Since its Been Stomped into the Ground...

[Cryozombie]

I thought I'd share this Nugget from 70's Saturday Morning Cartoons to remind us...

Hey, do you know about the U.S.A.?
Do you know about the government?
Can you tell me about the Constitution?
Hey, learn about the U.S.A.
In 1787 I'm told
Our founding fathers did agree
To write a list of principles
For keepin' people free.
The U.S.A. was just startin' out.
A whole brand-new country.
And so our people spelled it out
The things that we should be.
And they put those principles down on paper and called it the Constitution, and it's been helping us run our country ever since then. The first part of the Constitution is called the preamble and tells what those founding fathers set out to do.
We the people,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
In 1787 I'm told
Our founding fathers all sat down
And wrote a list of principles
That's known the world around.
The U.S.A. was just starting out
A whole brand-new country.
And so our people spelled it out
They wanted a land of liberty.
And the Preamble goes like this:
We the people,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
For the United States of America...

​

 

[Kacey]

Y'know, I remember seeing this clip from SchoolHouse Rocks when I was a kid... to this day, when I recite the Preamble (memorization required for 8th graders where I teach), I have to fight to not have it come out to that annoying tune - although I have used it (I have the DVD) to teach the Preamble to my students; they think it's really hokey, so they learn it in record time to get me to quit playing it!

 

[bushidomartialarts]

we use schoolhouse rocks in some of our activities for our after school program.

schoolhouse rocks...um....well....erm....rocks.

 

[CoryKS]

Oh man, I'm going to have that song stuck in my head all day.

Kacey, I had that same problem in 8th grade. A couple of kids actually did sing it when it was their turn to recite.

 

[The Kidd]

"I am a bill...on capital hill..."

"Conjunction junction whats your function?"

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Man I must be old I love those cartoons! It was a great way to
teach. (we bought the DVD's for our kid's so they could learn to)

 

[SFC JeffJ]

Y'know, I remember seeing this clip from SchoolHouse Rocks when I was a kid... to this day, when I recite the Preamble (memorization required for 8th graders where I teach), I have to fight to not have it come out to that annoying tune - although I have used it (I have the DVD) to teach the Preamble to my students; they think it's really hokey, so they learn it in record time to get me to quit playing it!

That's exactly how I remember it too!

 

[Catalyst]

***** SHEEPISHLY ADMITTING *****​

Singing the Schoolhouse Rocks song is the only way I can recite the Preamble. If I try and just speak it, I get lost.

This brings back memories of the "Conjunction Junction" and I know I'm gonna be humming that tune all day now....

....TGIF

 

[Jade Tigress]

Man I must be old I love those cartoons! It was a great way to
teach. (we bought the DVD's for our kid's so they could learn to)

Yep. I loved 'em too.

 

[bydand]

Still love them here as well. I will be looking for the CD of them for the Ruffians soon. I forgot they had released them.

 

[jdinca]

Great. Thanks for getting that stuck in my head...

 

[Xue Sheng]

Boy: Whew! You sure gotta climb
a lot of steps to get to this
Capitol Building here in
Washington. But I wonder who
that sad little scrap of paper is?

I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law some day
At least I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.
Bill: Well, I got this far. When I started I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea.
Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called
their local Congressman, and said, "You're right, there oughta be a law."
Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I
became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.

I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss
and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Listen to those Congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?
Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they
decide
to report on me favorably, otherwise I may die.
Boy: Die?
Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Ooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live!
Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.
Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?
Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.
Boy: Oh no!
Bill: Oh yes!

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: You mean even if the Whole Congress says you
should be a law, the president can still say no?
Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the president vetoes
me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote
on me again, and by that time you're so old...
Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become
a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?
Bill: No!

But how I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Congressman: He signed you, Bill!
Now you're a law!
Bill: Oh yes!!!
---------------------
MADtv Parody

**Boy**
"Oh, boy! You sure gotta climbs a lot of steps to get up to this huge building! But what's this piece of trash doing on the steps of Congress?"
**The Bill**
People thought of me in their minds
Then they wrote
And it's no big surprise
They passed me, you know
I mean the Congressman
I hope they're signing me
To be a law
'Cause I'm just a bill, a little 'ol bill
I'm here on Capitol Hill
I'm just a bill, I pray that they sign me
Can't violate the Bill of Rights
Oh...I've made it up to here!
*Boy**
"But how do you know if you're gonna be a law or not?"
**Bill**
The moment that they step outside
I may be veto'd
Or I'll become a law
The President, he can trash me or he'll cheer
Even if he veto's me
I can pass
'Cause I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill
'Cause they won't let me go till I'm passed
I'm just a bill,
Hope to become a law
'Cause they all sit and vote
Till I'm passed
I'm just a bill
In Washington, DC
Just your typical law-to-be
Oh...I've had it up to here!
**Boy**
"So even if the President veto's you, you can still get passed an become a law?"
**Bill**
Oh...am I making myself clear?
I'm just a bill
I'm just a bill in DC...
That's all that I want to be!
I'm just a girl, living in Capitol Hill
Looky at me
Sit in committee
I'm just a bill, Washington, DC
And I have come to them making me law
(Instrumental break as a man comes out of Capitol Hill to tell the Bill the news.)
**The Man**
"They signed you, bill. Now you're a law
I'm just a bill... Oops! My apologies
What I've become's officially law
I'm just a law, lucky me
Made it to the steps of Washington
Oh...I've made it up to!
Oh...I've made it up to!!
Oh...I've made it up to here!

 

[Cryozombie]

Well, if you wanna talk parody... I'd watch that one... because, IMO its a scary true look at the system...

"But if we change the constitution, then we can make all sorts of crazy laws"