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Comment on "Insight On Public Apathy" Remarks

Reader comment on item: State's Terror Untruths

Submitted by Matthew Reid (United States), May 29, 2002 at 15:00

Excellent article, as usual, Dr. Pipes.

In reference to the previous commenter's thoughts regarding newspaper reading...I agree wholeheartedly, but I disagree even more.

The premise is solid. Americans, by and large, have only a superficial knowledge, understanding and awareness of the very issues that impact their lives in very real and powerful ways. We get our information spoon fed to us by the major media outlets which sensationalize, trivialize and bastardize.

The apathetic masses, "dumbed down" over time and deliberately denied tutelage in critical thinking, are beyond uninterested in exploring more than the face value of what they see and hear from the liberal, "progressive" and self-proclaimed "mainstream" press--they are truly unable.

Given the cognitive reasoning skills most Americans have been robbed of in their institutions of lower living, er, I mean, "higher learning", most of us simply are not capable of seeing past the spin, the bias, the manipulation of facts, etc. Too few understand that you cannot believe everything you read, see or hear. And that's the way they want it.

Which brings me to my point. I argue that it's probably a good thing that Americans don't subject themselves to the heavily biased, borderline propaganda that passes for "news" in our papers. Please don't misunderstand, it's not that I revel in the ignorance and apathy running rampant throughout the land. Again, the problem lies in the inability to reason--so prevalent in Americans today.

So perhaps, this lack of interest is a blessing after all. A mixed blessing to be sure, but consider for a moment the universities in this nation. Be assured, they are the same schools you attended--in name only. Once great institutions have allowed themselves to be commandeered by what Roger Kimball calls, "Tenured Radicals". With an estimated 90% of university faculty describing themselves as "liberal", it's a miracle that any student can survive four years of re-education and indoctrination with any semblance of their individual personality and belief system.

So, perhaps, it is a good thing that so many of our students pay far too little attention to what their professors are saying. And, once again, it may be a blessing that Americans read as little as they do.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
I agree wholeheartedly [51 words]Parmia DeeJul 9, 2004 02:5815930
I couldn't agree with you more! [57 words]Robert O'BrienSep 9, 2002 16:152376
The UN Security Council headed by Terror Supporter [171 words]Judi R. CohenJun 6, 2002 18:18580
Response to comments posted by Susie (May 30-"Excerpts...") [551 words]Sam LahiriJun 4, 2002 13:51539
Assistant Secretary Burns is no friend of Israel's [89 words]Michael RifkinMay 30, 2002 20:19528
The US Gov't Hurts the Cause by Not Naming the Enemy [131 words]Frank LukeMay 30, 2002 19:36527
Excerpt of my letter to Bush, Cheney and State Dep't [480 words]SusieMay 30, 2002 15:49526
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You [470 words]M. W. GuzyMay 29, 2002 22:46525
Why does the State Dep't ignore Islam's toxic hatred of the West? [560 words]David GilchristMay 29, 2002 22:25524
Peace on Earth [533 words]JamesFeb 12, 2006 12:17524
Congressional Investigation of State Dept. [98 words]R. LevineMay 29, 2002 20:02521
Apathy All Around [110 words]E. E. MichaelMay 29, 2002 18:52520
HOOAH! [36 words]Howard SimkinMay 29, 2002 16:43519
Source please [73 words]Mike LiverightMay 29, 2002 16:35518
Comment on "Insight On Public Apathy" Remarks [360 words]Matthew ReidMay 29, 2002 15:00517
Insight on Public Apathy [219 words]William J. SturmMay 29, 2002 05:18513
"Palestinian nationalism" [183 words]Gilbert SimonsMay 29, 2002 00:36511
Intentional Deception! [236 words]William J. SturmMay 28, 2002 23:51510
Telling Lies [42 words]Alice Smyth-HopkinsMay 28, 2002 23:31509
Thank God for Daniel Pipes [52 words]Goldie SacksnerMay 28, 2002 22:52507
Your Articles Are an Antidote to Political Correctness [150 words]David l. ThomsonMay 28, 2002 20:50506
Statistics Aren't Enough [259 words]Sam LahiriMay 28, 2002 20:44505
The State Department's Consistent Position [181 words]Glenn KlotzMay 28, 2002 20:35504
Brain on Drugs [104 words]Steven AbramsMay 28, 2002 19:43503
Yes!! Keep Getting the Word Out!! [50 words]Jan BruggemanMay 28, 2002 18:26502
Show the government we're concerned [224 words]Doody KaminskieMay 28, 2002 16:21501
State Department's Pro-Arab Bias [19 words]Arnold H. KlauMay 28, 2002 15:54500
Disturbing... [34 words]Jerry GornishMay 28, 2002 11:35497
Another Great Piece! [47 words]Y. EdelsteinMay 28, 2002 10:51496
Right on! [136 words]Susan Schwartz WaplesMay 28, 2002 10:35494
Please Keep It Up! [38 words]Dixon PorterMay 28, 2002 07:59493
Congressional Hearings about State Should be Convened [27 words]Michael RifkinMay 28, 2002 07:43492
Another Slippery Tactic? [143 words]Rochelle WolfMay 28, 2002 07:32491

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