Australian comedian asks Americans why the nation strictly adheres to a nearly 300-year-old document

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court striking down a New York concealed handgun law and overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling last week, some are expressing concern about the nation closely adhering to the constitution in this day and age. One such person to raise this point was Australian comedian Lili Currie who, in a video that's been viewed more than 4.7 million times, asked Americans to explain how living by a document written nearly 300 years ago is in the country's best interest.

"Hey, um, please don't take this the wrong way—I do have a question," Currie said in her video, tongue-in-cheek. "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. 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. Nearly 15,000 comments responded to Currie's video, with some defending the constitution as it is and others admitting that they too had similar concerns. "The constitution is there for a reason and benefits everyone. Read. It," commented on TikTok user. "Girly we in America are actually equally as confused and asking the same question so no worries," wrote another. Meanwhile, one commenter pointed out that Thomas Jefferson—one of the most honored Founding Fathers—had recommended 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 in 2011. "And the politicians from the president on down would become 'like wolves.'" Speaking to BuzzFeed about her point of view on the matter, Currie 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.' That's just an easy way to get people to stay docile," she continued. "But yes, there's 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. Obviously, it's a lot more complex than that, and my video was simply a lighthearted take on the logic of that concept."

"I'm 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," Currie joked before adding that she also found it weird that the electoral college dominates the popular vote in elections and that states with largely different populations have the same number of senators. "People are going to find me for this," she said jokingly. "Wish me luck."