Abstract Utopia - I am a Desert.

Petition against Ignorance

March 01, 2006
« Tar and Feathers | Main | Get off the Damn Soapbox »

America has sunk to a new low in ignorance. I find myself twitching in near fury at a recent article I just read. Why? Why, in this day and age are people choosing to be so ignorant.

Apparently only 1 in 1,000 Americans can name all five right guaranteed to them in the first Amendment. 1 in 1,000. That is 0.1% of all Americans. That is pathetic. By comparison, 22% of Americans could name all five of the Simpson’s characters. About a quarter of people could name at least one freedom guaranteed to the in the First Amendment, but more than half could name at least one character in the Simpsons.

As I read through the article, I went looking for more information about this and ran into the Freedom Museum website that sponsored the survey. On that site, there was a quiz that I encourage everyone to take. It will test you on your knowledge of your freedoms. I got 14/15 correct … I missed the question that asked whether or not a News Source had the right to keep their sources confidential.

I find it sad and depressing that people know more about television than their own personal rights. Is a cartoon character really more important than knowing that you have the right to petition your government for redress? Is knowing the names of the latest Idols that crucial to your life that it takes precedence over knowing that you have the right to turn your back or sit down when the Pledge of Allegiance is said in school, work or anywhere else based on religious preference?

I find it disturbing that one in five people think that the right to have a pet is one of the first amendment rights they possess. The right to own a pet…? It is a matter of importance people; a matter of priority. The latest trend should not be above your constitutional rights in matter of importance.

And in case you’re wondering, I can name all five Simpsons Characters and all five rights guaranteed us in the first Amendment:

Lisa, Bart, Maggie, Marge and Homer.

Freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to peaceably assemble and the freedom to petition your government in redress.

Posted by Utopia at March 1, 2006 07:48 AM

Comments

I, too, got 14/15. I missed one about being able to assemble anywhere at any time.

I do have a comment about your rant, though.

Just because people don't remember the Five Freedoms and they do remember the Five Simpsons doesn't mean that they think the Simpsons are more important than the Freedoms. I can probably turn on the TV at almost any time of day and find a re-run of The Simpsons airing somewhere. The Freedoms aren't displayed that frequently, so it's no wonder that the poll turned out the way it did.

I do agree that people are generally stupid, though.

Posted by: monogodo at March 1, 2006 01:07 PM

13/15.

I can't recall which the first was, but I thought the "call for overturn of the government" one was getting into hair splitting territory, I'll plead a Clintonesque "definition of 'call'" excuse. Of course, these are the sour rantings of someone who just wanted 14 points.

I better start studying up on ex-Presidents, though, as I apply for citizenship early April.

Posted by: Meathe at March 1, 2006 03:57 PM

LOl does the fact that I'm british excuse my pitiful 7/15?

Posted by: Vics at March 3, 2006 07:20 AM

rosevibe - You got about 50% correct which is sadly better than many Americans would do. If an "outsider" can get that many correct, it just makes this even sadder.

monogodo - You bring up an excellent point. The Simpsons are everywhere where as the first amendment right aren't. People are saturated by the media. However, if you just look at the stats for how many people know a right in the first amendment, it is sad even without the comparison. Of course, if we they had asked people the capitals of random states, the result probably would have been similar to those presented on the bill of rights.

Meathe - Wooo! Ex-presidents. That is always fun. Here is a pretty good resource for them: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ if you are looking around. Grover Cleavland is cool because he is the only president to "take a break" between terms. He was also the only the only president to get married while serving in the White House. Oh! And Millard Fillmore was nifty too. He was a Whig!

Right then... enoiugh babbling about that eh?

Posted by: Utopia at March 3, 2006 07:23 AM

Last Updated

Recent Entries

Categories

Search Entries

Comments

Post a comment