A 7-inch tall, red-white-and-blue-starred Beanie Baby may not seem precious, but for a little girl whose father is off fighting in Iraq, it was one of the few comforts available. She slept with the teddy bear, which her dad had given her, every night until he returned home.

Many teenagers are indifferent to the First Amendment. In a nationwide study of 100,000 high school students released early this year by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, about three-quarters of those surveyed said they either don't know how they feel about their First Amendment rights or they just take them for granted.

As a field commander is giving a pep talk, 200 young Americans in uniform stand at attention before they prepare to advance. If this were an earlier century, this scene could have preceded an infantry charge. These days, it is more likely to take place before a school marching band performance.