In light of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and loosening restrictions surrounding concealed carry, some have started to question whether closely adhering to a document written nearly 300 years ago is in the US' best interest.
“The Constitution says—” The Constitution is an old piece of paper written by rich white slaveowners in wigs who are now dead. I don’t care about what it says or doesn’t because society changes and we shouldn’t be using it to determine how we live over 200 years later.
One such person is Australian comedian Lili Currie, who recently went viral after jokingly-but-not-really asking Americans to explain the concept to her.
"Hey, um, please don't take this the wrong way — I do have a question," Lili said in her video. "I'm just still learning a lot about the United States because I'm 'really stupid' and not from the country, but something that I've noticed...is that every decision ever made in this country legally — specifically about human rights and whatnot — is made on the basis of this document from the 1700s."
"That's amazing, I love tradition, I think that's so cool," she continued, tongue-in-cheek. "Um, but it's just...the document was written when women and people of color weren't considered human beings and such."
"And I was just wondering: Do you think that that's still helpful for now? Making every decision about our lives collectively now?" she concluded.
Thousands weighed in on the question in her comment section, and while some felt the constitution as it stands needs no reconstruction...
...most were equally confused.
Some pointed out that the constitution's laws may not take modern technology and advancements into critical account...
...and others suggested the document only considers the values of those in the room where it was written.
Most interestingly, though, was this commenter, who reminded everyone that Thomas Jefferson — one of the most honored Founding Fathers — advised that the constitution be revisited or rewritten every 20 years.
"His argument was that if Americans weren't vital stakeholders in that foundational document, they would become distanced from governance itself," author and educator Christopher Phillips told NPR when discussing Jefferson's ideology. "And the politicians from the president on down would become 'like wolves.'"
To learn more from the point of view of an outsider looking in, BuzzFeed reached out to Lili, who said, "I'm from Australia, [and] in general, Australians have a lot of concern for the US."
"That's not to say Australia is perfect — a lot of people tried to compare aspects of Australia's own constitution to the US in the comments of my video, and frankly, I don't know why. I wasn't comparing the two.
"I also love America — I don't live in Australia anymore; I live in LA — but I do worry about how many Americans are indoctrinated to believe that criticisms of their country are 'unpatriotic.' Thats just an easy way to get people to stay docile.
"But yes, theres a lot of confusion and concern from back home. I don't know anybody who doesn't see issues in the current framework."
"On a surface level, it's just a question of logic; a document created when half the country didn't have a single input on its rules is still the supreme legal framework that determines our society," she continued. "Obviously, it's a lot more complex than that, and my video was simply a lighthearted take on the logic of that concept."
"Im no expert in US history, but obviously...the second amendment was written when guns had about the power and accuracy of a sharply carved banana-boomerang," she joked before also pointing out issues she found with the electoral college dominating the popular vote in elections, as well as states with largely different populations having the same number of senators.
"People are going to find me for this," she said jokingly. "Wish me luck."