Wednesday, June 14, 2006

ABSENCE OF KNOWLEDGE:

A random poll conducted at the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum has shed some light on our ignorance when it comes to the First Amendment. Of the 1,000 Americans polled, only one person was able to name the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. Shockingly, or not, 20% were able to name all five family members on The Simpsons. (Playboy)

But counting the Five Freedoms is confusing, after all: the Bill of Rights has 10 amendments, but the First Amendment covers 5 freedoms. And the wording of the First Amendment only mention 2 "freedoms" as such (speech and press), plus 2 "rights" (assembly and petition); and religion gets mentioned twice (no establishment of it, no prohibition of it), but only counts as one "freedom":

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.

1 Comments:

At 12:59 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

"...prohibiting the free exercise therof..." Now that's where the politicians currently in office (local and federal) need to take a refresher course.

 

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