American Heritage Magazine The October 2002 issue of American Heritage magazine takes its annual poke at various topics, opining on what's overrated and underrated. From the dead serious to the whimsical, ratings in 24 categories bring down food fads like fusion cooking and praise the political reform of lobbying. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is overrated, particularly for the 13 opening words that are frequently forgotten. Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Amendment is underrated, its vital protections of due process and equal protection taken for granted. Captain Kidd is overrated as a pirate -- he was actually a respectable sea captain. Yet Robert Culliford is underrated, even though he was the vicious cutthroat. Which songwriter is considered overrated -- Ted Koehler or Bob Dylan? Who's the underrated teen idol -- Mick Jagger or Bill Haley? This survey pulls no punches and puts everything in its place. (in U.S. History)
