State of the First Amendment Survey

• 81% said that, if the majority favored it, prayer at high school graduation is OK.

• 64% feel students should be allowed to lead prayers at school-sponsored events.

• 61% think schools should be allowed to post the Ten Commandments. (But which version?)

• 56% felt that the Bible should be taught as factual text in history and/or Social Studies.

• 67% think that public comments that are offensive to racial groups should not be allowed.

• 53% think that public comments that are offensive to religious groups should not be allowed. (But would they apply that to minority groups like Wicca or Satanism?)

• 51% said that art that is considered offensive by some members of the community should not be allowed.

• 40% feel that musiciains shouldn't be allowed to sing offensive songs in public.

• 51% of people feel that the press has "too much freedom".

• 55% think that a school newspaper needs faculty approval for controversial stories.

• 20% of people think that the government should be allowed to approve what stories newspapers run. (That's 1 in 5 people, folks, that want to see the government censoring the news.)

• 67% of agreed that broadcasters should be allowed to televise U.S. Supreme Court proceedings.

• 70% believe TV networks should not project election winners until all the polls close. (Do they really mean should not, or should not be allowed to?)

• 83% percent think TV violence contributes to real-life violence

• 74% think video games do the same.

• 72% place some blame on music lyrics.

• 58% would severely restrict Internet content dealing with bomb-making information and sexually explicit material.

• One-third believes that public libraries should block everyone's access to potentially offensive Web sites.

• 51% actually oppose a flag burning amendment, the first time there's been a majority against it.

• 37% of people polled could not even name one of the five freedoms guaranteed in the first amendment. (Can you support a freedom if you don't know we're supposed to have it?)

56% felt that the Bible should be taught as factual text in history and/or Social Studies.

It's the most influential book in western civilization. It should be taught, but neither as fact nor fiction. Just taught.

67% think that public comments that are offensive to racial groups, religious groups, or some community members should not be allowed.

If i were ever to have a child, I would try to teach ey to try not to offend people. Don't be a jerk, but you do and should have the right to say stuff offensive. But don't do it just purely to offend people (Perhaps an unenforceable difference, but most laws are).

70% believe TV networks should not project election winners until all the polls close. (Do they really mean should not, or should not be allowed to?)

If you don't vote because somebody told you one candidate was so far ahead that she was sure to win, then it's your fault if your candidate losing because he didn't get your vote, not the fault of that person.

83% percent think TV/video game violence and some music lyrics contributes to real-life violence

They're right. A well raised (IMO) kid won't be effected by that stuff, but if your kid doesn't understand the difference between that stuff and Real Life and doesn't understand why killing is bad. (Actually, I believe the respondants said that these were the primary causes, in which case, they're wrong. The chief cause is as I said above.)
Try telling the advertisers that fictional television doesn't influence us. they'll laugh.

51% actually oppose a flag burning amendment, the first time there's been a majority against it.

First time since this poll was first taken, that is. :-)

37% of people polled could not even name one of the five freedoms guaranteed in the first amendment.

Freedom of the press, freedom to speak out against the government (or is it just "freedom of speech" in general?), freedom of religion. Okay, I'll look up the rest. :-)

Alright, I got three of five. IMO, 80% should be the minimum passing grade for most tests.

Were these all adults surveyed? Did you discount those who sarcastically commented "oh, gosh! I can't think of even one!"?