September 11 -- what year? 30 percent of Americans don't know

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060809/od_afp/usattackspolloffbeat_060809145351;_ylt=ArnrtaXH3JkyylylPgoybNSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3NW1oMDRpBHNlYwM3NTc- ^

[VegasVic]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Some 30 percent of Americans cannot say in what year the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington took place, according to a poll published in the Washington Post newspaper.

While the country is preparing to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives and shocked the world, 95 percent of Americans questioned in the poll were able to remember the month and the day of the attacks, according to Wednesday's edition of the newspaper.

But when asked what year, 30 percent could not give a correct answer.

Of that group, six percent gave an earlier year, eight percent gave a later year, and 16 percent admitted they had no idea whatsoever.

This memory black hole is essentially the problem of the older crowd: 48 percent of those who did not know were between the ages of 55 and 64, and 47 percent were older than 65, according to the poll.

The Post telephone survey was carried out July 21-24 among 1,002 randomly selected adults. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

[IronJack]

Osama Bin Laden

Sad to say, the bearded old fool might be right. If America succumbs to this level of childish partisanship, then we deserve everything we get.

Liberty takes some work, folks. If we're not willing to do the work, we aren't worthy of the blood that's been spilled on our behalf.

[WardMClark]

So, 30% of the people in the US are utter, drooling imbeciles.

Hell, I'd have guessed at least 50%, just based on my own personal observations.

[IronJack]

They throw the word memes around at every opportunity ;)

It has supplanted "paradigm" as Buzzword O'the Year.

[Old Student]

Please note:

"The Post telephone survey was carried out July 21-24 among 1,002 randomly selected adults. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points."

For this poll to be reasonably accurate, they must have gotten a truly random sample. If their sample is not truly random, it throws the accuracy off badly. I'm statistically challenged, but even I know that much about it. Also, IIRC, they would need more like 1500 randomly sampled adults, not 1002. There has got to be someone here on FR who is better at this stuff than I am, for crying out loud!

[SteamShovel]

Remember: 50% of people you meet are below average.

I thought it was 49.999999% below average and 50 IS average

[river rat]

Unfortunately, I stopped reading before I got to that critical piece of information......
And yes....I am in the over 65 group!

Thanks for the correction.....

The representation that only 5% of those who didn't know the correct year, were under 55 - doesn't pass the smell test.
I find that nearly impossible to believe -- especially if the sample tested was statistically valid to represent the correct age distribution of the tested population.

Example - If 75% of those asked and who responded were over 55, the statistics are misleading.

Numbers don't lie -- but liars can manipulate numbers.

Semper Fi

[ApplegateRanch]

Pollster: "Mr./Mrs. Average American, on what month, day and year did 9/11 occur?"

Ugh, 9/11 occurs EVERY year. It is 2/29 that only comes every four years!

More serious note:

9/11/2001 was first set in motion, ironically enough, on 9/11/1609, when Henry Hudson discovered Manhattan Island.

[msnimje]

LOL!! No, it just an observation.

[John Semmens]

No.

30% can't remember 9/11.

Another 36% believe Bush piloted the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, but survived because he has a deal with satan.

[ApplegateRanch]

I would have expected opposite results in terms of the age statement.

I am in that age group and I remember that morning so well, waking up in a hotel, while travelling on business. And turning on the TV to get the morning news from Fox and seeing the towers being hit.

I have to agree, and for much the same reasons.

We woke up the same way, in Seligman, AZ, on our way to Albuquerque.

Fortunately for us, we had driven across Hoover Dam on 9/10.

It will no more be forgotten than 12/7/41, even if I was born until 4 1/2 years later.

Now, as I watch Leno, I see college grads, some with fresh history degrees, others who are new teachers(!), who don't know the significance of 1492, 1776, 1861, etc.; nor even who was fighting in the American Revolution or WWII.

It is truly frightening to see the ignorance of the younger generations.

[alarm rider]

As you should be. And this is the legacy of the anti-American left.

They will wake up when they are facing the beheading sword or the mushroom cloud or the strong leadership that puts the situation in simple terms for the semi-brain dead to finally get.

Some of us get it, and see the road ahead, most of us do not. Those of us that get it are charged with saving the twits that do not. Personally, I am not sure those that do not get it are worth saving.

[EagleUSA]

Now, as I watch Leno, I see college grads, some with fresh history degrees, others who are new teachers(!), who don't know the significance of 1492, 1776, 1861, etc.; nor even who was fighting in the American Revolution or WWII.

It is truly frightening to see the ignorance of the younger generations.
------
Yes, and we can thank the liberal academia for that. Their mission is to squash actual American history, to squash the principles this country was founded upon, and to mold this country into a socialist state, run by Marxist elitists --- them. Keeping real American history from our kids is part of the strategy of subversion, deceit, and induced ignorance.

[socialismisinsidious]

That still leaves 15% under the age of 55 who didn't have a clue.

Just substitute a favorite soap opera character's name, or the latest Oprah or the latest Geritol commercial..whatever...the point being: a good number of Americans don't have a clue about history, or contemporary world events (no matter their age), but they sure can tell you what is on the boob tube.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Two historical incidences I will remember: Where I was the day John Kennedy was shot and Where I was on 9/11/01.

Kennedy- In College (Auburn University, Alabama) walking back to the dorm and going to a classmate's room, standing around her black & white television set in stunned silence.

9/11/01- At the Dentist's office watching the re-runs on his color television set (I was the only patient they hadn't been able to contact to change my appointment) and repeating over and over "This can't happen here! This is AMERICA!" (I did get my teeth cleaned that day.)

[Billthedrill]

1492.

What do I win?