Do you know today is Constitution Day? Or, rather, do you care?

It’s a federal holiday recognizing the anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

It couldn’t sound like a more boring and stuffier holiday.right?

Well, that was my first reaction when talk of recognizing the day began to circulate in the journalism department this year.

I wasn’t sure that college students would want to participate in an event recognizing some guys who signed something a long time ago. I didn’t think anyone would really observe the day except for grade school teachers and U.S. history fanatics.

But then the more I thought about it, the more I realized how ignorant I was being, especially since my chosen career is built on the foundation of the First Amendment ensuring free speech and a free press.

All the work I’ve done as a journalist and all the news and media I see as a consumer wouldn’t exist if those guys didn’t sign that thing a long time ago. I love journalism and without it and the First Amendment, who knows what career I would be incompetently pursuing right now.

And that’s just me: what about you? Do you know what you would be doing right now or even what kind of person you would be if you weren’t able to exercise the rights of the First Amendment? I doubt you do, because this country would not resemble today’s United States without it.

Of course the country has seen better days in past years than it has in say, the last seven or so. But because of the First Amendment I’m free to say that the country’s leadership has taken a wrong turn or two without fear of censorship or retaliation.

I’m also free to report to the world that Joe Blow thinks President Bush is the devil and that Joe Blow II thinks he’s The Second Coming. Freedom of the press gives us the right to be an informed country, despite how crazy the Joe Blows of the world might be.

There’s often discussion of how journalists abuse the First Amendment by reporting more than is relevant for a story. Sometimes I agree with that idea. Just because I’m a journalist doesn’t mean I’ll defend all the slimy reporters and editors out there who abuse the responsibility the First Amendment has entrusted to the profession.

But I also remember the journalists who seized the responsibility and used it as the fourth branch of government to keep tabs on the other three.

So while Constitution Day might not be as initially exciting as other holidays filled with fireworks or three-day weekend, it’s still a day that should be observed and appreciated by all of us who benefit from some thing that some guys signed 220 years ago.

So take a few minutes today to recognize that Constitution Day is something worth observing. Express your freedom of speech, and I’ll follow up with the freedom of the press, then maybe we’ll be able to do some good today because of our rights reserved by the Constitution.