Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free

Jun 10, 2010 00:08

I just picked this book up a couple of days ago; it's quite amusing, although sometimes difficult to follow for someone who has a dubious grasp of the political and cultural climate of America (especially if the climate is, ya know, in the past).

The author accuses America, particularly conservative America, of no longer valuing intelligence and research. Instead, they choose to allow the "cranks" of America to rule their airwaves and thoughtwaves (I placed "cranks" in inverted commas because that is a keyword of his and not because they're not cranks); people who are basically on the outside fringes of society, mentally and socially. And since cranks are entertaining (ever watch Jerry Springer?) their products sell; their book sales are high, their audience numbers are high. This then leads to people believing in what they have to say and taking that as fact, EVEN THOUGH WHAT THEY SAY HAS NO GROUNDING IN REALITY (YOU KNOW, REALITY? THE PART WITH MOST OF THE COLLEGE GRADS THAT YOU SCORN BECAUSE WELL, THEY'RE INTELLIGENT AND HAVE DATA TO BACK UP THEIR ARGUMENTS?). And then because they believe so earnestly in what they say; plus so many people think that what they say are facts, it becomes Truth.

In essence, being adrift from reality has become the norm - no, it is celebrated in America. Or, in other words, America, You are Stupid.

At this moment, I'm about halfway through the book, and he might get more incisive; I don't know. But he is absolutely spot-on in the bits that I could put my head around (political and cultural ignorance, I plead thee); the sarcasm is a delight to behold.

Another book I would recommend would be God & Gold: Britain, America, and the Making of the Modern World, if only for the sheer lulz of me shipping the personalization of America and Britain in that anime I'm watching. What is it called again? Oh yeah, HETALIA~


And for a bit of a personal rant here; FUCK YOU, Intelligent Design and Creationism are religious-isms wrapped up in a flimsy covering of pseudo-science. Please do not pollute science by trying to associate those frauds with science.

And yes, the Constitution of the United States does stand for the separation of church and state. It's in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, at the very least. I couldn't particularly understand the language, but this is as interpreted by a more modern human in 1947:

In Everson v. Board of Education, Justice Hugo Black held,

'The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect "a wall of separation between church and State."'

Haven't you yet realised how intensely divisive mixing politics and religion can be? You might as well split into thousands of bitty states each with your own state religion if you're gonna carry on like this. Plus, would you want your religion to be about how much power a politician who professes to your religion can grasp from the congregation? Hmmm?

Honestly, I wouldn't give a shit about all this except for the fact that America still leads in research publication. For crying out loud!
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