Inalienable Rights
Sunday, July 12, 2009 Posted In chocolate , citizen , Independence Day , Pledge of Allegiance Edit This 14 Comments »
MM let me borrow his laptop knowing that he will not see it for the next ten hours because I have to BLOG. I didn't have to explain that blogging is as important as breathing and is tightly and inextricably woven into the "Meaning of Life". Blogging and chocolate. The two go hand in hand. As evidenced by the brown smears of aromatic chockiness that grace MM's keyboard. I know he won't complain. He will appreciate the opportunity to snack on his ASDFG, courtesy of his loving wife.
So anyway, I was enjoying the obligatory 4th of July firework display... and quite impressive it was too... when I had a thought. Should I ever consider becoming an American citizen in the distant future, could I pass the entrance exam? I know an Australian who recently passed the test and was able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without saying 'um' once. A tremendous feat you must admit.
So, I found an online "Could You Pass the Naturalization Test?" quiz and took it. The first question was an easy one...
"How many stripes are there on the U.S. flag?" Duh. 13.
Then the questions got harder and I was faced with this one:
"Which of the following amendments to the Constitution does NOT address or guarantee voting rights?
a) 19th Amendment
b) 24th Amendment
c) 15th Amendment
d) 7th Amendment
Say what?
Unfortunately, I only got 25% of the questions right thus FAILING to qualify to be an American. Looks like I need to attend America School. You can only be dumb if you were born here.
Which leads me to a question I have...
Why does everyone gaily call out, "Happy 4th of July!"? We don't say "Merry 25th of December!" or "Happy 4th Thursday of November!" Did someone sabotage the greeting to oust the "Independence" part of Independence Day and reduce it to a fun day at the fair watching the pig races? Or, is it a slip of the tongue... an innocent omission... a lazy lippage?
The answer to the Constitution question is:
d) 7th Amendment, dummy.
So anyway, I was enjoying the obligatory 4th of July firework display... and quite impressive it was too... when I had a thought. Should I ever consider becoming an American citizen in the distant future, could I pass the entrance exam? I know an Australian who recently passed the test and was able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without saying 'um' once. A tremendous feat you must admit.
So, I found an online "Could You Pass the Naturalization Test?" quiz and took it. The first question was an easy one...
"How many stripes are there on the U.S. flag?" Duh. 13.
Then the questions got harder and I was faced with this one:
"Which of the following amendments to the Constitution does NOT address or guarantee voting rights?
a) 19th Amendment
b) 24th Amendment
c) 15th Amendment
d) 7th Amendment
Say what?
Unfortunately, I only got 25% of the questions right thus FAILING to qualify to be an American. Looks like I need to attend America School. You can only be dumb if you were born here.
Which leads me to a question I have...
Why does everyone gaily call out, "Happy 4th of July!"? We don't say "Merry 25th of December!" or "Happy 4th Thursday of November!" Did someone sabotage the greeting to oust the "Independence" part of Independence Day and reduce it to a fun day at the fair watching the pig races? Or, is it a slip of the tongue... an innocent omission... a lazy lippage?
The answer to the Constitution question is:
d) 7th Amendment, dummy.
14 brilliant observations:
Good luck on that...I'm going to have to find that quiz. With the answer you just posted, I'm sure to get a better score than you now. Actually probably not, you seem like a pretty smart cookie.
When I was in college, I wrote a paper on why American Government should be a required class for college students. I started out with a basic citizenship quiz of 12 questions where passing meant you could only miss one.
Even my teacher missed three.
BTW, I was a political science major, so I'm right with you on how frustrating it is that you're given a pass for not knowing stuff if you're a natural born citizen.
I am an American Studies major and a history nerd, so I could've answered it:) But I kind of want to find the test and take it now..
I think it should be required for anyone that wants to vote, not just immagrants that want to become citizens. It's ridiculous how many people are clueless about their own country!
But on a positive note, welcome back! Can't wait to hear about all your vacationing!
Don't worry. Even I shouldn't be an American. I would probably get like 26% correct.
I took that and failed :( My BIL is from Mexico he's lived here for 15 years before he took it and studied for it right before, And passed :)
I'm sure the "4th of July" thing was all about syllables, particularly that no one could remember any words longer than two. I'm surprised we haven't re-named Thanksgiving "Happy Day Before the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year". As it is, I'm pretty sure folks remember its name by mentally dividing it into two words.
I totally knew the constitution one. I've embraced my inner nerd.
Love the post! I was embarassed however that you found the picture of me painting the crosswalk!
I took an American Heritage class a couple of years ago as I was finishing my Bachelors, LOVED the class and I was shocked at how stupid I was.
Uhm, Happy Monday the 13th!
Sorry about your laptop, I hope you have enough chocolate to get you through this crisis.
I haven't been over here for way too long. I forgot that you were the funniest lady in blog land.
I would totally fail but it's like family - you can't choose your siblings but you can choose who you marry.
I'm relying on the American School System to teach my American child; and thereby eventually teaching me too... But naturalize? No such plans yet.
Independence DAy? What's that?
...and I agree with Barbaloot - you MUST first pass a rudimentary quiz before you can vote...you have to before you drive...
how could our founding fathers have forgotten that when the constitution was drafted?
There needs to be an amendment.
But I have a feeling that would NEVER happen with our current pres.
HE probably couldn't pass a quiz. heehee
Constitutional Lawyer, anyone?
:~D
See, I learned something...I seriously would get most of those answers wrong, sadly. And it's good to see you back :)
Love my shout out! I studied pretty hard and had those questions down - sadly I think I have forgotten alot of the stuff - what happens to our brains when we get older - seriously!
Fuh-nee!
My friend is getting ready to take the citizenship test... hes a smarter American than I am... and he's Canadian.
DeNae: It actually has been renamed. It's "Happy Turkey Day!" Duh. :->
Post a Comment