGLASS SAID TEACH A MAN TO READ AND YOU MAKE HIM FREE.

IT IS URGENTLY IMPORTANT THAT EACH YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THESE PRINCIPLES AND BY READING FROM THE PRIMARY SOURCE OVER THE ENTIRE RANGE OF AMERICAN HISTORY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND AND THEN YOU WILL COME TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO REASON WITH YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS POINTING TO THE TEXT THEMSELVES AND BEING INSPIRED BY THE LIGHT OF REASON.

>> I AM GOING TO ASK THE THREE PRESIDENTS TO EACH GIVE A ONE MINUTE REFLECTION ON THE TALK AND ANYTHING WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOS, DON, PRESIDENT LUBBERS, I WOULD LOVE TO START WITH YOU AND PRESIDENT.

>> IN SEVENTH GRADE WE WERE TAUGHT THE DECORATION OF INDEPENDENCE ANCONE STAYTUTION AND THE WORKINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE THREE DIVISIONS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF SEPARATION OF POWERRANCE SOME STA STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE CAME AWAY WITH GIRLS AND BOYS UNDERSTANDING ABOUT IT WAS ENOUGH I FEEL THAT EDUCATION SO NECESSARY FOR DEMOCRACY IS BEING NEGLECTED IN TOO MANY SCHOOLS.

AND TO SURVIVE FOR 500 GELL IN RAGES IS DIF CIVIL DISCUSSER AND COMPROPRICED OUR DISAGREEMENTS FIND ENOUGH COMMON GROUND TO MAKE A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WORK.

WHICH CANNOT HAVE A PREUPON DENARP OF DEMONIZING OPPONENTS, DEFENDING, TELLING PROPOS STERROUS LIES.

IT IS AS IF COURTESY IS A WEAKNESS, COURTESY AND CIVIL DISCUSSION MUST DOMINATE IF DEMOCRACY IS TO SURVIVE.

WANT ITED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> VERY COMPELLING.

>> IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY STATED.

THANK YOU.

>> PRESIDENT MURRAY?

>> WELL, I GOT ANOTHER DEGREE OF HOPE TONIGHT.

I THINK, JEFFREY, YOU WHAT LAID OUT TODAY IS REALLY GOOD AND IT SHOWS THAT IF WE USE SOME OF THOSE VIRTUES OF TEMPERANCE SAN PRUDENCE AND HUMIDITY WE CAN GET BACK TO REASON AND WHEN WE GET BACK TO REASON WE CAN ENGAGE MORE CIVILLY AND IT IS GREAT TO SEE WHAT THE CONSTITUTION CENTER IS DOING IN THAN REGARD AND SOME LESSONS THAT WE AND OTHERS CAN TAKE FROM THAT AND WHAT YOU CLOSED ON WAS THE ADDITIONAL HOPE WHICH IS IN THE FACE OF THIS CRISIS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND I PRESUME HE HAD THAT UP OVER WEEKS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WENT TO YOU TO LOOK WHICH SAYS THERE IS GOODNESS, THERE IS HOPE, THIS ISES A PIR RIGS FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING IN SO MANY OF US IN THIS COUNTRY AND I HOPE WE CAN KEEP BUILDING ON THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> SO GLAD YOU FOUND IT OPT MY TICK, CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM IN IT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> PRESIDENT HAAS.

>> THANK YOU.

1:00 IN 1969 ON THE FOURTH OF JULY I WAS SWORN INTO THE COAST GUARD RAISING MY HAND AND SWEARING ALLEGIANCES TO THE FLAG AND SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

ON THE SIXTH OF JANUARY, I WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.

SEEING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND IT TOOK TOLL, THAT NIGHT, NOT GETTING MUCH SLEEP, WONDERING WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND THEN, AS I STARTED LISTENING TO OTHERS AROUND THE TABLE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, AND AS EDUCATOR, YOU REALLY RESEESNATED WITH ME IN TERMS OF OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT WE HAVE YEAH TO OUR NATION.

IT ALWAYS ABOUT SERVICE.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY AS WELL.

BUT WE HAVE THAT CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH ONE ANOTHER AS POINTING OUT AND WITH REGARDS TO ENSURING THE PROPERLY WITH DUE RESPECT AS WELL.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN AND YOUR SECOND HOME AND SAY AGAIN TO THEM.

THANK YOU FOR CONVENING, CONVENING THE THREE THAT NOW LOOK TO YOU AS THE HOPE FOR THE GRAND VAL VALLY STATE UNIVERSITY AS WE MOVE AHEAD THOUGH FUTURE AND THEN I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR SESSION LEAD BY JEFF AND OTHERS REALLY POINTS TO A MISSION THAT IS SOLID AND WE NEED TO RESPECT THE NATION AS WE SEE IT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YES.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT FOR INSPIRING THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN ALL OF YOU, ALL OF US AND IT IS A REAL CATALYST TO THIS STORM BEING CREATED AND, JEFFREY, I THINK YOU BROUGHT US TO THE SOURCE.

YOU LIFTED OUR HOPE, YOU URGED US TO INQUIRY AND AS PRESIDENT SAID YOU URGED US THEN REFLECT AS DEAD OUTERS ON OUR OBLIGATION, WOW, YOU KNOW, THAT IS POWERFUL ONE-HOUR SPECIAL SESSION AND SO WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TOLL YOU, JEFFREY, AND TO EACH OF THE PREDECESSORS FOR WHAT YOU EACH BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND THE CONVERSATION.

I TRIED TO KEEP MY COMMENTS LIMITED TONIGHT SO I COULD HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.

I AM JUST 1:00 GRATEFUL TO ANTICIPATE OF YOU FOR BRINGING SO MUCH TO THIS FORUM.

♪ ♪