Our founding fathers -- the most used and misused of all references -- even to the point of names being wrongly represented and their sayings deliberately misquoted or distorted. I find an appalling lack of knowledge, understanding and even forgetfulness of U.S. history amongst our citizens.

It has long been recognized that you can always interpret something that someone wrote or said to back your point of view. To be accurate, it is necessary to know the context of the quote and the events surrounding it. As a former history teacher, please allow me to clarify some of the inaccuracies.

The first is about why and when our nation was founded. Our nation wasn't founded at Jamestown or Plymouth or any of the other colonial "landings." These were places where specific colonies were established under the English flag with four exceptions, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, which were taken by England from other countries. The major reason for colonization was always economic. The colonists considered themselves Englishmen and were loyal to their king. There was never a thought about establishing a new country.

Political ties between the colonies were rare. Each had its own legislative body and passed its own laws -- subject to acceptance by England -- and its own state religion. Rhode Island was the only colony without a state religion.

There were 13 separate colonies with virtually no ties except some trade.

Any reference to them as Americans is in error. Any reference to them as being unified in their religion is also in error. They were Christians but with a number of different sects, frequently clashing with each other -- Protestant vs. Catholic being the most strident.

We did not officially become a nation until after the Revolutionary War was sealed by the Treaty of Paris, 1783, and ratified by the Congress of Confederation, 1784. Even then we were not a real country but a very loose confederation of 13 separate states barely hanging together.

It wasn't until the Constitution was written and ratified by the states in 1788, that we officially became the United States. Even then there was a catch, the new Congress had to amend the Constitution with a Bill of Rights in 1791.

Almost from the beginning we began to argue over the meaning of the Constitution and we have never stopped. The most basic difference has been over "strict" or "loose" construction or interpretation -- especially over states' rights.

Our federal and state courts, politicians, the man-in-the-street, religious people, conservatives and liberals are constantly arguing this point -- and just about all of them use our "founding fathers" as references for their particular point of view.

A founder is someone who participated in the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution or as leaders in the American Revolution. To get a good list go to the excellent Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

The Constitution had no provision for political parties because the framers believed that political parties were essentially destructive. But the ink was hardly dry when parties began to form -- becoming rather vicious from the beginning.

This is where we stand today with no change in the viciousness of political parties.

Gene Vitamanti is a freelance columnist who lives in Murrieta. Email genevit1@verizon.net.