This will be a serious post today. I took the title from an article written 2 years ago from Esquire magazine, called Greetings From Idiot America, written by Charles P. Pierce. It's a bit of a long read, but I challenge you to read it and let me know what you think in the comments section(let us know who you are).
As far as my stance, many of you already know how I feel about religious hysteria and the attack on reason perpetuating itself in this country from speaking with me previously. There are two culprits in this folly, those using it for an agenda, and those who accept it in the abdication of intellectual responsibility. Some would say you lead a happier life if you just don't talk about the difficult things. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a valid goal, right?
Let's discuss the facts, lets champion science and intellectualism, and let's have the wisdom to know that we know nothing, but that it shouldn't stop us from trying to figure it all out.
OK, I'm all done proselytizing. Promise.
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Im going to try to include in every couple of posts, or however I see fit, what music I'm listening to, or what movies I just saw. That way you can tell me I'm crazy and that my choices stink.
Music: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Movie: Actually, its a series. Any SciFi fan will be enamored:
Battlestar Galactica: The Series
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Here's some random links:
-Amazin' staircase.
-This will be either the worst movie ever or the best - Jurassic Park 4?
ever
Later,
'thew
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Abdication of Intellectual Responsibility
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10 comments:
So I'd first like to say how quickly I was attracted to this article. At first I was reluctant to begin reading because of its notable length , but soon found it to be quite enticing and continued reading.
One point I would like to touch on is the question Larry King asked Dr. Forrest. Which I do believe is a common and respectable question on behalf of creationists. Larry asked, "If evolution is true, why are there still monkeys?" This question is actually based off of a misunderstanding, which I'm not sure whose side of the argument is to blame. Humans are NOT descended from modern apes, we simply share distant ancestors in common. Simply put, you aren't descended from your cousins. You and your cousins just share a set of grandparents. Millions of years ago a certain species of apes split into various family lines. One of these lines led to the modern apes and another unequivocally led to modern humans. I won't delve too deep into this argument I was simply trying to get a point across to those of whom this question concerns.
I would also like to comment on the theory of, "abdicated intellectual responsibility", and its' correlation to filling the emptiness some of us need to live a happy life. I find it quite unsettling that people can be satisfied knowing that someone, other than themselves, has already thought out the answer to life, the universe, and everything. People need an answer as to who they are, why they are here, and where they are going. What better way to find these things out than letting someone else tell you or being conditioned your entire life to think a certain way. It is much easier that way don't you think? Why would anyone want to figure these answers out for themselves? That would be too hard and much too time consuming. If we just follow our family tradition the answers are already laid out for us. I like to call "the answer", "god", "yahweh", "allah", "jehovah", etc., induced mind power.
I believe "Idiot America" is far too distracted by this induced mind power and I find it discomforting that it impedes the way America works politically, socially, and most importantly, educationally.
On a side note what ever happened to being a good person for the sake of being a good person. Why do I think most people are good simply because of fear of an omni-surveillance camera and where life after death will take them?
Now whether the answer to all of these questions is "42" or not, I don't know. But what I do know is that all knowledge is empirical and until the answers of life are derived from my senses, they are just as a mystery to me as they are to you.
I wont write a novel. Though I will highly suggest reading the esquire article.
Wow! Just wow.
How can I follow this deep intellectual thinking???
I know we have many apes in this family!!!
Ant says:
ok he smashed all religions, ripped up fox news, hates the stupid president bush, hates bill o reilly, hates sean hannity, hates Bill Bennett, hates Rick Santorum, loves richard clark, thinks idiot america is responsible for 911, and bush is responsible for Katrina. Wow is right.
Now i believe in God. Does that make me and all of the like-minded individuals like me, stupid? Have i been sucked into a "induced mind power" due to my up bringing? Call me an idiot but, Honesty i find that thought process quite offensive.
(i'd like to drink a beer with this guy at a bar)
Ant signing out.
Where did he "smash up all religions", "blame America for 9/11" or say "Bush was responsible for Katrina".
There's no demonization of religion here, just a blast upon MANY, not all, who are too lazy to make up their minds for themselves.
Im not sure if your confusing the first comment with mine or the original article, but Mike was just stating "induced mind power" as another way that people look for answers in life. Don't feel threatened. Or do. That is your choice.
No one is saying people who believe in god is stupid, just those who believe their God is the one true God, and that he hates fags, or some other crap. Many will use people's faith to trick them into believing their agenda. Check www.godhatesfags.com for proof.
This article is asking people to think for themselves, and not to rely on other people's sole opinions for their own.
Ant, this guy you'd like to have a beer with is your cousin, Mike.
This is not about fox news, Sean Hannity, Michael Smerconish, Fox News, 9/11, the aftermath of a hurricane or GW. I'm not taking a stab at either the blue or red. That's not why I commented on the article. But I am taking a stab at a majority of people in this nation.
I was simply trying to say that from birth, life is perilous. And most of us, as children, are vulnerable to problems. We were all raised to listen to our parents and elders. We were all conditioned to "listen to whatever your parents tell you". Thus, spawn the "induced mind power". From birth we haven't learned to recognize the dichotomy between the good advice and the not so good advice. Sure we won't jump in the fire, but we still may dance around it to make it rain.
I feel there's a sense of psychological weakness that people believe in things that would be nice if they were true even if there is no evidence for those things. I think what our nation along with the rest of the world has a problem with is automatically assuming that the universe owes us something, some kind of answer.
No certainly not stupid for believing in god. I understand why people feel like they need to believe in god, otherwise, life would have no meaning. That's fine. I have no problem with that at all. I can respect people's beliefs, I just feel it shouldn't hinder the way America works. I'm not taking a stab at Bush. Because it's been happening throughout antiquity.
Conclusively I believe the idea of god should be a personal one. Once those ideas become secular problems, America becomes polemical. And that is a process which should offend all.
So if anyone has been interested in what we've been talking about, but too shy to speak up. Check out "god's warriors" on CNN tonight and tomorrow at 9pm. Very interesting.
Hey guys Ant here.
Matt, I course i knew it was Mike. (duh) I think you both missed that i was referring to the author and his "bar" references in the article. I actually agree with a lot of your points. They are well thought out; especially the points in relation to religion being personal to individuals.
This article was a smash of the religious right and by default, in my book, loses most of its credibility. He is so critical of the religious and never stops to mention that 95% (maybe more) are peaceful, kindhearted individuals, not American Idiots.
Mike, And now you are referring to people who have faith in a higher being as people with a "psychological weakness". Do you guys really look down on people who possess a faith in God? Am i missing something? How is that not offensive? But before you answer,I must clarify: Honestly, i KNOW that you guys really do not really think that way, but that is how your thought process comes along to me. I can and do respect the act of asking questions to spur people to think differently. I admire that.
But i also happen to admire people who devote their entire lives to "serving the lord". (i.e. priest and the like) I feel that these people are of higher intellect (spiritually not academically) than the average "worldly" citizen.
The rest of your points are valid and i do find your thoughts very interesting in relation to our political sub-structure.
signing out with brotherly love..
Ant
Ant here again,where the heck is SAL?????
I am sure he will place his Anthropological spin on this topic.
signing out.....
Ant
I emailed Sal and told him to get in on it. He hasn't responded to emails.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20381678/
American idiots!
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