The Simpsons or The Constitution?
It seems Americans know more about "The Simpsons" cartoon family than they know about the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. FOXNews.com reports a study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum which shows only one in four Americans know more than one First Amendment right. Yet, more than half of those surveyed could name two or more members of the cartoon family. One in five thought the right to own a pet was protected under the First Amendment.
I suppose this explains why there was not more resistance to the ACLU's use of RICO laws in an effort to stop Pro-Life protestors. What was clearly an attack on the right to free speech (which is a first amendment right) was accepted as a way to protect rights not granted in the Constitution. Fortunately the U.S. Supreme Court put an end to this extortion. I suspect groups like the ACLU are able to survive and thrive because so many do not understand the basic laws of the land.
It is time for our schools to return to teaching our true history and national heritage. It is also time for parents to learn and teach the laws of the land to our children. I do not mean some PC revisionist's version, but the truth with both its pretty and ugly sides. If we do not know who we are and what we stand for as a nation, we will find our greatest enemy lies within.
Update 3/2/06: LaShawn Barber has a very good post on this issue in which she explains the five rights guaranteed us by the first amendment.
I suppose this explains why there was not more resistance to the ACLU's use of RICO laws in an effort to stop Pro-Life protestors. What was clearly an attack on the right to free speech (which is a first amendment right) was accepted as a way to protect rights not granted in the Constitution. Fortunately the U.S. Supreme Court put an end to this extortion. I suspect groups like the ACLU are able to survive and thrive because so many do not understand the basic laws of the land.
It is time for our schools to return to teaching our true history and national heritage. It is also time for parents to learn and teach the laws of the land to our children. I do not mean some PC revisionist's version, but the truth with both its pretty and ugly sides. If we do not know who we are and what we stand for as a nation, we will find our greatest enemy lies within.
Update 3/2/06: LaShawn Barber has a very good post on this issue in which she explains the five rights guaranteed us by the first amendment.
posted by Dennis | 11:02 AM
2 Comments:
The state of American education is sad. If people don't see it in a sitcom or on American Idol, they don't care. While foreign kids are learning reading, writing, math and science, our kids are learning sex ed, drivers ed, and self esteem.
I saw a statistic one time where only one out of ten adults could name the year in which the Battle of Gettysburg took place. But 9 out of 10 knew all about Harriet Tubbman and the underground railroad. That tells you something about where the American education system ranks their priorities.
I don't mean to take away from Harriet Tubbman. I'm just pointing out how one side story to the civil war gets more attention in school than the details of the war itself in the name of political correctness.
I hate to admit this, but the only reason I know the preamble is due to School House Rock on Saturday mornings during the 70's. We need a societal change and I suspect it will take parents to make things happen.
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