"60 percent of Americans can correctly identify the number of children in reality-TV show couple Jon and Kate Gosselin’s household (eight), but more than one-third do not know the century in which the American Revolution took place. Half of those surveyed believe the Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation, or War of 1812 occurred beforethe American Revolution.
More than 50 percent of Americans wrongly attributed the quote, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” to George Washington, Thomas Paine, or President Barack Obama, when it is in fact a quote from Karl Marx, author of “The Communist Manifesto.”
However, 83 percent failed the test that covered the underlying beliefs, freedoms, and liberties established during the Revolution. “The disappointing scores clearly indicate a need that ought to be addressed,” notes Dr. Bruce Cole, president and CEO of The American Revolution Center. “This shouldn’t be taken as an indictment of those who took the survey, but rather a wake-up call for all of us.”
BONUS POINTS if you can name who said the thread title! (No, not me!)
BONUS POINTS if you can name who said the thread title! (No, not me!)[/quote]
Benjamin Franklin
“Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
“A Republic if you can keep it.” - Franklin responding frankly to the question above from Mrs. Powel at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 18, 1787.
Honestly, this is sad but to be expected when the public is bombarded by pop-culture nonsense all day long through a variety of mediums that require an effort to be avoided. Historical knowledge, on the other hand, you have to make an effort to access. Add to this combination the fact that (at least in my part of the country) people prefer small-talk over real conversation, and you wind up with these results.
I knew all that (except the title quote - I’d have thought Jefferson) and I am not an American. Its said that a foreigner with little interest in history knows the history of American better than most of its own people.
[quote]Bunyip wrote:
I knew all that (except the title quote - I’d have thought Jefferson) and I am not an American. Its said that a foreigner with little interest in history knows the history of American better than most of its own people. [/quote]
That sounds about right. A little interest is all it takes if most Americans have no interest in American history at all.
Karl Marx was not an American so I would be inclined to let the people pass on that quote, but more and more people are starting to believe his way of thinking.
IMO There should be a test that all citizens should take, whether oral or written, to retain their citizenship. Freedom is nice when you have it, but you become numb to it if you have never had to fight for it.
[quote]dmaddox wrote:
Karl Marx was not an American so I would be inclined to let the people pass on that quote…[/quote]
I don’t give a fuck if Marx was from another planet, people should be ashamed of not knowing that quote. [/quote]
Most people and schools for that matter do not study or teach the Communist Manifesto. I did find it funny that people atributed the quote to Obama. Very ironic.
[quote]dmaddox wrote:
Karl Marx was not an American so I would be inclined to let the people pass on that quote, but more and more people are starting to believe his way of thinking.
IMO There should be a test that all citizens should take, whether oral or written, to retain their citizenship. Freedom is nice when you have it, but you become numb to it if you have never had to fight for it.[/quote]
Out of curiosity, what would you do with the those who flunk?
[quote]tme wrote:
The Republican base would be decimated.
[/quote]
That’s far out because during the campaign there was a poll that showed that college kids identifying themselves as conservative or Republican answered a historical civics type questionnaire with a greater accuracy rate than liberal/Democrats and it wasn’t even vaguely close.
Who else remembers that. I don’t recall where it was from.
[quote]tme wrote:
The Republican base would be decimated.
[/quote]
It does take a lot of intelligence to govern the United States and tell people what to do, you’re right.[/quote]
Good to know that you’ve ruled yourself out, thanks.
[/quote]
I would never tell other people what to do, so I’m not sure you thought I was trying to do so or wished to do or even thought I wished for my party to tell other people what to do.
(No, not me!)