On Sept. 17, 1787 the Constitution of the United States was signed by 38 delegates during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
This document outlined how the new country would form its federal government after the Articles of the Confederation failed.
The framers set up the Constitution so that each branch would have its own functions and its own power.
Through checks and balances, the branches engage in political fights that ensure the freedom of the individual citizen.
As the country changes, the Constitution also changes. The framers knew that the law of the land must change with the country.
The amendments reflect the different causes and struggles many Americans have fought for.
The original intention of the document still remains the same — the government must protect the rights of the people.
The framers believed our rights came from God, and our freedom comes from the Constitution.
More than 200 years later, our country still stands.
It has endured two world wars, a crippling civil war and countless events that tested the will and resolve of the American people.
I am of the belief that America is an exceptional country. Yes, we have the strongest military and the most powerful economy — but that is not what makes this country special.
Freedom is what makes this country great.
It is far too easy as a nation to get on our high horse and look down our noses at other countries and cultures.
There is no doubt our country is the strongest power in the world, but that does not mean we are an invincible nation.
We must not take our rights and liberty for granted.
The words of Thomas Jefferson still ring true today: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
The things we take for granted continue to be paid with the sacrifice of many.
On Constitution Day, it is important to remember the members of our armed forces who have taken the pledge to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That is one of the reasons why we should not take our liberty lightly.
The country’s power comes from its propensity and capacity to change.
It is unbelievable to think how different we are as a nation now from 200 years ago.
In the past, we fought for independence, civil rights and the other problems gripping our nation. We still have more problems to solve, but we know that we have the ability to solve them together.
Our country is the most diverse and stable democracy in the world. For that reason we should be proud.
However, we should not be completely satisfied, either.
Our freedoms and constitutionally granted powers ensure that the fight for a better America can be fought, and the battle for freedoms can be won.
We are a special group of people, and we participate in this grand democratic experiment.
Despite the fact that our ancestors came from different and diverse faraway countries, we still collectively call ourselves “Americans.”
This bond inspires hope. In times of trouble we come together as a nation.
In times of great distress — the Challenger disaster, the Oklahoma City bombings and 9/11, to name a few — our exceptionalism shines.
People of different faiths, creeds and colors always come together and make sure that the country becomes stronger than ever.
On this day, it is important to realize how fortunate we are to live in a country where we have inalienable rights and freedom.
Despite all the problems we have yet to face, I believe we are still “A City upon a Hill.” I am still and forever will be proud to call myself an American.
The Constitution makes our country strong. Our freedom makes us exceptional. We make the world hope.
Michael Beato is a UF economics sophomore. His column runs on Tuesdays. A version of this column ran on page 7 on 9/17/2013 under the headline "On Constitution Day, we must remember that America is still pretty exceptional"
