A Nation of Sheep

by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1595550976
ISBN-13: 978-1595550972

OK, I'll admit that I don't always get to books as soon as I'd like too, not enough time, money etc. But, there are some books that I know I have to get to even if it isn't right away. This book is 1 of them. It came out Oct 2007. I just haven't had the chanch until now to read it.

I have to start by saying that if I could I would nominate my paisan as a justice on the Supreme Court. However, I suspect he is too sane to ever want the job. This man is an expert on what the Constitution really means. That fact is no surprize to me. He is a Notre Dame Law School graduate who had Charles Rice as a professor. For me, Professor Rice is the go to guy when you want to understand Natural Law. Judge Napolitano acknowledged Professor Rice's influence in his 1st book (Constitutional Chaos). The Judge talks about the bright minds he met at ND. "Foremost among them was Charles E. Rice, a fierce Roman Catholic & defender of the Constitution." He credits Rice with installing in him "the values of individual liberty, limited government . . ." The apple (the Judge) didn't fall far from the tree (Rice). & I am glad it didn't.

Having read the Judge's 1st 2 books I had a good idea of what to expect in this book. In that sense I wasn't disappointed. What disappoints me is that our government is doing the things that have supplied him with the material for these 3 books, & dozens more as well. The Judge & I have read the Constitution, I doubt if most of Congress has, let alone most of the Executive or Judicial branches.

This book wasn'twritten simply so you could say "I told you so, they are all a bunch of crooks!" No, this book is a challenge, a guantlet thrown down to get you say: "I'm mad as hell, & I'm not going to take it any more!" Then to do something so you don't have to take it any more.

I have to admit that I was a wee bit uncomfortable with the wolf part of the sheep/wolf simile. I guess that is because I think of wolves as the bad guys. Not the good guys. But, in the context he uses, it does make sense.

The Judge starts this book out at the most logical point of all "Where Does Freedom Come From?" Short answer: NATURAL LAW! (Thank God the Judge listened to Professor Rice in class!!!!!) After giving an excellent explanation of what it is & where it came from, he goes on to look at the other main camp of legal theory, positivism. He quickly shows what is wrong with that theory & how the positivists are carrying the day. (Be very afraid that they are!)

In the 2nd chapter he explains his definition of a sheep & a wolf. After reading this I was able to understand his context & accept it. (I might of found a different symbol than wolf, but I see it as the easiest way for the most peopel to understand his point.) Sadly, as he points out, most of us are sheep. & yes, at times I have fit into that category, but I am learning. (Thanx! Judge for helping me on that journey!)

In the 3rd chapter he talks about the biggest stain on President John Adams term in office, The Alien & Sedition Acts. To this day I cannot understand how he let himself be talked into signing. The best theory I've heard is that this is 1 of the rare times Abigail gave him the wrong advice. While the Alien Acts did have some constitutionality, even if they were more for vengance that any real purpose, the Sedition Act was unconstitution, plain & simple. Sadly, & as the Judge points out throughout the book, The Patriot Act ranks right up there. It sinks to the same low level of attacking our Constitutional rights. As the Judge puts it: "Over the course of his two terms (President G. W. Bush), nearly every constitutional right has suffered, except for those of gun owners."

He spends most of the book showing how true (unfortunately) his claim is. I'll leave it to you to get the book & read the horror stories. He almost does too good of a job. In the final chapter the Judge admits his difficulty in deciding where to stop. I can believe it.

As I said, this book isn't intended to just list the wrongs. It is ment to get you to act. & that is what he does in chapter 15 where he asks Where Do We Go From Here? He challenges us to stop acting like sheep. & he goes on to offer us some very practical steps to take so we can become wolves rather than sheep.

His closing line says it all: "If we surrender our freedoms in order to defend the nation, what would be left worth defending?"

If you look at the top of this blog you will see a quote from Ben Franklin that the Judge also uses in the book. I 1st heard that line in a movie you have heard me extoll again & again, 1776. & over the years it has been my lodestode leading me to love the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution & what they mean & to learn exactly what they really stand for. That is why I love the Judge & his books. There are a few small points where we don't see perfectly eye to eye. That is to be expected. But over all we are on the same page. & that is why I can heartily recommend you get this book & read it,as well as his other 2 if you haven't done so already. Then act!

I conclude with a couple of quotes from 1776 (slightly paraphrased) with comments.

The 1st is from the scene where they are debating the Declaration. John Dicksinson replies to Adams & Franklin's comments on what is wrong with England's actions. He says: "Fortunately, the people maintain a higher regard for their mother country." Ben Franklin replies with; "Higher, certainly, than she feels for them. Never was such a valuable possession so stupidly and recklessly managed, than this entire continent", BY OUR GOVERNMENT!

Shortly before this Franklin objects to being called an Englishman by Dickinson. When Dickinson points out that the English don't mind it Franklin replies with 1 of the best lines in the play/movie. I am going to change the word Englishman to American. I am proud to be an American, even more so "were I given the full rights of an American. But to call me one without those rights is like calling an ox a bull. He's thankful for the honor, but he'd much rather have restored what's rightfully his." IT IS TIME WE ALL STOOD UP & DEMANDED OUR RIGHTS BE RESTORED!!!!! The Judge is showing us the way.

(Note: There is 1 aother line in this review where I paraphrase a line from 1776. 10 points if you can guess the line.)

From his website: Judge Andrew P. Napolitano graduated from Princeton University in 1972 and the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1975. He is the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the State of New Jersey.
For eleven years, Judge Napolitano was an adjunct professor of law at Seton Hall Law School, where he taught constitutional law and jurisprudence and was voted most outstanding professor in three different academic years.
He has been the Senior Judicial Analyst for the Fox News Channel since 1998. He broadcasts nationwide on Fox every weekday on The Big Story; he co-hosts Fox & Friends; he is a regular on The O’Reilly Factor; and he co-hosts Brian and the Judge, heard daily nationwide on Fox Talk Radio. Judge Napolitano also lectures nationally and has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the New York Sun, the Baltimore Sun, the (New London) Day, the Seton Hall Law Review, the New Jersey Law Journal, and the Newark Star-Ledger.