Do You Know Your Rights?
I was just reading an interesting article in the paper about how clueless most American's are about their rights, and the Constitution.
According to a poll commissioned byMcCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, a much higher percentage of us know that Paula, Randy and Simon are the judges on American Idol than know what's in the First Amendment.
Only one person of the thousand polled knew all five rights in the First Amendment, but 20% could name all the major characters of The Simpsons. 8 Percent could get 3 of the five rights, but 40 percent could get two of three American Idol judges, and 25 percent all three.
That's pretty pathetic, and shows just how much the vast majority of us take our freedoms for granted.
If you are interested about learning about the Constitution, you can go to The US Constitution Online, a fully searchable document and read it. I'd suggest it. But for a starter, here's the First Amendment, with the five rights highlighted:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
If you are interested in how it came about, and some of the concerns that were raised when it was written, the Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Papers are linked on my right sidebar under "Other Good Links".
Go, read and understand!
Technorati Tags: Federalist Papers, First Amendment, Constitution American Idol The Simpsons
According to a poll commissioned byMcCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, a much higher percentage of us know that Paula, Randy and Simon are the judges on American Idol than know what's in the First Amendment.
Only one person of the thousand polled knew all five rights in the First Amendment, but 20% could name all the major characters of The Simpsons. 8 Percent could get 3 of the five rights, but 40 percent could get two of three American Idol judges, and 25 percent all three.
That's pretty pathetic, and shows just how much the vast majority of us take our freedoms for granted.
If you are interested about learning about the Constitution, you can go to The US Constitution Online, a fully searchable document and read it. I'd suggest it. But for a starter, here's the First Amendment, with the five rights highlighted:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
If you are interested in how it came about, and some of the concerns that were raised when it was written, the Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Papers are linked on my right sidebar under "Other Good Links".
Go, read and understand!
Technorati Tags: Federalist Papers, First Amendment, Constitution American Idol The Simpsons
posted by Crazy Politico at 4:32 AM
7Comments:
I remember another survey about 10-15 years ago when a huge chunk of college students believed that the following words were in the Constitution:
from each according to his abilities, from each according to his needs
oops make that "to each according to his needs"
Well, with the ACLU trying to add new "rights" to our Constitution every day, it does make it kind of hard for the younger generation to remember exactly what they are. Where are the good old days?
I got 4 out of 5--and I don't know anything about the Simpsons!
Again another reason I homeschool. My 2 oldest kids have memorized the Declaration of Independence and they know a lot more about the constitution than I did even in highschool.
I just bought "The Heritage Guide to the Constitution" and it has already come in handy.
Neo, you are correct, post modernists only like their rights when they think there is a lawsuit lurking in them.
Shoprat, I can believe that. We've had years of indoctrination into the socialist ideals of Marx; even when we get the quotes wrong ;)
Sgt. They aren't necessarily trying to add new rights, just redo the definitions of what we've got to meet their agenda.
Paula, Nothing about the simpsons? Wow, you are sheltered.
LMC, Even for those who can't, or chose not to home school, they can still work on extra stuff with their kids and make sure they understand it.
For those of you wanting the full impact of the Declaration of Independence visit here. Little Miss Chatterbox-- You may want to gather the children around for this.
http://www.independenceroadtrip.com/trailer.html
Choose a player and a speed quality, sit back and enjoy.
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