Pop quiz: What freedoms are protected under the first amendment? A recent survey on the state of the first amendment found that most people don’t know what freedoms they have.
Of those surveyed,
63% could name the freedom of speech,
22% could name the freedom of religion,
16% could name the freedom of the press,
11% could name the right of free assembly,
2% could name the right to petition the government.
The survey went on to cover some of the big church vs. state issues (as well as some major freedom of press issues):
68% of people think the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is not a violation of the separation of church and state.
78% of people think the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency is not a violation of the separation of church and state
62% of people think government officials should be able to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings
While I have my own opinions about the church/state issue, it’s pretty clear that most people don’t think it’s an issue (I would have expected those numbers to be higher).
What’s even more interesting is that most people don’t see it as a religious issue.
73% of people think the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is primarily a statement about the American political tradition.
18% of people think the phrase is a religious statement.
Finally, I was rather surprised at how many were in favor of limits on our free speech.
31% of people think individuals should not be allowed to protest in public against America’s involvement in war during a period of active military combat.
Granted it’s only one-third of people, but that seems like a lot considering a basic freedom of expression. Then again these are the same people who couldn’t identify these freedoms in the first place.
I find it interesting that there was a fair percentage of people who thought the pledge God was inappropriate, but thought the money God was fine. I don’t really see the two as being different. You’d think that people would either approve of both or disapprove of both. Strange.
Whoa… people want to outlaw protesting during active military combat? That’s insane! As soon as you limit someone else’s speech, you limit your own. Why would anyone want to put a gag on themselves?
I’m assuming that they would also want to outlaw anti-war magazine articles, internet articles, and other writings during that same period? That’s ridiculous.
The phrase “under God” in the pledge amuses me to no end. The words was added in the 1950’s. Supposedly to help folks spot communists (who, being atheists would never say the words “under God”).
Yeah, that’s the fun part of all the religious language. None of it was original.
“In God We Trust” was added to our currency starting in the 1860s. In the 1950s it became our national motto, the same time as “under God” was added to the pledge.
When people declare that this is a Christian nation, and urge that we return to the faith of our founding fathers, I wonder if they realize what that means. Of course that’s another debate.
well Kevin who are you living your life for. Are you for God or someone else. There is nothing else to live for besides God. He is the way,truth and the light of the world. Why all of a sudden would people want to take those words out of the pledge.
Who I’m living my life for and what diety a pluralistic society invokes hardly seem like a related matter. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.
I’d like a kind of “person on the street” quiz to give during the first week of a media law class. The purpose of the quiz is a light approach to what we do and don’t know about some of our most basic rights. If anyone knows of such a quiz that I could use in the class I’d appreciate a reference to it. Thanks