USATODAY.com - New generation blase about old freedoms

USATODAY.com - New generation blase about old freedoms: "Quick quiz. Can you name the five freedoms of the First Amendment? If you're stumped, you're in good company -- 99% of American adults can't either.
That lack of familiarity with one of the cornerstones of American democracy has now found its mirror in a recent study of high school students. The largest survey to date of more than 112,000 students in ninth through 12th grades reveals basic misconceptions and a disheartening lack of interest in what it means, what it protects, and why it matters.

For instance, 75% of students think flag burning is against the law (it's not); and 49% say the government can legally restrict indecent material on the Internet (it can't). Add to that the students' surprisingly restrictive view of First Amendment freedoms -- more than one third think the Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees; and only 51% think newspapers should be allowed to publish stories without government approval -- and the land of the free starts to sound like another country.

Although educators and rights advocates say the results are alarming, few seem surprised. "

Thanks for the story Kay B!