>>>
>>>This reminds me of one of the things that talk show host Jay Leno does - goes out on the street and asks very simple questions on things like American History - Who's buried in Grant's Tomb, Which side won the Civil War, etc... I'm embarassed for my species sometimes.
>>
>>Howard Stern does the same sort of thing. My all time favorite question he asks is: "How many states are there?" I'm always amazed how many people answer with 52. I guess I shouldn't be.
>
>And how many are there really? Excuse the stupid question from a foreigner... I learned more than 20 years ago that there were 50 states, but I am not sure whether any states were added in the meantime.
>
>Hilmar.

Do be surprised, Hilmar. I had many foreign exchange studends in my classes, at both the highschool and college level, and they all know more about our form of government, the Declaration of Independence (which several could quote from memory), and the Bill of Rights... i.e., civics questions that 95% of all eighth graders should know.
JLK
Bill of Rights
b. Sept 28, 1789 d. Oct 21, 2002. R.I.P.