Help, need info about knowledge of the Constitution

[question everything]

Was there a recent report about high school students not familiar with the Constitution, especially the First Amendment? What about general knowledge and understanding by the adult population?

I seem to remember some years ago, that when presented by the Bill of Rights, some thought that it was a "commie propaganda."

[judy]

1. The First Amendment to the US Constitution:

"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."

And the article about the students:
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=2881803

I remember in the 60's the Declaration of Independence was read to people who thought it was communist propaganda.

The US Constitution is a model to the world. Too bad it's being trampled right and left by BushCo, in the general silence, especially from the Democrats.

[question everything]

3. Thank you. I think this can also relates to privacy issues

There are so many adults - pugs, of course - who say that they "have nothing to hide" and welcome the invasion of their privacy by government agencies. And when you try to explain to them the principle involved, they still do not get it. Of course, these are mostly WASP so they are certain that nothing will ever happen to them.

And then I just want to recite the famous essay by Pastor Martin Niemoller during the Nazi era: "They came first for the... and I did not speak up because I wasn't... then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak up."

[Squeech]

2. Urban legend

The way I heard it, there is or was a sociology class at a major university that would send its students to the local mall to gather signatures on a petition that was basically the Bill of Rights, only rewritten in modern English. And the story was that 90% or so of the populace would say, "I'm not gonna sign your commie propaganda."

But I've never found a citation to this, so I've tentatively decided it was an urban legend.

But the recent story, about students thinking the Bill of Rights "goes too far," is depressingly true. Or at least it's adequately sourced.