Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks on Constitutional Fallacies and Constitutional Patriotism.
MANHATTAN COLLEGE/COURTESY
By Maizy Swift, Production Editor/Asst. A&E Editor
Representative Jamie Raskin visited Manhattan College on Tuesday, March 26, to speak on constitutional fallacies and constitutional patriotism in 2024.
Raskin’s talk focused on issues such as the Second Amendment and how many U.S. citizens misinterpret this amendment, creating conflict and misunderstandings. The talk was informative on government issues, urging people to become educated on the Constitution, and also get involved with the upcoming election.
Many students who attended this talk felt as though they left with a new understanding of Americans’ civic duty. Catherine Radko, a history and psychology student at MC felt that talks like these are important for college students to have.
“We are the new generation of people that are voting and can have a voice in these sorts of things,” Radko said. “So if we start with education either younger or especially in college when it becomes more of our role to take part in government activities, it becomes more important for us to actually understand why we’re doing this and how it will affect our lives.”
Radko highlighted a specific part of the discussion she felt was a major takeaway from the event.
“I think probably the discussions of how people in charge are also misinterpreting what our country is based on, and how we can’t put blind faith in the people that we have elected. We should really promote voter consciousness and education,” Radko said.
Suzane Christen, daughter of Robert Christen, by whom the 2024 Robert J. Christen Program at MC was founded, also found the event had important information fit for all people.
“It’s important for me and I’m a trained lawyer,” Christen said. “I think laying out what a question is, and where it comes from, [as well as] the history in between can inform and really broaden consciousness.”
When asked, Christen explained what she believed was one of the most important things discussed during the event.
“The incredible fundamental importance to our everyday lives of the rule of law, the reason why we have a constitution was to secure for people, a protection of the rule of law and it’s what our commercial lives are based on,” Christen said. “If you don’t know that you can go into court with a contract and have it reviewed fairly and impartially and according to the laws, then you don’t have cars, you don’t have an economy and you end up with chaos and that’s true in every facet. So it’s just absolutely fundamental to our freedoms as Americans.”
Catarina Vala, an education and history student at MC, attended the event as well.
“I thought it was productive and pretty insightful,” Vala said. “Especially learning about that insurrectionist theory that you’re talking about that some of the Republicans have right now, which is kind of concerning.”
Vala also felt that talks like these are not only insightful and important, but also useful for her future career.
“I’m an education major so I think this is definitely important for the classroom,” Vala said. “I feel like it’d be cool to say I’ve met a Congressman, if I ever teach government one day or even US history.”
Representative Jamie Raskin’s talk is one of many events that the Robert J. Christen Program has held this year to give MC students opportunities to engage and learn about how to be an educated U.S. citizen.