DISQUS

efrique · 1 year ago

Hey, that post would go great in the (somewhat ironic) Carnival of the Elitist Bastards.

[Unless you have already submitted it there I guess]

jeber · 1 year ago

I've submitted to one of those, the Carnival of the Godless, a couple of times. I feel better when I submit something which is at least 75% original material. When I post something that consists mostly of other people's work (like above), in order to give it greater exposure, I don't feel right about submitting it a medium where I'll get eyeballs that by all rights belong to those other authors. I hope people follow the links I provide and read more on those sites. But thanks for the idea. As soon as I'm accused of being an elitist bastard, and I'm truly surprised it hasn't happened yet, I'll submit the post that elicited the comment to that Carnival. ;)

tritius · 1 year ago

I'm curious as to what informational black hole Roark just hauled himself out of. Are we really back to this? Saddam and 9-11? If the Bush administration had handled America's business properly, we would have already pulled Bin Laden out of a cave and not Hussein out of a hole.

This is the perfect example of a non-intellectual falling for the party line. Don't think, just hear and believe. Someone who truly values the pursuit of knowledge looks at all the evidence, evaluates it rationally, and forms a conclusion based on demonstrable facts. Sure Saddam smiled on 9-11. The Clinton administration had been keeping him in check for years. But he wasn't the only one. I am sure millions of people in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Palestine, as well as citizens of our "allies" Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, rejoiced in our tragedy. All those all next on our list of places to "maintain order"? And what exactly have we done in Iraq to be proud of? Needless killed thousands of America's soldiers? The deaths of countless more innocent Iraqi civilians? Planted the seeds for even more terrorist recruitment? Bludgeoned our economy and swelled the national debt to record levels through the waging of a pointless money-pit of a war?

It certainly seems true that the GOP has been practicing a "successful political and electoral strategy" by disseminating ignorance and misinformation. It must make Karl Rove's shriveled heart skip a beat to see someone call objective thinkers cowardly or unpatriotic for not drinking the right-wing Kool-Aid of "9-11 = Iraq".

So sad... so very, very sad.

J Bob · 1 year ago

well said, tritius. People who espouse this kind of fear and ignorance are the exact same problem as the terrorist way of thinking. fundamentalism today echoes the old adage "ignorance is bliss." there's no need to search for the truth when someone has already just handed it to you. You've already got it. Why listen?

Roark · 1 year ago

tritius .........you are pathetic.

You choose to live in a fantasy world of pacifism while the real world is rough and rugged.

You should stay hiding behind your computer, making absurd statements under the cloak of "intellectualism", because you wouldn't last 2 seconds in the real world.

There is nothing "pointless" about killing enemies.

I suggest you go into a medically induced coma for the next decade because McCain and Palin are going to roll into the White House and continue handling business for the United States.

Tomac · 1 year ago

I'll give you $100 for anything that links saddam with 9/11

(things that are not actually true don't count, which should be obvious, but your crowd always makes me wonder.)

Roark · 1 year ago

Tomac.....$100 is probably your entire net worth since you are a self righteous Leftist.

(on second thought you are probably broke just like Joe Biden)

Saddam smiled on 9-11. That is just cause to make him dance on the end of a rope.

The friends of my enemies are also my enemies.

Try not to take a flying leap off your Ivory Tower when McCain and Palin win in November.

Tomac · 1 year ago

So... you're proud of America... Because we can kill someone who had nothing to do with (but enjoyed) a telegraphed, overblown attack in as short as 5 years?

color me unimpressed. :|

Jon · 1 year ago

Can you say troll?

Dominique · 1 year ago

Roark, GET DRAFTED.

What made you choose the name Roark, when you so obviously disagree with Rand's philosophies? You're more of a Keating than anything...

Roark · 1 year ago

Dominique...........The United States does not have a military draft.

Everybody serving in Iraq is there because they signed a contract and received compensation.

They should do their damn job or be executed for treason.

I live up to my commitments and others should do the same.

Very few actually soldiers are complaining about the situation in Iraq. Most of the whining and carping comes from sites like this where dirty hippies hide behind computers and spout their nonsense without fear of physical retaliation.

Isa · 1 year ago

This must be a troll. This person is simply too hilariously ignorant to actually exist. Isn't it?

Roark The Troll · 11 months ago

Roark, I'm done reasoning with people like you, and having to deal with lowlifes insulting and harassing others around them. Instead i know better to just insult your insignificant existence. I also know how bitter it is for you to take a loss.. but Obama won, and your pussy shit attitude towards life, how "you never lose" has just gave way. How stupid are you anyway? Everybody knows you learn the most from loss, but since you "Never lose" it just means your too stupid to realize when you have been beat. So you engage in meaningless forums and insult everybody who opposes your views just because you are too lazy to actually overcome whatever complex your tiny mind has been occupied with. Everyone is entitled towards their own opinion and in mine, i hate you, and i have reason to believe many other people hate you. ( you probably know that already don't you? you son of a bitch ) It doesn't matter whether i am a Leftist, Rightist, Moderate, or even a fisherman from Antarctica, and it doesn't matter if i know that hideous face behind the coward titled "Roark the Troll" To me your just another person who is willing to do the wrong thing to defend their pride. Just another scum who loves being a prick, or a nuisance to others around them. Finally, let my hatred upon your stupid existence be expressed and uncensored by this message of rage for ages to come.

P.S. I don't even care about "intellectualism" i just hate people like you so much i had to reply. you dumb mother fucking piece of shit.

Dale · 5 months ago

How did that McCain Palin thing work out for you anyway?

landothedead · 2 months ago

How'd that work out btw?

Tomac · 1 year ago

it's nice to hear that the anti-intelligence sentiment I detected being directed towards me frequently isn't so much in my head as it is a national undercurrent.

Where's my campaign for Brainy-rights?

se7in · 1 year ago

It seems somewhat self defeating to put together an article that, in essence, says that most Americans are too dumb to write their own article.

J Bob · 1 year ago

your face is self-defeating

Dick Butt · 1 year ago

NO U

blehhhhhh · 1 year ago

anti-anything is ruining everything.
not only are there too many negative people attacking intellectualism, there are too many negative intellectuals attacking anything they think is below them.
who cares if a kid dropped out of high school to play guitar hero? it's something he enjoys, and when he grows out of guitar hero (which he will), he'll realize what a dumb decision that was.

and who cares if the average american student is ranked below some other countries in math? american kids must not be as interested in math as they used to be.

Cobra · 1 year ago

They should be interested in math, and in science, and in things other than guitar hero, because when they do realize guitar hero was a bad decision, it will be too late. High school dropouts age 18-65 are more unlikely to be in the labor force, and if they are in the labor force, more likely to be unemployed. They are also in worse overall health, and make a high percentage of current prison population in the U.S. Stay in school!

Random · 1 year ago

There needs to be a law requiring an IQ of at least 120 for government jobs, reproduction, and driving.
We're at a point where human evolution needs to shift from survival of the fittest(or fattest) to survival of the smartest.

We need to be spending all these resources on perfecting our own society instead of destroying other peoples countries.
Violence is always the first tool the ignorant reach for.
I am sick of the war on this and that, ignorant people hate what they cant understand, ignorant people attack what they hate. It needs to end now!
Educate your children before it is too late!

And by educate, I mean the oppisite of religious "teachings".
Otherwise, if your "god" doesn't show up to "save us", then all of humanity will be completely screwed.

If ignorance is bliss, then wipe the smile right off my face.

Sonya · 1 year ago

Right on. Right fuc*ing on!

jeber · 1 year ago

I'd like to thank the trolls for stopping by to provide evidence that intellectualism is no longer a priority for some people. You've performed your service, you've fulfilled your role. Now, bugger off.

Roark · 1 year ago

The pomposity of these self-anointed "intellectuals" is astounding.

Whenever somebody turns a light upon the fallacy of the peace movement the anti-war cult members invoke censorship.

Absolutely pathetic.

Well..........news flash! Your charade of hope and change is now shattered. The "peace movement" is about to lose yet another referendum this November. The anti-war candidate is going to lose by a substantial margin.

4 years McCain

8 years Palin

We run this world so you best get used to it.

MaCrazy · 1 year ago

@ Roark... you are what is wrong with this country. If you could pull your head out of your ass long enough to thoroughly look at what is going on in the rest of the world, and not just in your nice little bubble, you may have a different opinion.
I was in Iraq and the shit is fucked up! I've seen my comrades die before my eyes and civilians slaughtered... you have no clue buddy.... you're probably at your computer now jacking off to Fox News......YOU'RE PATHETIC... and don't try to mess with a leatherneck boy, I would royally fuck you up!!!!

Roark · 1 year ago

You were never in Iraq.

You know it.

I know it.

You are a charlatan.

Ryke · 1 year ago

This post is like telling someone who owns an HDTV that they don't, just because you'd really, really rather they not have it. I don't know how it works in your head, but in the real world, wanting really hard doesn't actually do anything.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

Which is why common sense is now taking it away from you. Get used to China, India and the other countries having their time.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

Intellectual is not like being Republican or Democrat. Christian, Muslim or Jew etc. Its about ideas art culture based on what is known and discussed. A love of the sciences , art, music, writing all the things that contribute to allowing us to live together. Not about finding the quickest way to demolish all who dont agree. Its about having an open mind.
Its not even about winning an argument but about knowing how to ask the pertinent questions, listening, seeing.
Not total destruction.

misanthropope · 1 year ago

Random:

IQ doesn't measure intelligence. "intelligence" isn't something which has ever been satisfactorily defined, never mind measured. Please don't oversimplify the present environment into "intelligence vs. stupidity". The owners of the anti-intellectual brand are plenty smart.

Everybody Else:

the troll wants excuses to declare how masculine it is. other than providing it with the opportunity, what does responding to its posturing accomplish?

nils hoftun · 1 year ago

I agree very much indeed. The superstructures of the world seems to work very aggressively to stupidify the general public, with a frightening sense of consequense and premeditation.

Violent Sleep · 1 year ago

This really is a huge problem nowadays. This is a wonderful article and I have every intention of spreading it as much as I can. Great read.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

1st, As far as the next president goes...I don't give a crap who the heck gets in there, as long as they know how to do their f-ing job...i don't mind being a wee bit ignorant, but the guy that runs the country damn well better not be.
2nd there is quite a bit of bliss in ignorance...my day consists of getting up, eating, going to work, coming home, playing video games, eating, going to bed, repeat...I stopped watching the news and pretty much TV altogether and my level of stress has reduced significantly in the past week. I don't mind not keeping up with things anymore...I don't care who Paris Hilton just screwed. The war in Iraq is going to keep going, there's nothing I can do but pray for our soldiers now. 2012 is coming...if something really is going to happen, guess what, ain't a thing I can do about it, so why freakin' worry about it. I'm going to continue on with my tiny insignificant little life until God calls my number, and thats it, all the scientific advances won't mean a thing anymore, who's running the country won't matter anymore, neither will the next war. What I've learned and how much money I made won't matter anymore either. All that will matter is how I lived my life, and if being ignorant is how I achieve being happy and content...I don't mind.

jeber · 1 year ago

Here's a telling quote regarding the glorification of ignorance:
“Mr. Bush is the triumph of the seemingly average American man,” declared Peggy Noonan, writing in The Wall Street Journal in 2004. “He’s not an intellectual. Intellectuals start all the trouble in the world.”

(Please don't feed the trolls.)

Roark · 1 year ago

President Bush is a man of action and principle whereas the average self-anointed "intellectual" is nothing more than an armchair quarterback.

The average "intellectual pacifist" is nothing more than a whining loser who dreams of some sort of peaceful utopia.

Their hero Noam Chomsky has devoted his entire life to this nonsense and has accomplished absolutely nothing.

The irony is that the Left owes President Bush a tremendous debt of gratitude. Without the actions of the Bush Administration over the course of the past 6 years the average Leftist would have lost both their hands and tongues to a dirty bomb attack.

It is difficult to spew nonsense verbally without a tongue and it is even more difficult to type without hands.

Thanks to the unselfish actions of the Bush Administration the average hippy is free to continuing wasting their lives while they fancy themselves as "intellectual".

This is straight truth and will probably be deleted by the Leftist censors.

jeber · 1 year ago

Stupidity won't be censored. It will be left in place so that everyone can
point and laugh.

Roark · 1 year ago

What you so callously refer to as "stupidity" is actually stone cold reality.

You Leftists love to sit around and have self congratulating circle jerks on the Internet but you lose your erections and start to cry whenever the light of reality is cast upon thee.

Ryke · 1 year ago

I'm afraid if anything, the Republican convention is the definition of self-congratulating circle-jerk. That, and blind patriotism. President of the United States of America is a job with international repercussions. Placing your country above other countries is only going to get you a kick in the balls once everyone gets tired of being screwed over.

How do you know so much about "Leftists", a group you admittedly want nothing to do with, anyway?

Liberty · 1 year ago

Holy f*&k, that says it right there..

"Placing your country above other countries is only going to get you a kick in the balls..."

That's what the president should do, place our country first. What kind of America-hating moron are you? Kindly move to a country we should put before America so we'll have one less of your kind to deal with.

It seems that most pseudo-intellectuals love to jump on the Liberal Bandwagon, but I think its a product of our secondary education system. The left is taught like a religion in college. True intellectuals tend to lead toward libertarianism.

Tartessos · 1 year ago

You have a greater chance of dying from choking on a Big Mac than from a dirty bomb, you paste eater. Your statement that Bush is a man of principle is laughable on its face. You accuse others of cowardice when it is your palms that are damp with ignorant, xenophoblic fear.

Ben · 1 year ago

Read march of the morons. Its the logical conclusion to the idiocracy we have in the this country.

ELBSeattle · 1 year ago

I was reading the debate between the reasonable and the shrill (aka pretty much everyone vs 'Roark') up to the point where he said

"President Bush is a man of action and principle whereas the average self-anointed "intellectual" is nothing more than an armchair quarterback."

Whoa. Hold on there, Sparky. You may have thought you were leading with some pretty tough punches with your "...There is nothing "pointless" about killing enemies" kinds of statements. But you lost all credibility by claiming W is a 'man of action and principle.'

George W. Bush is a lying sack of shit, who has his tongue so deeply up the assholes of Corporate America it is amazing he can pull it out long enough to smirk for the camera.

This is your idea of 'action' and 'principle'? These 'actions' and 'principles' have raped our economy, bankrupted America's moral standing in the world and left ordinary citizens in state of rapidly vanishing civil liberties that more resembles a fascist state than anything our founding fathers ever dreamed up.

You are making your own perfect case against the stupidity which has been running merrily rampant in our school boards and media pundits. There is only one explanation for anyone who claims George W. Bush to be a man of 'action and principle.' And the word for that is: idiot.

Roark · 1 year ago

You are just another bitter loser who lacks the skills to compete in America.

It is quite sad that you choose to blame your own personal shortcomings on a politician.

As far as "America's moral standing in the world"............

If the world has such disdain for the U.S. then I suggest we stop picking up the phone every time one of these two bit countries has an earthquake or a flood.

No good deed goes unpunished.

You all hate America due to your own petty jealousy and personal insecurity.

You are a pathetic lot indeed.

Go Canada · 1 year ago

Ill start out by saying thank you for giving us such a perfect example of the kind of people we need to get out of the government we could not have found better.

Although the war on iraq would have been justified if these " weapons of mass destruction" were actually found or if there was a real reason for a war but of course there is absolutely no evidence of anything of the sort.

" You all Hate America" HAHA this is crazy because we dont want to shoot INNOCENT people in a country thousands of miles away to control a government that has nothing to do with us is very Pro America.

Instead of using the hundreds of billions of dollars investing in the future or even trying to fix any of the many problems facing the country right now we should use all our money then borrow a bunch from China!!!!!

Even when confronted with someone on "your" side aka the trolls saying that they were in iraq you don't care.

your arguments are laughable and i look forward to laughing again as you comment.

engel · 1 year ago

jeber · 1 year ago

Since there are some juveniles that seem to have nothing better to do than make off-topic and nonsensical comments I've decided to remove those that provide no content. In true troll-like fashion, they are posting strictly to get attention, to feel that someone is listening to them. Sadly they fail to realize that more of us would listen if they actually had something to say. I don't feel like allowing my blog to become psychological therapy for them. They'll need to get their ego fix elsewhere.
Roark has crossed a line of decorum by trying to post a "joke" which had nothing to do with the topic and wasn't even funny. His only interest is in being disruptive, rude and ignorant. Since this is my blog, I don't have to permit that. Further posts by Roark will be removed.
My hope is that this will allow us to get back on topic and discuss the pros and cons of the post without being distracted by childish nonsense that adds nothing of value to the conversation.

Roark · 1 year ago

You can either let this post stand and we can call a truce or I will continue to do battle with you.

I can blast this site out on my forums and you will be bombarded with thousands of comments to censor. Unless you want this to turn into a full time job I suggest you let this post stand.

I am relentless and I do not lose. However, I will walk away if this post is not deleted.

Typical Leftist censorship.

It is perfectly acceptable for people who agree with your dogma to label me a "Nazi" but I am censored over a simple joke.

Typical Liberal hypocrisy.

These self described "intellectuals" can now continue their pathetic circle jerk unabated and without interruption from reality.

The true reality will set in on November 5, 2008 when you realize that pacifism has once again been defeated in a national election.

I just hope the despair amongst the Left leads to a mass suicide. At least that would impress me, unlike the self aggrandizing fools who populate this site.

jeber · 1 year ago

So now we'll see if you're a man of your word, eh?

Roark · 1 year ago

I am a man of my word.

You seem like a class individual.

I wish you success in your future endeavors.

Jim · 1 year ago

Funny indeed.

Roark, ad hominem arguments are generally dismissed as weak and devoid of significance to a debate. Your arguments are ad hominem. Slander belies your own lack of integrity.

Did you know that publishers have made millions from books that quote "Bushisms"? His incompetence is its own franchise. The anti-intellectual problem in America is what will cause coastal disasters on the East and West US due to climate change. By 2050 New York will face major flood problems. This problem has to end, and Obama is the one to do it. I hail from the UK, and would be very happy to see a black man be the president of one of the worlds most racist and corrupt countries. I pray it precipitates social and ideological changes that can keep America away from global bullying. Anyone up to date with the Russia issue? Anyone notice how the Media has failed to address the fact that the US has placed a missile base 130km from the Russian border? The last time that happened there was a cold war.

Tehcrim · 1 year ago

"There needs to be a law requiring an IQ of at least 120 for government jobs, reproduction, and driving."

I'm not a regular here, just stumbled in. The comments were awesome. The above quote is why elitism has a smeared face. I'll leave that at that.

As for the rest, I'll let Roark continue on his business. He may not be the most elite orator on why the left is killing itself, but he's certainly the loudest in here.

I'm with you Roark, it's nice to see people actually standing up and shoving a mirror in their face for once.

Alfred · 1 year ago

Though I agree with much of what is quoted in this post, I have to wonder whether the intellectual elite didn't have something to do with its being lambasted. The professionalization, or perhaps codification of the route to professorship seems to have caused people to either follow a course of ever more esoteric research (the study of Marxist ideas in the works of Graham Greene, for example) or the politicization (new word?) of faculties as camps battle it out for control of departments. (This of course holds principally for the humanities). When you hear about masters theses about Barbi or hear the PC battles that can rage in the most respectable of universities, you have to wonder whether some disregard for a self-proclaimed intellectual elite isn't deserved. That said, deciding to disregard anybody who speaks in complete sentences is obviously, like, bad, man.

IAmAnon · 1 year ago

How about this?

American freedoms have been curtailed, in the name of security.

The American Dollar is steadily growing weaker.

American jobs are going over seas.

4,000+ American soldiers have died in Iraq, but the Iraqi Military still haven't stepped up to do their jobs.

All of this under an oppressive government regime, that relies on "Good Ol' Boy" politics.

And, yet, most of the citizens allow this to happen. Should anyone stop it? Perhaps. If not, it will all eventually crumble.

Jason · 1 year ago

Actually, elite is even a problem with schools. I attended the Illinois Math and Science Academy(IMSA). A school I am proud to say caters to 600 elite students from across Illinois. People have bashed IMSA for being elitist. Since when is elitism in schooling something that should be bashed.

Source: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_02...

jeber · 1 year ago

That's a good example of the point I hoped to make. For some reason the
concept of "elite" and "intellectual" have been demonized, turned into
pejorative terms. It's almost as if Americans have been given a reason to
suspect intelligence and revere ignorance.

I won't pander to ignorance. I'll speak out against the dumbing-down of
America as often as possible. I don't see any good being done to our nation
by glorifying ignorance.

Decorina · 1 year ago

They do take pride in being ignorant.

The sight of W, the clown, smirking at the camera and telling the world that "I'm having the time of my life!" makes me ill.

Obama/Biden 2008

Somewhere in Texas a Village is Missing its Idiot

PissedOffTex · 1 year ago

I'm from Texas, very near Crawford, actually...and no, we don't miss our Village Idiot. Furthermore, he and his family are Texas transplants who only moved here to give them credibility with their base. He does not represent the good people of Texas, has shamed and soiled the good name of our state and people, and I guarantee you - apart from the times a camera is on him, he does NOT do work on the ranch.

Lloyd · 1 year ago

The words both anger and insult me. I'm an educated person, I cling to neither guns nor religion to feel peace after my frustration with a government that has become genuinely shameful to watch. I also happen to be quite conservative politically. I am more insulted by those who believe that my opinion or perspective has less meaning, or is out of touch, because of my conservative views. No person that I have ever met is all left or all right. We all seem to pick our place in the middle. I for one ask not to be spoken for by the likes of Bill Maher or Barack Obama. Not that I think of them as elitist, I don't. I do however see them as condescending and way too far left.

juls · 1 year ago

I just want to know when people are going to realize that while we strive to save more people, and make life easier. All we're really doing is making things more complex and bringing our species closer to extinction. As long as we think the world is ours to control, manipulate, and own we're going to over use, over populate, and destroy it.

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." - Albert Einstein

Feo Amante · 1 year ago

Just so I have this straight. For the entire eight years of his presidency, William Jefferson Clinton said that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction.
More documents on this are available at Clinton's own online presidential library
http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/
http://clinton5.nara.gov/WH/EOP/NSC/html/nsc-11...
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.asp...
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/iraq/thre...
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/iraq/deca...

Leading Democrats like Nancy Pelosi,
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm
Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Charlie Rangel, John Murtha, and more, all agreed that Saddam had WMD. Hillary Clinton, in her speech of 2002 claimed that her husband and his administration was well aware of Saddam's WMD.
http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002....
And in that speech she says why she's voting for the war. NOT because Bush tricked her with falisified data (as she would later claim) but because they knew that Saddam had WMDs all along (and why are these damn Republicans so stupid as to not believe the Clinton Administration when they make that claim?)

On Sept. 16, 1998, William J. Clinton began the systematic bombing (almost daily) for the next two years (pausing on Nov. 16, 1998, resuming on Dec. 16, 1998). Untold thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens were killed during this time. This bombing was done to try and target Saddam's WMD and keep him from rebuilding his WMD. (again - all of these links are readily available from Clinton's own online presidential library)
http://clinton5.nara.gov/WH/EOP/NSC/html/nsc-11...
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/iraq/thre...
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/iraq/deca...

But the very second George Bush is sworn into office, why, without a shred of documented evidence, those WMDs are all gone?

Why the hell was UNSCOM and the United Nations trying to investigate Iraq to see if there WERE any WMD there (they did this in the 1990s and again in the 2000s leading up to the war). Why didn't they just save everyone a lot of time and trouble by consulting with Steve Colbert and Bill Maher?

Boy! Am I ever glad that there are free thinkers like you with such long term memories!

Semuta · 7 months ago

Oh, right. Some of us are supposed to remember things we heard about, and barely even understood, at age eight.
I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry.

U.S. of A. · 1 year ago

I can neither confirm nor deny the statements laid out in this article.

Kjetil Manheim · 1 year ago

I do think this is something you can say about many countries - sadly. Especially the religious are on the offensive all over the world. Both religous and the poltical organisations are in mutual interest to drive public attention away from facts and reason, very much helped by tabloid newspapers, entertainment newsbroadcasts and the big entertainment industry that is today's roman circus.

Politicians and religous people are in denial, or are exploiting peoples lack of knowlegde and interest in the big picture. It's all a power game.

I do think that the reason for this is lack of interest from the elite. The elite doesn't care or are to polite to attack stupidity performed in public. It is a virtue to respect even the dumbest and most ignorant point of view, in stead of bringing in the light to make the troll explode.

A good example of this is being exposed by Richard Dawkins in his recent books and documentaries (http://richarddawkins.net/). He shows that the attacks on science and reason is being tolerated by a vast majority of the elite.

Dennis · 1 year ago

A beautiful, thoughtful article. One major reservation. Religion does not necessarily make you an anti-intellectual. There's good religion and bad, just like music. Listen to the good stuff, why not? And make up your own mind what's good. Your stance always looks to me like the baby getting chucked out with the bath.

It's a great essay. the intellect is crucial, but the heart is even more so, especially if it's guided by real wisdom. Nothing esoteric, new age in this, just a personal way of dealing with life.

Jesus said in the Gospel of Thomas (a religious document worth studying) "There is a light inside a person of light, and it shines out on the whole universe. If it doesn't shine out, it's darkness."
This is obviously beyond the intellect. But those who set aside a time every day to do this, feel that they are helping -- even helping the intellect. Thanks for your attention. Dennis

Lokon · 1 year ago

Was intellectualism ever in vogue? Seems to me, that people have always been badmouthing, shouting at, accusing and condemming the intellectuals thinkers scientists et al. This is unfortunate, but nothing new.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

The Right the Left. Where is that? Draw a circle and tell me whats left and whats right. That is politics. But keep politics and religion out of free thinking also known as intellect.

C-dub · 1 year ago

Now the new rallying cry is "Small towns! Small town values!" As a nation, we could all at least try to act a bit more sophisticated.

Boris · 1 year ago

Photoshopped...

Max Wagner · 1 year ago

My god. This is just what I've been thinking for years. somehow, society despises intelligence and intellectuality. it's horrible! where is humanity headed if we allow this? this evolution is not only counter-intuitive, and doom-foreshadowing, but plain stupid. I just hope someone will step in and show the anti-intellectual masses what is happening and what are the prospects of such a developement. otherwise, humanity will soon meet its fate.

thank you for writing this article, and for reassuring me that I'm not the only person alive that still thinks education is actually a good thing.

Jessica · 1 year ago

I'd disagree with Bill Maher - words matter, allowing the word elite and embracing it may be a good comic policy but a useless general one.

But I do like this essay.

Just a dumb carpenter · 1 year ago

Notice the right-wing strategy of, when your arguments have no merit, attacking your opponent personally. It's much more fun, it discourages people from thinking for themselves (since they don't want to be lumped in with the ridiculed), and it affords the attacker a chance to "win" the debate when they couldn't otherwise. Brilliant! Remember - when you hear righties making personal attacks, it's telling you their position is unsupportable oherwise, and they likely know it.

Jack · 1 year ago

I just want to pose one question to the almost unanimously deigned Troll.

You are a raging Patriot. Everything that is America is superior to everything that is not, and you are a proud product and supporter of the American dream. Am I correct so far?

I'll assume yes, from reading your numerous responses. What is your attitude towards immigrants, specifically illegal aliens? They escape their nations to come to our great if somewhat disputed State to better themselves. What, I politely request, is your opinion of these people trying their damndest to live the American Dream, as you have?

Erick · 1 year ago

We have the technology.
We just don't make smart decisions.

Dat · 1 year ago

Idiots like Tomac are afraid of intelligence therefore praise morons like Bush and Palin.
McCain and Palin will ultimately fail because the economy will guide the voters in the end

Mark · 1 year ago

Republicans at the convention touted how 'small town values' reign supreme. Yet they were unable to articulate any of those values. Let me help them since Palin has shown us what they are in the speech that was written for her and by her actions in the small-town where she first gained any public prominence.

It's a small-town value to teach abstinence-only sex education, then see your daughter get knocked up because she doesn't know what a penis and vagina do, then tell the entire nation how wonderfully that program works.

It's a small town value to even mention to a town's librarian that books should be banned in the public library.

It's a small town value to leave said small town in gigantic debt and with a lawsuit in tow.

It's certainly a small-town value to be affiliated with a separatist political group which openly mocks the US government.

How about this small-town value. Shooting animals from helicopters.

This is my favorite small-town value. Not knowing what science is or what it does. Small-town values are that religious instruction should not only be in a science class but it should eventually supplant science as a good educational foundation. Small-town values consist of flaunting Supreme Court decisions and finding any way possible to negate them. To wit, the imminent disappearance of Roe v. Wade and the Dover, PA decision to prevent religious instruction in science classrooms. Jesus wouldn't approve of either decision, so small-town values insists that they be eliminated at all costs.

One of my other favorite small-town values is how important Israel is to the overall health of the US -- how End Times eschatology is far superior to a good understanding of international relations. Small-towns usually have important dealings with heads of dictator-led nations, thus the politicos in those small towns are far more aware of how to deal with them than anyone else. It's just common sense. Small-town common sense.

Small town values depend on oil companies to explain what climate change is and to help you understand that people have nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. Zero. Zilch. Climate change proponents are just trying to destroy our robust economy. How dare they! It's common sense not to do that.

Small town inhabitants know that only a man and woman can marry. All gays have to do is find a wife or husband and they can certainly get married! That's logical. No nation on the planet has survived very long if they don't understand that. That's why God has smitten Canada and the Netherlands with plagues, pestilence and their rightly-deserved place in the world: as backward nations in need of a handout. Small towns know precisely how God deals with those kinds of countries. They've become hellholes. That explains why Massachusetts and California have caused the entire nation to become disease-ridden. And the direct correlation to the number of healthy heterosexual marriages that have been negatively affected by this - this - mockery of marriage is astounding. No, gays can't get married unless they have the 'gay prayed away'.

Really. Small-town values?

No, those are NOT small-town values. They are small-minded beliefs. That's all they are. They're 100% small-minded beliefs. That is the operative word. Belief. Only under-educated narrow-minded people hold those beliefs. People who have educations don't hold those beliefs. People who adhere to philosophies that were generated AFTER the Age of Enlightenment don't hold those beliefs. People who live in regions of the US that are diverse certainly don't. People who see reality as it is don't. Only small-minded people believe those things. Small-town people.

An RNC lobbyist, interviewed on Comedy Central, made it clear. He said those are 50s values. The 1950s. Which happened a half century ago - and were myths then. They're still myths. And whoever believes what an RNC lobbyist says to be true will get what they deserve: more of the same of the last 7.5 years.

Adam · 1 year ago

Nothing else could bother me more. If Barack Obama loses this race, I know I'll lose all faith (an ironic choice of diction, I know) I have in the American people. I'm the proudest American there is, and I believe I'm the true patriot, not those that attack those for asking questions about America.

Evil Roy · 1 year ago

And who do you think is responsible? Has the prevailing mentality regarding how we should educate and raise our children for the past 40 years come from the left or the right? Who has been running the public school system, the left or the right? Whose denial of objective ethics has resulted in the intellect-denying, mind-numbing philosophy of political correctness and left us with a generation of narcissists who cannot grasp the concept that one way of doing things might actually be superior to another, the left or the right? Who refuses to engage in rational debate, relying instead on sloganeering and smears, the left or the right? Whose philosophy is overwhelmingly sympathized with in the media--and I don't just mean journalism, I mean movies, music, books, plays, magazines, television--the left or the right? Whose "progressive" vision has inched the world closer and closer to socialism; who champions the collective over the individual (and if you can't see the logical error with THAT then you are beyond hope), the left or the right?

Grow up.

John C · 1 year ago

People typically use the word "elite" for any small class of people who hold themselves above others, whether by virtue of economic position, education, occupation, athletic ability, social skills, or anything else. When the term is applied to any given group, the implication is often that they are somehow out of touch with most other people who do not share their lofty status. It is in that sense that the term "elite" is used perjoratively.

The term "intellectual elite" then does not refer to anybody who is highly intelligent, but to anybody who takes an intellectual (especially a political) position that is seen to be outside of the mainstream of society, or out of touch with what "common" people think. [Although the term "common people" is a bit insulting by itself -- conjuring up images of of uneducated and unwashed masses that lack the brainpower to understand the attitudes of the -- intellectual elite!] When people like Bill Maher or any member of the overwhelmingly left-wing academy stand up and equate their status as "intellectuals" with being somehow above the masses, they show that the label is deserved.

Note that nobody wold apply the term "intellectual elite" to a brilliant mathematician or scientist [unless perhaps that individual also spouted condescending political drivel frequently, in which case the latter wold be the source of the label]. Nobody advocates stupidity. And nobody thinks that being smart makes one worthy of condemnation.

Intelligent people come from all walks of life. Quite a few of them hold down productive jobs rather than, say, spend their time writing treatises on marxist eco-feminism or some such thing. So to anybody inclined to shout from the rooftops how intellectually elite they are, please continue to do so. The rest of us will know exactly what you mean.

Poster4 · 1 year ago

thought you might be interested in this: http://www.criticalthinking.org/files/Fallacies...
it shows how people who try to be one of the "common people" intend to manipulate them for their own interests. obviously, it's the case with politicians. your article is a great example of it

Articate · 1 year ago

Roark is the saddest troll I've seen in a while. If he's not a troll, he's even more sad.

Oh, now I'm gonna be called a leftie and be told I probably have the worldst tiniest wiener.



:(

scytherius · 1 year ago

Wrong. It has DESTROYED America. America revels in it's ignorance. Pity. it used to be a country worth a damn.

Rivan · 1 year ago

I find it vastly amusing that so many people flock to the idea of being stupid. By simple contrast, every time that an anti-intellectual cries wolf against the 'elite' to the rest of Americans, they're really calling those people morons, and they cheer all the while.

Honestly, though, the terms 'elite' and 'intellectualism' doesn't offend me. If someone calls me that, I feel sympathy and pity that someone considers intelligence such a negative trait.

Willy · 1 year ago

The smartest people I've ever known are atheist (or occasionally agnostic), slightly conservative people with mostly libertarian ideas. That is all.

Bojan · 1 year ago

Why don't you americans finally admit it to yourselves and the world: G. W. Bush was elected fair and square and he is a person an average citizen of the states would happily invite home for a drink. You're the same as the germans in the 1930's. Self righteous, warlike and stupid enough to be persuaded you're actually under threat. And you actually have the nerve to label Dubya, a war criminal by any count, a pragmatic politician. Hello?! Adolf Hitler, anyone, final solution?! Just don't be surprised if you find yourselves facing the "allies" from the wrong side of the gun. Germans were thought to be invincible too, but look what happened.

Meanjean · 1 year ago

What's the answer then, Obama & the dem's SOCIALISM. Hell, NO! That's pissing on the fire with gasoline.

We need free-market capitalism along with social liberalism.

I for one (seems I'm the only one) vote ONLY Libertarian.

(BTW: Bill Maher is a closet Libertarian. His judgment in supporting Dems is clouded by his extreme hatred of the bushman.)

David Keech · 1 year ago

You piss gasoline ?

I think I may have just figured out how to end America's dependence on foreign oil...

Semuta · 7 months ago

Uh-oh. Someone used the Magic Word!
Socialism! That's bad because the bad people used it! Mister President Man told me so (more than a decade ago).
Seriously, man. At least TRY to avoid being spoon-fed overused propaganda.

Mark · 1 year ago

I tottaly agree with you, even though i do not consider myself part of the elite or even particularly educated i still take pity to what is happening in America, not enough people take pride or intrest in learning in the west anymore i think this is because of the wealthy status that the "west" has acquired, inteligence and education are no longer needed if you can live of wellfare. However this won't last be sure America is going to face bad times if it doesn't do something about its slip into mediocricy soon, i mean lately i read a thread on a forum saying that "I heard tanks invaded georgia and there is fighting im scared what should i do?" Under further inquiry it was found out that he meant the state of georgia not the nation. Or Bush's speech to harvard where he said he was always a C student and actually took pride in it.

America was founded by some of the most respectable and perhaps most intellectual people of that time but it has become the alughing stock of the world because of the blatant ignorance and lack of education some people show, it doesn't help that the president obviously has problems expressing himself as various books of "bushisms" show.

Overall i think that elite and intellectual should be taken as compliments not as insults and that people should be able to take pride in their education.

p.s. sorry for various spelling mistakes i'm a non-native speaker.

Steve · 1 year ago

It's true, we're screwed. Vote Democratic!

vixen · 1 year ago

well call me an Elitist, egghead, intellectual!!!
I would rather be that ..

Having said that... is anyone else scared to death of what will happen if McCain takes the White House?

Colbert Agent · 1 year ago

You will stop using the name "Steve".

JOHNSON · 1 year ago

IF U R BEIN RACIST...I AM A NIGGER HOMIE AND U BETTER WATCH OUT BITCH CAUS IMO GETCHUR STINKY WHITE ASS

johnson · 1 year ago

sup homie....a got maself anew cadllac..wimme new spinners...we rockin downtown wid ma homies...party like a rockstar...ttttotally djude..whazziz think shit...imo go get maself sum busta rhymes n sum cheese burgers..so long mo'fucxkers

David Keech · 1 year ago

In response to the actual article (as opposed to about half the comments here, posted by or replying to one "Roark") I have found that in Australia, the anti-intellectualism is strong and healthy in high school up to about the age of 18. (although many on the anti-intellectualists leave school at 16.)

After this age, even the ones who left school early begin to respect intelligence in others.

Australia does seem to be somewhat anti-nepotism. Controversies hit the news here from time to time about things like the "old boys network" where these old boys are all keeping each other in power and giving each other kick-backs. While that may appeal to some people because it indicates that anyone can gain power if they just know the right people, most Australians seem to realise that because they don't already know the right people then they won't be able to gain any power and that this system puts incompetent people in charge of the country.

Strangely though, anti-nepotism as we are, we voted to keep the Queen as our Head of State which kind of makes her the world's only democratically elected monarch.

It seems to me that this anti-nepotism is a learned trait that is learned from the media. The media portrays these old-boys networks in a negative light and the people see and believe what they are shown. Of course, the media isn't some external entity. It is us. (Or, at least, some of us.) Which means that there must be a positive feedback loop where the media is anti-nepotism because the people are and the people are because the media tells them to be.

I suspect this is true of America and anti-intellectualism as well.

The sort of thing that would be needed to break out of this feedback loop would be a strong-willed leader of a powerful media group that could impose his will on all of the reporters and columnists to present the message that intelligence is a positive trait and not a negative one. The media group would have to be powerful enough to tell the people what they didn't want to hear and still stay in business. That's a tough ask but if anyone can achieve that, I believe that person would be an American.

ln · 1 year ago

Have you noticed most Americans look for the "average Joe" to hold public office? Presidential candidates try to appear as average -- "non-elitist," so to speak -- as possible, because we vote for the person you can go have a beer with. Since when was mediocrity and incompetence a job requirement? I'm no Obama supporter, but his rhetoric definitely hits closer to home than McCain's.

To the author: I would have appreciated more original content with links to the original quotes, rather than a huge block quote and a few sentences. If it is the "elite intellectuals" you speak to, you can act in good faith that we have the capability to click a link and read the words ourselves.

jeber · 1 year ago

I'll keep that in mind on future posts. Thanks for the feedback. Sometimes I
want to bring an article to the attention of my readers and don't have much
to add to the article's content.

Mykle · 1 year ago

An intelligent man has no need for religion. Rather elitist, that intellectual equals atheistic. What is wrong with Religion? Fundamentalism is in essence anti-intellectual, but religion itself is still viable. Call it my opinion, but anything stated by a person is only an opinion.

Steve · 1 year ago

I like the post but just one thing to note - Gore and Bush had the same/similar grads in Harvard/Yale and Kerry was a mostly D student in government...so please don't say that they would have made a better President based on grades and linguistics.

http://www.insidepolitics.org/heard/heard32300....
you can google it yourself if one source isn't good enough.

Kim · 1 year ago

The USA has not been aspirational for a long time - this is the reason why .

Hillery · 1 year ago

While I certainly didn't think I was the only one who questioned the use of the word "elite" as an insult, I am invigorated by the anger and resentment. Take back elite! It literally means "the best of". Seriously, any politician who tries to insult someone like that deserves to be kicked out of whatever branch of government they crawled out of. I am disgusted by the resentment some politicians and their constituents express toward people who commit the unpardonable sin of being exceptional. Especially as it is indicative of an assumption that the average American is unable to understand the value of intelligence. Even more, that the average American seems genuinely to believe "guts" and "heart" really are more important than the ability to think for oneself.

Maverickpoet · 1 year ago

I wonder at times about the level of intellectual thought vs the non-intellectual thought. It is a wonder that even though we, as intellectuals, grew up shunned aside from the mediocrity of growing up and life due to our "dreams" and "insights" of life, but now find ourselves submitted to real life media's lack of intellectual thought. As if that were the norm? Elite vs someone that actually think outside of the box of mediocrity?
...
In what world does that lack of thought make sense? You seek to define intellectual thought vs non-intellectual thought vs Elitism based on merely the premise of schooling or education vs the the content of the premise of the thought. How you fail to comprehend that the intellectual actually thinks such thoughts to not only see all sides of whatever issue they perceive, but seek other points of view to quantify or disprove their own thoughts.
...
Epiphany in the truest sense of the word would cry murder at the abortion of thought that you would insinuate. I am apalled. Why not find another concept to simply destroy with your simple lack of contention? Would the world being flat be next vs round? Poetry vs gimmick? Music genius vs musical versions of stupidity?
...
How low it seems to have some "intellectuals" fallen that now one can decry "non-intellectualism" as the norm of what is the mainstay of thought. To you, I salute...for I've never had a grander laugh. Next time that you open your fortune cookie, I'm sure your next doctorate will be in there. The "flight of icarus" comes to mind, how high is the sky for one who dreams? Yet you would not even allow Icarus or his father to ponder it, you'd simply say that mediocrity is the norm. Man walks, therefore we are sought amongst the grains of earth. Yet, dreams and words have power...i feel sorry for those who cannot perceive these words. To you, the true injustice has been done...for you live within the box of mediocrity.

Gmarkc · 1 year ago

Roark
Would you please repeat that stuff about McBush and Fluff rolling into the White House. That is as funny now as it was a month ago...

Michael Tenery · 1 year ago

This is one of the great problems in America. We need to value education again. When we were in our cold war with Russia we focused on science and mathematics and engineering fearing a knowledge gap with the Russians. Now we have let og of all that and we are flushing generations of children down the tubes. No great nation can remain so without education and desire to improve oneself. Thank you for writing this.

Bubba · 1 year ago

Intellect? Isn't that the company that makes computers? What was the question again?

PJ! · 11 months ago

Our education system is in shambles! But really I wish they would teach one thing well: Learning is fun in all areas of life, and you can teach yourself and figure out things for yourself. That insight, combined with some rudiments, will allow anyone to self-direct themselves towards education which won't require the tyranny of schoolteachers.

kate · 11 months ago

I agree, but where do we go from here? the trouble is the people who think usually dont act and the people who act quite often dont think.

To know but not to act is not to know at all, to act but not to know is not to act at all.

I want to do more!

logan9 · 11 months ago

The GOP is WAS well on their way to 'dumbing down America,' enough is enough! Terrorists kill relative few in relation to Heart Disease, Poverty, and Disease. You would think Science would have a greater priority.

N · 11 months ago

In my psychological assessment class last semester, we learned that our average IQ's in Canada are significantly higher than the average IQs in America (as measured by the WAIS-III standardized intelligence test). What is frightening about this is that such a drift suggests intellectual deterioration in the U.S has gone beyond mere neglect of the education system (WAIS-III measures FLUID intelligence as well as education-acquired "crystallized" intelligence). It is growing entrenched. The potential de-emphasis of intellectualism among parents may even have the potential to affect their children's neural development, leading to a generational chain reaction of.....increasing stupidity. You guys have GOT to fight to fix this situation. Deteriorating intelligence in a country whose economy is based largely on technological innovation, science, and leadership could lead to a devastating collapse, and widespread loss of global influence. Indeed, it's already begun.

While the term "elite" bugs me because it implies a "better than" connotation, perhaps this is partly due to the perception that elites are aristocrats born to privilege or power, rather than leaders forged by learning, hard work, and passion. If we could re-define "elitism" as a term more indicative of merit than money, power, or breeding, I wouldn't cringe so hard at its use.

Dave · 11 months ago

I would just like to say that a belief in God (in my case a Christian) does not negate the intellect or an understanding of science.

That Christ died in my place for my sin does not stop a glorious appreciation of all things scientific. A Creator does not negate the ideas of Darwin he just adds to the wonder of our Planet. I don't need to deny Dinosaurs to appreciate the Adam and Eve story. Nor does it render Christ dead.

Just needed to put the record straight

Thanks

The Virus of Monte Christo. · 11 months ago

I wish I could name the orator I heard this from but I can't (cos I drink unchristian volumes of christ-blood). Whoever it was though, proper crystalized the conundrum we're facing here:

If you need brain surgery, you want an elite surgeon.
If you need to get off a wife beating charge, you want an elite lawyer.
If you want to win a world championship, you want an elite sportsperson.

Ergo: If you want a world leader - you want an idiot.

If you think you stand a chance arguing with this kind of logic, you're a bigger fool than your subject matter.

Adam Everett · 11 months ago

Jesus Holy Christ, please save us from people who rail against anti intellectualism yet cannot use commas correctly. They know not the irony of their ways.

lori · 11 months ago

John Stewart said........."if you do this job right your face will be carved into the side of a mountain"......of course our president should be an intellectual elite!

LakotaJames · 11 months ago

What bothers me is that someone could write an article about intellectual people with out doing any fact checking." Dictatorships (communism, fascism, etc.)" Communism is not the same thing as dictatorship.


Communism is a socioeconomic structure and political ideology that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property in general.[1][2][3] Karl Marx posited that communism would be the final stage in human society, which would be achieved through a proletarian revolution. "Pure communism" in the Marxian sense refers to a classless, stateless and oppression-free society where decisions on what to produce and what policies to pursue are made democratically, allowing every member of society to participate in the decision-making process in both the political and economic spheres of life.



A dictatorship is usually defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator, without hereditary ascension. It has three possible meanings:

1. Roman dictator was a political office of the Roman Republic. Roman dictators were allocated absolute power during times of emergency. Their power was originally neither arbitrary nor unaccountable, being subject to law and requiring retrospective justification. There were no such dictatorships after the beginning of the 2nd century BCE, and later dictators such as Sulla and the Roman Emperors exercised power much more personally and arbitrarily.
2. A government controlled by one person or a small group of people.
3. In contemporary usage, dictatorship refers to an autocratic form of absolute rule by leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state.

Ben · 10 months ago

Wow, so true, I consider myself an intellectual, and i wish I could say those words you speak of. I love to learn, knowledge is my ecstasy. However, my ADD prevents me from being able to speak or write like this. A statement like this would have taken me weeks to write just to get the words to the way I was thinking.

So I thank you for compilling one of the better articles ive read in a while.

Thanks

nate · 10 months ago

Learn another language and leave the country with a degree in international affairs... Already got my minor in Spanish and working on a bachelors close to the other bachelors too... Quarter of the way their....

Ceres · 10 months ago

I'm out on the intellect as supreme ruler. I'm done listening to people who think because they are intellectual are higher beings. Stop with high v. low-judgment, that only works on morals. Both have serious points to defend. Without emotion there would be no intellect. Emotions used as goals are what upsetting. To me, they have and always will be means to get to higher understanding. Without intellect, emotions would run wild, going nowhere fast.
As for knowledge, I met an awful lot people who think they know everything because they went to college while anyone with sense knows: the more you know, the less you know. But admitting that is not an option for 'intellectuals' who have to maintain a degree of air and keeping up appearances. My son, at the highest form of education here in Holland, learns about Latin, ancient Greek, microbiology etc. But he can't calculate the groceries out of his head. He learns no daily-used words that anyone who did not received proper education can understand, making an enormous gap between him and simpler ones. He has no clue how to apply all his knowledge and turning it into wisdom. That is not his fault, there's only so much time at school, I tend to it myself. But don't tell me intellectuals should rule, because they tend to be pretty boring, predictable and uncaring with their
(useless) knowledge spreading all over the place.
Have you missed out on the credit crunch? Anyone who would have cared, would not have let this happen. But they were dismissed with the message "there is no place for the likes of you, softie". There's more than the intellectual daggers. There's more than the feast of hedonism.

Alexander · 7 months ago

At the root of the problem lies obscurantism, propagating irrational standards for shame and pride.

Steve · 7 months ago

Some people saw it coming a long time ago. See "The Marching Morons" by C. M. Kornbluth. It was originally published in the April 1951 Galaxy Magazine. Of course, Kornbluth was far from the first. The idea of keeping the Mob content in its ignorance is at very least as old as the Roman Empire.

Phil E. Drifter · 7 months ago

You do yourself a great disservice by grouping those who believe in flying saucers with those who believe in evolution; they're not mutually exclusive, I graduated high school 73rd out of 435 students in my class without even trying, while playing tenor sax for my first 3 years, and being involved on stage crew for all 4, culminating with the position of Stage Manager my senior year until I graduated. Getting back to the topic...

Of course I believe in evolution, without a doubt. I also, without a doubt, believe in 'flying saucers,' or, more correctly, extraterrestrial life. Without a doubt we are not alone in the universe. Does that qualify me for your 'stupid americans' group?

I'm not even going to read past the 2nd paragraph of your argument, it looks like YOU need to go back to grade school to learn how to write coherent papers.

martin stebbing · 7 months ago

If you want to have a good chuckle and also see one possible result of the right wing hatred of intellectualism (is intellectualism speaking with a full mind rather than just a full mouth?) check out the movie "Idiocracy"; It pretty much sums up what'll happen to humanity if "The Dumb Trend' continues.

Diver · 7 months ago

I am so relieved to know there are others out there who feel the same.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

Thank you for a brilliant observation. I value and cherish the intellectual as you so succinctly described it. Problem being that most dont even aspire to comfortable mediocrity.
I fear for mankind when art, culture, the sciences and literature are seen as elitist. We now have a culture of would be sportsmen and women. Nothing wrong with sports but at the cost of thought and a the need for knowledge that benefits all rather than the chosen team.
Politics and religion plays to the ignorance as you so correctly put it. Thats how its been for thousands of years. Its a form of control.
Thanks again.

Steph · 6 months ago

Wow...for an article about the dangers of anti-intellectualism, that second statement was very un-intellectual and extremely uninformed. I think understanding that one is ignorant is far better than pretending that one knows things that he clearly knows nothing about.
In fact, followers of religious faiths are just like the rest of America: some are book smart, some aren't. Those who rise to the places of preachers and theological teachers, etc. (or even students who just want to further their education and understand their faith better), undergo rigorous work in college and seminary. Being one of those people, I know first-hand what kind of an education they actually get. Yes, we study our Bible. We revert to elementary school as we re-learn how to properly diagram sentences, read things in context, understand syllogisms...After all, it takes more than a pre-formed bias to know what the text actually says. We also study history. History through the eyes of the Church, and history through secular eyes. We study literature. Again, secular and sacred. Assuming one goes to a Bible-teaching institution, what is the point of teaching anything other than the Bible or spiritual things? Ah yes, because we live in the world. We need to be learning what the world is learning. We will get no where if we are lightyears behind the education of secular institutions. We will not get the same jobs, we will be looked down on for our ignorance, and we just won't be of any use. Admittedly, there are a select few in the faith (who unfortunately tend to be louder than the rest of us) who do reject any education. That is just irresponsible, and that is all that needs to be said. Again, what is taught in private schools/seminaries is the same as that which is taught in secular schools. We learn math, English, science, music, art, and so much more all through 1) the lens of Scripture and 2) the lens of our world.
So as for contestant #2's opinion on these matters, I would like to say again how disappointed I am at his assertions. "Religion is an obvious one, of course, since being intelligent and learning makes one less likely to accept arguments from authority, and to question unproven assertions." I would just like to know what Christian he talked to and got this bull from. No one I know, for sure. Sounds like a pre-conceived notion that he hasn't bothered to check the facts on to see that this mindset simply does not exist in today's Christian view.
As to the subject matter, I couldn't agree more. If there is anyone who has such anti-intellectual opinions, I hope that he/she is not in a place of power. Education brings us farther and helps us judge more clearly the path that should be taken. I enjoyed reading these differing opinions, but I just ask that you be a little more responsible before posting on things which you know not about.

v · 4 months ago

remember please that half of us are below average.

slrman · 1 month ago

The "Dumbing down of America" has been going on for some time. It is lead by the religious reich to whom thinking and intelligence spell doom. The media are eager helpers as anyone reading print media or watching TV can observe.

It's no wonder that countries like China and Japan are assuming leadership positions in technology and science. Goodbye, America. Hello Asia World.

Matt · 1 month ago

Thank you for writing this, I've been trying to make my friends understand that "elitist" is just another derogatory right-wing word for "intelligent." It really is tragic how, just like highschool, it's uncool to be smart. It's jealousy and stupidity rolled up into one big clusterfuck of dumb. Thank you for this post, I'll be sure to forward this to my friends.
-A fellow elite.

Roark · 1 year ago

"An intellectual isn’t necessarily someone more intelligent or with more knowledge than the norm. It just means that the person highly values the mind, thinking, and the pursuit of knowledge."

I completely concur with that assessment.

It is often a quandary to me as to why self described "intellectuals" feel compelled to stake out their moral high ground in the anti-war movement.

The peace movement is not an intellectual exercise. It is a vehicle for those who seek moral superiority.

A person is not intellectually superior for advocating peace, nor is one intellectually inferior for advocating war.

The ultimate irony is that so many self righteous, self anointed, "intellectuals" cannot divorce themselves from their anti-war dogma long enough to see the brilliance in using Iraq as a theater of war.

A true "intellectual" examines all sides of an issue.

The typical anti war "intellectual" uses the peace movement as a religion and makes heretics of those who dare to challenge their assertions.

I value the pursuit of knowledge. I also value the need to maintain order. I don't run from people who cross me. The United States should not run from her adversaries. The United States should be in the business of eliminating those who threaten The West.

Saddam Hussein smiled when he learned of the attacks of 9-11-01. A little more than 2 years later he was being pulled out of a hole near Tikrit. Three years after that he was swinging from a rope.

America handles business and that makes me proud.

"Intellectuals" on the Left like to throw rocks and then hide their hands. They are in fact, cowards. That is why they despise men of action like President Bush.

Caldwing · 1 year ago

Basically there are 2 kinds of people who are Republicans: Ignorant red-necks make up the majority. But not to be discounted are people who are educated and maybe even intelligent, but are total assholes.

Roark seems to be an example of the latter (though intelligent might be a stretch). Most likely raised in a wealthy or military family, he has no ability whatsoever to empathize with the suffering of others.

As for Saddam, I hope he realizes that not only did America put him in power in Iraq, they supported him militarily for years as a check against Iran. The vast majority of his humanitarian crimes (he really -was- a horrible guy) occurred while he had the full support of the US government. Only when he stopped being obedient to his masters in Washington did he become labeled a villain and Iraq was invaded. What followed after the first Gulf war was a brutal campaign of trade sanctions imposed by the US that led to a tripling of the infant mortality rate in Iraq. This was intended to turn the people against Saddam and foment revolution, but in fact it only strengthened his position because his people were now too poor to fight back. All of these facts are verifiable public knowledge, not wild conspiratorial speculation.

All this and it's no wonder he might have smiled on 9/11. I am not trying to defend Saddam, who was genuinely evil, but simply demonstrate that US foreign policy here was not justified, moral, or well executed.

Roark · 1 year ago

Caldwing.......you are a typical Leftist.

You probably don't even fight back when you are being raped because you are concerned about the plight of the raper.

Pathetic.

You sissies on the Left best take your medicine because McCain just sewed up this election with his selection.

At least 4 more years of kicking in doors, splitting wigs, and keeping the world in check.

Nohbdyuno · 1 year ago

I like how instead of defending your point, you attempt to demean anyone who posts a rebuttal. To quote you, it is quite "pathetic."

Roark · 1 year ago

Nohbdyuno ......There is nothing for me to defend. I come from a place of reality, not pacifist fantasy.

My job is to turn the water cannon on the anti-war circle jerk that takes place on sites such as this.

Make sure you take some extra Seconal tonight because I am sure the trajectory of the McCain-Palin ticket has all you hippies in a tizzy.

Tizzed Hippy · 1 year ago

Roark,

I will admit, when I first learned of McCain’s VP choice I was slightly intimidated. A 44-year-old female is just what he needs to tap into Clinton’s supporters, right? Yes, but that is a little miscalculated; if he really wanted to pander toward women he should have been a little subtler. I am an ‘elite’ woman who cannot be bought by estrogen.

It was a panicky, irrational decision made in response to the attention Sen. Obama received when he announced his VP choice. His entire candidacy up to this point has been in response to Sen. Obama. He is petty and selfishly ignored the seriousness in his decision.

Furthermore, Palin’s background barely exists. It’s sad she is going to be subjected to the disparagement of the entire nation; she is being used, and from what I can tell, deserves better.

The polls have already taken off again. But what will really be interesting is when we can get to more substantive issues. With respect to Palin, she has no chance against Biden in October. Mitt Romney would have been a much better choice.

-Tizzed Hippy
GALLUP.com

Roark · 1 year ago

Tizzed Hippy.......put down whatever your are smoking because Palin has more experience than your man Obama.

Any attempt by Obama to portray Palin as unqualified will only highlight Obama's own lack of qualifications, experience, and track record.

Palin runs a state that is home to billion dollar industries such as energy production and commercial fishing.

Obama only runs for office. Palin runs a government.

Sorry Hippy.

Since Obama won't be cutting you a welfare check I guess you will have to go back to selling blood.

Tizzed Hippy · 1 year ago

Number one: ellipsis use three periods. It's not me being an intellectual, it's me using basic grammar and expecting you to do the same. There really is no excuse, especially in the context of this conversation, so stop.
* Also, you said, 'your are smoking'- that is incorrect, stop it.

Two: I am not smoking anything, I do not sell blood, and I am not receiving a welfare check, I'm paying into yours.

Three: Her education pales in comparison to Obama's, and you know it. She was a City Council Member for four years, a Mayor for six, in a town that was smaller in population than my high school and has been Governor of one of the least populated states in the country for two years.

Please explain to me how questioning Palin's obvious lack of experience will 'highlight Obama's own lack of qualification'

And do refrain from personal attacks, it weakens your argument and makes you sound stupid.

jeber · 1 year ago

What we all need to do is quit feeding the trolls and return to substantive
comments on the original post. I have no problem with people disagreeing
with me, but I'd appreciate it if they took a few moments to post a
meaningful and sensible argument against my posts, and not just reiterate
cliches and jargon that offer no thoughtful content. Name calling and
bluster are poor substitutes for thinking. All it accomplishes is to provide
evidence that supports the contentions in the original article.

Roark · 1 year ago

What you mean is you want to continue your circle jerk of agreement without interruption.

This is a typical Leftist site where dissenting opinion is dismissed, belittled, and eventually censored.

Pete · 1 year ago

Roark

I don't think you are going to make any friends here especially by using the same labels we hear so much on your favorite network, Fox News.

Am I grateful for you call to duty? Sure.

I think what us "pseudo intellectual dirty hippy" types get upset about is that we BELIEVE that this war is for the wrong reasons. Kill enemies? Great. But lets not kill just because its fun, and great for the military contractors and Big Oil, which now RUN this country and spew out propaganda galore.

It is NOT leftest elitism to question our own actions, buddy.

Just because YOU feel no remorse over killing innocent people doesn't mean others will.

And that's the point.

Isa · 1 year ago

No, it's just that you're repeating yourself and it's getting kind of boring. Go home now, sweetheart. No one cares.

Sonya · 1 year ago

Hey roark,

You might think milfs and raping women is funny but you're just a scared little man hiding in a world WITHOUT reality.

Roark · 1 year ago

You don't like Milf's?

Are you ageist or are you jealous because you are unattractive?

blondlot · 1 year ago

"Saddam Hussein smiled when he learned of the attacks of 9-11-01. A little more than 2 years later he was being pulled out of a hole near Tikrit. Three years after that he was swinging from a rope.

America handles business and that makes me proud."
---
Let me rewrite that for you.

Saddam Hussein isn't from around here and he's a real dick quasi-celebrity who, by virtue of his proximity to the actual terrorists we were told we were sending troops to root out, sorta had something to do- kinda, a little, if you really squint and huff a little more paint- with 9/11. Plus we fought a war against him a while ago, so that made it ok. Two years later he was found in a hole. Three years later he was hung, which has nothing to do with our mission in Iraq, but hey, one less uppity sand nigger, am I right?

America has no fucking clue what it's doing. It's currently a thoughtless Barbarian, raging through the countryside, chopping off the heads of anyone who looks sorta like the guy it's pissed at, and that makes me proud.
---

MaCrazy · 1 year ago

WOW! if I met this kid Roark in person, boy oh boy....

Hey Roark!!! If you really want to do this country a favor don't reproduce. Thanks!

Roark · 1 year ago

I won't reproduce as long as your mom keeps swallowing.

Nick · 1 year ago

Roark is either taking the p**s or is totally mental. Maybe both.

Barrack · 1 year ago

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/properties/Wuerk...

wolfsea · 1 year ago

Hey, yanks

What the rest of the world thinks about the Iraq invasion can be found here ...

http://cagle.msnbc.com/working/080728/cam.jpg

Roark · 1 year ago

Why should I give a damn about what other countries think of the U.S?.

Most of these two bit countries are jealous of the American lifestyle.

I don't take financial advice from the homeless and I damn sure do not want to take military advice from France.

wolfsea · 1 year ago

Whoa, Roark you sound pissed off. Here take some of these, they might help: http://www.umbrage.org/index.php

The homeless are homeless because of people who think and behave like you. Why don't you think about the homeless INSIDE your country?

You don't have to take advice from a 1000 year old kingdom/empire/republic/nuclear-super-power. But it would be wise to LEARN from it. Why don't you watch Michael Moore's "Sicko"? And don't you gimme any of those republican-democrat American terms cuz they don't mean shit to me. That film, regardless of it's political view made a clear statement on your system. I regret saying this, but I almost felt sorry for the rest of the Americans who cannot have proper treatment, because people like you won't support universal health-care.

Do you know what a fascist regime cannot tolerate besides criticism? Satyre and sarcasm! And you sir, as the supporter of a Nazi-wannabe government, are about to get really angry.

Okay, then here's the truth about the current government of the USA: http://www.worthalaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2...

And about the aforementioned "survival-of-the-fittest" issue, and the dumb-ass "reproduction" insult: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/EPH/83...

OK people, try and figure out which of the following 10 persons could possibly match Roark:
http://top10kid.com/2008/04/14/top-10-shirts-to...

Usually I don't take or make things personal, but I can't help it when there's irony and humor involved. Uhm, I can guess what kind of response I should expect ...

Roark · 1 year ago

wolfsea.......you seem to enjoy making yourself feel superior and special due to your concern for your fellow man.


You evidently have some sort of hole in your soul that you attempt to fill with contrived empathy for others.

The vast majority of the homeless and the un-insured are solely responsible for their own plight. They engage in irresponsible actions and they need to be held accountable.

They are failures.

The system is not failing them.

It is evil to perpetuate failure. Natural selection should be allowed to eliminate these defectives from the gene pool.

wolfsea · 1 year ago

Tyyyyyyyyyyyyyyypical ...................
Exactly, what I was expecting. Wow. I dunno how old you are, but if there were such a thing as a "previous" life you would have definitely been an officer in the SS Totenkopf. Or a KKK Grand Dragon? Oh, you would love that wouldn't you? If life was an RPG (a Role Playing Game, not a warhead) you would belong to the "Lawful Evil" alignment.

quote: "The vast majority of the homeless and the un-insured are solely responsible for their own plight." Yeeeeeeeeeaahhhhh ..... it makes sense !!! THEY WERE BORN POOR !!! And what should the state do about it? Eh Roark?

Compartmentalised opinions, organised thought. Quite educated and somewhat cultivated, although a strict bastard. That's you. I even bet that you belong to those shotgun militias? I would say that you are a pretty intelligent neo-fascist if it weren't for your Contradiction: I don't feel superior when sympathising with others. I ... just ... feel. Rings a bell? Feelings anyone?

THIS GUY FEELS LIKE ASKING YOUR COUNTRY FOR A CHANGE:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/black_guy_...

There he is again, ready to duke it out with ... he ... err ... is that the other candidate? McGain or whatever ...
http://psa.blastmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads...

Let me give you a free hint. Honour your enemies and those who you think are inferior to you. They might just do the same. Then again maybe not.

Thaaaaaat's my good Naziboy!!!!!!! Now roll-over and scoff all you want.

Ryke · 1 year ago

Pffffhahahahaha.

I took the time to answer properly to a couple of your posts, but this is where it stops. It's like you refuse to know things on purpose because they go against your ideal of complete and baseless moral superiority.

MaCrazy · 1 year ago

From me my friend, you receive accolades and a standing ovation. Thanks you for you're insight and I appreciate you taking the time out of your life to waste on this scum-bucket Roark.

wolfsea · 1 year ago

MaCrazy friend, it is my pleasure. Being on the other side of the Atlantic and taking off a shitload on fascists. Now that makes me feel .... eh .... superior ... errr .... to them.!

Roark · 1 year ago

All you people do is make excuses and create an environment that encourages failure.

I was born poor, now I am not.

Anybody able bodied person who fails to make it in the United States has nobody to blame but themselves.

You bleeding hearts all have too much time on your hands. I suggest you go join the Peace Corps and let the real men continue to handle business for America.

Roark · 1 year ago

wolfsea ........you aren't even American?

Then keep your mouth shut.

You are probably just another loud mouth Euro living off a government welfare check.

wolfsea · 1 year ago

Europe has seen a lot of shit, including the birth of National-socialism, which seems to be on the rise in the US. (pssst, Roark there's a spotlight on you)

About alignments, here you go, you nazi prick (don't deny being both):
http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/06/09/f...

Me? I'm just another poor guy out of work, who is being drafted in the armed forces. Yeah. You got it pansy-ass. Compulsory military service, gets you thinking eh? If all American males had to serve in the armed forces, then it's unlikely US politicians would start wars so easily. They wouldn't send their sons to die for a botched 1.3 trillion dollar plan.

OK Roark, you've gathered enough attention for one day. Off you go. You'll be late for the Klansmen gathering.

Towards everyone else:
I don't believe this. It's a matter that doesn't actually involve me AT ALL, yet here I am. Can someone please take over from here? It's 11PM. Enough Nazi wrist-slapping for one day.

And, about the "hey, yanks" opening, don't take it as a derogatory expression. I deeply respect the true depth of real American culture. "G'night and good luck".

Roark · 1 year ago

wolfsea .......you are a pathetic product of your pathetic culture.

I hope you enjoy your miserable existence amid your sub par standard of living.

Your jealousy and envy of America speaks volumes about your character.

You are quite sad.

Roark · 1 year ago

wolfsea blurted out ....i"f all American males had to serve in the armed forces, then it's unlikely US politicians would start wars so easily. They wouldn't send their sons to die for a botched 1.3 trillion dollar plan."

God damn you are an unread fool.

Both McCain and Palin have sons serving in Iraq.

You should worry about Europe getting an ice machine and some dentistry before you comment further on U.S. politics.

engel · 1 year ago

Roark, I find it interesting that you keep insulting anyone who has a different viewpoint than yours. Almost all European countries have better standards of living and healthcare than the U.S. Which includes Dental by the way.

MaCrazy · 1 year ago

I think Roark has validated the original purpose of this forum... that instead of using reason and logic in a meaningful discourse between men, anti-intellectuals revert to baser motives tied to fundamentalism that only ends in an us against them attitude and undoubtedly, as Roark has so gratefully illustrated, name-calling. As the superior wolfsea stated earlier... I can expect what type of response Roark will provide... have at it buddy, and prove us all right again.

Roark · 1 year ago

MaCrazy......get it straight bitch........I don't start with the name calling. Caldwig started by calling me an "asshole".

Unlike you coward hippies I do not back down and I do not let things slide.

I turn it up and stay on offense.

Get used to it bitch.

Roark · 1 year ago

I don't measure standard of living by access to antiquated social programs.

I measure standard of living by net per capita income.

It is quiet telling that you measure quality of life by nanny state services. Very sad indeed.

wolfsea · 1 year ago

I have reached fulfillment.

jeber · 1 year ago

Sorry I can't limit these comments to adults over 18 with at least a high
school education and a functioning brain. Instead we just have to post
around the content-challenged troll.

Roark · 1 year ago

Everybody that disagrees with the so called "intellectuals" on this site is dismissed as a troll. PATHETIC!

jeber · 1 year ago

Sensible disagreement is welcome. You're a troll for a number of reasons.
Primarily, you lie in the face of contrary evidence. You haven't been
censored, yet you cry about it. Since you lie, you lack credibility. Without
credibility, your opinions are worthless.

Semuta · 7 months ago

Oh, gee. Thanks.
So apparently, because I'm 17, and as such, haven't finished high school, I haven't anything relevant to say.
Well, I'm glad you're moderating this site with such fairness.

Jamie · 11 months ago

I'm fed up with you. You sit there self-fellating over how strong and masculine and america-loving you are, defending the Iraq debacle and declaring anyone who has decided that sending brave soldiers to fight for an unjust, unnecessary and ultimately unwinnable war is perhaps not particularly smart as a 'pussy', 'leftist', 'pathetic' and 'america hating'.

Firstly, put your own life where your mouth is and sign up. Go fight for the man you believe to be a 'principled man of action' in the shit storm that is Iraq. Oh you won't? No, you'd rather sit inside, safe and warm, and give yourself a pat on the back for swearing at people who despair of the anti-intellectualism that has decided flushing america's economy and world standing down the shitter is sound foreign policy.
If you spoke to ANY veteran of the Iraqi conflict, you'd probably label them an 'america hating hippy wimp' for their rejection of the war that is tearing families apart and ruining lives. Don't you dare try and group yourself with soldiers braver than you, or, indeed, myself. Support the troops by bringing them home safely, not by sending them to die.

Oh, and how do you feel now about McCain and Palin? Enjoy four years of 'communism'. It'll still be further right than ANYTHING in the civilised world.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

Interestingly, your measures are really messed up today eh?
Here comes another mess bigger than the great depression.Thanks to unbridled greed and ignorance, no not ignorance but blatant stupidity of basic economics.
Ignorance is not knowing stupidy is knowing but carrying on anyway.

n · 1 year ago

I hear this a lot, lately. Certain Americans telling the rest of the world to shut up. I find it both ironic and completely waterheaded that the same people who think opinions about America are reserved only for Americans are the same ones who 1) always seem so proud of highlighting the breakdown of their heritage 2) agree with blundering headlong into ill-conceived conflicts in other parts of the world and 3) delight in telling their own countrymen their opinions are useless too.

Unseeliejester · 1 year ago

Roark, some of your entries on this page begin well. You make a statement that seems as if it could be supported either logically or with some evidence (look up the difference, because there IS one). You then proceed to flame those on this site and label them as "dirty hippies". If you are going to comment, do it in a rational way. If you are going on the offensive, do so by supporting you claims. When someone states that they do not support the war, and then logically supports their statement, don't attack them with unsupported claims. If you think it was a brilliant move to move into Iraq, then provide some evidence to make your claim valid, or at least strong. In what way is America "handling business?"
Provide some logic. Then a true discussion can be held. Until then, you are only shouting in the dark.

Nism.Priest · 1 year ago

Careful, he might call you a Typical Leftist.

@ Roark

Why do you hate peace? You are trying to give peace a bad connotation just like the word elite. There is no reason to go to war when diplomacy can be used.

I'm sure China would like to see us knocked down a few pegs, does that mean we should invade them? Obviously not, because we have such good relations with them (their factories) Our government practices a policy of opportunism. If China didn't supply most of our produced goods, we would surely have forsaken them by now. But they do, so they get to practice their communism uninterrupted.

Anticipating response.

jeber · 1 year ago

Roark was asked to withdraw from this discussion. He has done so. I wouldn't expect a reply any time soon. ;)

Nism.Priest · 1 year ago

I didn't realize that the comments were not chronological, I thought he had been asked to leave and didn't.

Emanuel · 1 year ago

Great Article, I really think this highlights some of the problems in America. I'm only a sophomore in highschool yet I am astonished at the lack of intelligence that America must possess. I pray to god, or whoever is out there, that Roark is just an asshole and doesn't actually believe what he says, because that would really make me cry. How can we hope to have a civilized society when we have the average citizen believing in the ideologies that Roark promotes.

Al · 11 months ago

trust me. Roark doesn't believe a word he says. I have a close friend you acts the same way but doesn't actually believe any of it. It just a way to gain attention and a way to make himself feel like he belongs

Hillery · 1 year ago

I read all the posts and replies on this particular thread, but my mind keeps coming back to this original comment... Obviously you are a troll, because your arguments are easily refuted not only by your "liberal hippie" enemies, but possibly by passing children, if they were asked to. What I am commenting on is your choice of vocabulary. Right in your first post, it is obvious you are straining your intelligence to argue your point. "Big words" only impress small people.

"I completely concur with that assessment."

Hahahahaha. That is truly pathetic. We all very impressed down here, I can tell you. "Quandary"? Really? Next time you want to argue with intellectuals, try to sound less like you're putting on your best suit on your first day of school. Using words you are unfamiliar with smacks disingenuous to the many people who can use those words with confidence, but choose to only use them when necessary. Just saying, I'm sick of people trying to sound more intelligent by awkwardly using words they only half understand.

uh · 11 months ago

when talking about ignorance it's best not to quote the "messiah" Obama. He's just more of the same, with a different face. I think ignorance, in a way is just plain LIVING. Life is a fantasy, and we buy it. case closed wake up!!

Semuta · 7 months ago

"The peace movement is not an intellectual exercise. It is a vehicle for those who seek moral superiority."
So, you're saying moral improvement is not a thing to aspire to?

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

Who´s morality are we talking about here? Not those of unseen Gods and the ignorant I hope. Those who hold Moral superiority as you describe it are those running countries backed by unseen Gods.And look at the unfettered mess it has left.

Baldchemist · 7 months ago

The United states picks its adversaries very well. Small nations with no ability to fight back. Name one war that the US entered against a nation with as much political and weaponry!
Never went to war with the Russians when the rounds for doing so were far more serious than the efforts in Iraque , Vietnam, Korea.

America handles business that makes you proud. HUh delusions of grandeur, megalomania, paranoia, narcssissm and mass ignorance more like. Actions like Bush are desperate because there are no ideas of how to solve problems. The one who raises the fist first is the one without ideas.