From: Brian D Williams (talon57@well.com)
Date: Mon Sep 13 1999 - 11:38:15 MDT
From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@turbont.net>
>I've always found it odd that immigrants have to take a course on
>American History, the Constitution, and how our government works
>before you get your citizenship, but I doubt that more than 50% of
>high schools in the country still offer the same coursework, so
>naturally born kids never learn this stuff... I say have a
>standardized nationwide test that all Americans have to take to
>earn the right to vote, etc. You should only be a citizen if you
>actually know, understand, and ACCEPT the values and mechanisms by
>which our government operates. Take the same vow to "protect and
>defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies,
>foreign AND domestic," that immigrants and military officers and
>enlistees take.
Here in Illinois you have to take and pass a constitution test to
graduate from grammar school (at least you used to.) it was very
tough as I recall. It wouldn't be a bad idea if PBS ran a show or
two every year to help educate people on this very subject.
I like the part about taking the oath, reminds me of "Starship
Troopers" (the book) where only veterans could vote...... that
certainly would have kept clinton out......
"Starship Troopers" was the book that convinced me to enlist
(U.S.M.C.) back in '74.
Brian
Member, Extropy Institute, www.extropy.org
Life Extension Foundation, www.lef.org
National Rifle Association, www.nra.org, 1.800.672.3888
Mars Society, www.marssociety.org
Ameritech Data Center Chicago, IL, Local 134 I.B.E.W
Reading: "The Case for Mars" by Robert Zubrin
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