Civics Test

[Scimitar]

So BMTs recent post regarding ' The Civics Test' got me thinking about my imminent return to the US to enlist.

I might have an American Passport but being born to 'foreigners' :eek: and leaving when I was two years old means that I probably haven’t picked up 'stuff' that you'd expect every recruit to know.

Examples
1) Have memorized and be able to hold the tune of Star Spangled Banner
2) Know the pledge of allegiance.

What else would you gents recommend for a crash course on being a US citizen and military member?

Thanks in advance


Scimitar

[Sigaba]

1) Have memorized and be able to hold the tune of Star Spangled Banner

All four verses?:munchin

Source is here (http://www.usa-flag-site.org/song-lyrics/star-spangled-banner.shtml).

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[The Reaper]

Read and understand the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the Bill of Rights.

TR

[C0B2A]

John Wayne reciting the Pledge of Allegiance (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/mp3clips/speeches/johnwaynepledgeofallegiance.mp3)

If you can say it like him you'll be good to go in that area.

[Richard]

I'd add:

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Also watch the movie Gettysburg and listen to Chamberlain's speech to the Maine soldiers as to why the Civil War was a different type of war.

If you can find it, read Masterpieces of American Eloquence published by The Christian Herald in 1900. You'll never forget it and never regret it.

Richard

[Scimitar]

Sigaba,

Man, I might of scored 83% on the Civics Test, but I honestly didn’t know there was four versus, not sure how I missed that, good to know. Thanks!

TR,

Thanks for the advice, that had crossed my mind, especially as it’s kind of in the SF job description, “Be able to explain democracy” to indigs.

Any commentary source you’d like to recommend that gives a balanced discussion on the DoI and C?

COB2A,

Thanks for the link.


Richard,

Nice one, that's getting deeper...cheers



Thanks gents

Scimitar

[The Reaper]

I'd add:

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Also watch the movie Gettysburg and listen to Chamberlain's speech to the Maine soldiers as to why the Civil War was a different type of war.

If you can find it, read Masterpieces of American Eloquence published by The Christian Herald in 1900. You'll never forget it and never regret it.

Richard

I prefer BG Armistead's comments to Colonel Freemantle, but I guess it is just a matter of perspective.

TR

[Utah Bob]

I prefer BG Armistead's comments to Colonel Freemantle, but I guess it is just a matter of perspective.

TR

Also good. It was a complicated war.
Aren't they all?

Here's some help on holding the tune. Good luck with that. Most people can't.
Especially Roseanne Barr.:eek: And almost nobody knows all the verses.

The Star Spangled Banner (http://www.contemplator.com/america/ssbanner.html)

[Scimitar]

Thanks Gentlemen,

Appreicate the resource.

Cheers

S

[PSM]

If you can find it, read Masterpieces of American Eloquence published by The Christian Herald in 1900. You'll never forget it and never regret it.

Richard

PDF version here: Masterpieces of American Eloquence. (http://books.google.com/books?id=19chAAAAMAAJ&dq=Masterpieces+of+American+Eloquence&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=kjqWkbOgBG&sig=_AY4ylRpjaP6hHKuYVShXQITIkk&hl=en&ei=NjEsSvqiEI_6tgP2xIHsCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPP1,M1) Download button on the upper right.

Pat