Hang ten: AU activists promote Bill of Rights in public schools.For a several years, Religious Right groups have pushed to have the Ten Commandments Ten Commandments or Decalogue [Gr.,=ten words], in the Bible, the summary of divine law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They have a paramount place in the ethical system in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. posted in public schools. A group of Americans United activists in Oklahoma wants to promote another ten items in schools: the Bill of Rights. Earlier this year, civil liberties activists in the state began raising money to pay for the creation of two bronze plaques plaques, n.pl 1. brain lesions found within the vacant areas between nerve cells. 2. deposits of cholesterol in artery walls that characterize arteriosclerosis. listing the Bill of Rights. The group raised $10,000 and commissioned the plaques, which are four feet tall and three feet wide. The plaques list all ten amendments in raised letters; they are accompanied by an image of the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom . and are headlined "The Bill of Rights, 1791." The plaques were donated to two public high schools in Norman, Okla. Bruce Prescott, executive director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists and president of Americans United's Oklahoma Chapter, said he was motivated mo·ti·vate tr.v. mo·ti·vat·ed, mo·ti·vat·ing, mo·ti·vates To provide with an incentive; move to action; impel. mo to act after reading media reports about Americans' low level of knowledge about the Bill of Rights. One of those reports was a poll that surveyed 1,000 adults and found only one person who could name the five freedoms found in the First Amendment. That same poll found that many respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. could name all five members of "The Simpsons" cartoon family and the judges on "American Idol American Idol is an annual American televised singing competition, which began its first season on June 11, 2002. Part of the Idol franchise, it originated from the British reality program Pop Idol. ." Prescott and an ally, Charles Wesner of the Bill of Rights Democracy Project, spearheaded the effort. Wesner said it is especially important to help young people understand these freedoms. "The Bill of Rights is the thing that makes our country unique," Wesner told the Norman Transcript A generic term for any kind of copy, particularly an official or certified representation of the record of what took place in a court during a trial or other legal proceeding. A transcript of record . "This is a document we should be celebrating and reminded of. Unfortunately, we have taken it for granted." Prescott and Wesner approached Joseph Siano, superintendent of the Norman schools, and solicited his support for the project. Siano backed the educational project enthusiastically, telling the Transcript, "The Bill of Rights is an important part of our history and the freedoms we all enjoy. We appreciate this donation of the Bill of Rights display to our schools and students." The plaques were unveiled during a ceremony on Sept. 18. The group plans to raise more money and donate plaques to other high schools in the county. |
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