Americans Are become just plain “Lacking of knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular:” or how about “ignorant” for the short version? That is my coffee thinking’s this morning…
However, my message is not intended to offer a scientific assessment. It is not intended to cajole your views! It was intentionally subjective and anecdotal. I was expressing my own personal frustration and disappointment. I perceive a strong current of anti-intellectualism in America. I perceive it every time I turn on the “media” and find reporters covering Michael Jackson or Anne Nichole Smith’s corpse for an entire month, while our empire’s war-making goes unreported. I perceive it when I go to an English tending country and see the inane tabloids and the mindless celebrity magazines. How can it not be obvious that we are being dumbed down?!
What would happen in America, if a child were to take an interest in chess or mathematics or science? I suspect that the child would be ridiculed and shunned. Seems to be no pride in being an intellect. I certainly don’t see our media celebrating achievement in chess or science. We do have “Academy Award” presentations that promote artistic achievement, but our arts are definitely divorced from political reality: I don’t think I have ever seen a movie about the struggle for peace…
So I think I have a right to be disappointed, a right to wish for less jingoism, less war-making, and more appreciation for intellect and imagination…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…