We're all doomed (American Intelligence Division))

[elfs]

Quick, my American readers, can you name all five rights enumerated in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States? Now, can you name all five members of the cartoon Simpsons household? A study released this morning shows one in five Americans can name at least two of the Simpsons, but only one in one thousand Americans surveyed can enumerate the five rights listed in the First Amendment.

For the record, they are: freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Comments

[lionman.livejournal.com]

I read that article yesterday. If the statistics they cite are true, then our parents were right, most of us rotted out of brains with TV! (Or candy, I can never remember...)

Actually, it's a pretty incredible statistic. I am, however, curious about the sample demographics. Was it a regional poll, or national poll?

Then again, I'm nutty for being interested in history, I suppose. I always thought I was born way to late, or way to early.

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

I remembered 4 from the first amendment and um...

OK 5 from the simpsons, but they're the core family, not any supporting cast.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I will admit I would've forgotten Initiative... but people, even cartoons, are a bit easier to remember. I am just a little proud of not having *watched* the Simpsons since about Season 2....

[jenk]

Bart, Homer, Lisa ... um ... er ...

[(Anonymous)]

I remember the Preamble...

And the Second Amendment, but then Dad's a lifetime member of the NRA and you sorta pick that stuff up.

[rfreebern.livejournal.com]

I like the "at least two" versus "all five" comparison statistic there. Very clever.

[wendor.livejournal.com]

The most frightening part to me was the 20% who thought that the right to own a pet was in the First Amendment.

Of course, my counter-claim was that the right to own a pet is specifically protected, but only if you give it a gun...and that's the Second Amendment, not the First (the right to keep and arm bears)