I think you are right to include these thoughts together in your post. I believe it is the same can of worms. (; The very assignment posed by the teacher, which is the impetus to this thread, does nothing to develop reason, logic, or the ability to argue a point. The student was asked to find out how others FEEL about this quote. It *exemplifies* the dumbing down of America that takes place in our public schools: "I'm supposed to interview people and get their thoughts on this quote....What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree with it? Or disagree with it?."
If people can not use logic to make rational sense of life, the universe, and everything, and then argue their conclusions reasonably, then why should we expect them to be able to differentiate between rights and privileges?
I tell you, passivity is the result of not having the tools with which to get the job done: why bother? On the other hand, our Founders had great educations, well-developed thought processes, could argue and debate using the rules of logic, a wealth of knowledge upon which to draw, and the ability to research what they did not know. That is why they were able to rebel against the Throne, draft the Declaration of Independence, "Common Sense," the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights. They *enjoyed* the exercise - proof exists everywhere that after the Founders spent the whole day in debate, these gentlemen went home and wrote *personal* letters between one another full of more arguments to defend their positions!