Looking back on 2021
Like so many of its predecessors, 2021 reminds me of the opening to the Charles Dickens book A Tale of Two Cities.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
We certainly had plenty examples of these pairings. We had good times and bad, tyranny and opposition to it, the light of liberty and the darkness of oppression were all on display. I thought this would be a good time to reflect on what happened with The Constitution Study in 2021.
The Best of Times
There was plenty of good news for The Constitution Study in 2021.
Constitution Scholars
In January I launched The Constituiton Scholars as a place where students of the Constitution could gather and share.
With all of the censorship and media manipulation and after being booted from Facebook, I though such a place was needed. It started with the Community Groups where people could find other scholars and share both good news and bad. Where they could ask questions, discuss, and debate constitutional issues without the fear of political meddling. I added some Courses and Libraries to help the scholars learn. I also added a Shop for people to find books, courses, and other resources.
America Out Loud
In April I started hosting a weekday radio program on America Out Loud Talk Radio.
This has truly kept me busy, creating an hour of content five days a week, in addition to my weekly article, video, and podcast. I have to say, not only has this program brought The Constitution Study to a much larger audience, it has given me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful people and groups.
Knowing Your Rights Tour
This year I kicked off my Knowing Your Rights Tour.
It gave me the chance to travel from North Dakota to Florida, speaking to crowds interested in knowing their rights and liberties. One of the best of times in 2021 have been meeting and talking to people face-to-face. So many of you have thanked me for the work that I am doing and many have expressed interest in collaborating in the future. These events have truly be an encouragement, especially when times are tough. I’m still planning events for extending this tour in 2022. Please keep an eye on the tour page for more dates and locations.
Book Sales
Between my speaking events and sales through The Institute on the Constitution, book sales have grown in 2021.
The Worst of Times
The Constitution Study is still struggling to make ends meet. 2021 was better than 2020, but there’s still a long way to go for it to be viable in the long term.
There never seems to be enough time to do what I would like to for The Constitution Study and The Constitution Scholars. I have book ideas, courses I want to develop, and services I’d like to make available, but there never seems to be enough time. I hope one day to be able to afford to get some help, so we can offer more to our followers and supporters.
As more people find out about The Constitution Study, most are encouraging, but not all. I guess it’s the nature of the beast to have to deal with trolls and others whose sole purpose in life seems to be dragging people down. I have to say, dealing with them ranks right up there with doing the bookkeeping as the worst parts of running this business. However, if I want The Constitution Study to grow, I must learn to deal with the difficult along with the encouraging.
Plans for 2022
Constitution Study Online
I’m frequently asked if I do a Constitution Study online. Well, in 2022, I will.
Patterned after the in-person studies I’ve done, we will use Zoom to meet in cyberspace to study both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I will be recording them so even those who cannot make the live event can participate. You can find out more about this on The Constitution Study online webpage.
Doing More With the Scholars
I also want to do more with The Constitution Scholars.
I addition to creating more lessons and products to help everyone on the site, I want to do more with the The Constitution Scholars Mentoring Program. I’m developing courseware to help those in the program to progress through the levels, along with getting recognition for their achievements. Since these scholars are spread across the country, I would like to find a way we can become more connected and more of a community, able to share and support each other. I would also like the chance to meet these scholars face to face in 2022.
Meeting More People
I’ve already mentioned that I plan to continue the Knowing Your Rights Tour into 2022.
One of my favorite things is to meet and talk with people face to face. So in addition to the tour, I’m looking for opportunities to meet more people. I want to help them see the need to read and study the Constitution and that they have all the tools they need to do so. Hopefully, I will get the chance to meet you as well.
Final Thoughts
So I will end as I started: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. All any of us can do is learn from our past and prepare for the future. I want to close by thanking everyone who supported The Constitution Study. Whether by buying a product, donating to the cause, hosting an event, or simply reading, watching, and listening to the content I create, none of this would be possible without your help.
May all of you have a blessed 2022. May the sacred fire of liberty burn bright in your heart, and next year, when we look back at 2022, may we see more of the best of times and fewer of the worst.
