Piano World Home Page Forums Restricted and Archives The Coffee Room Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance.

It could easily describe the American voter:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jeffjacoby/jj20041025.shtml

nice link, Jolly, thanks for passing it along.

Nothing new. I was amazed when traveling outside of the US at how well-versed others were in the political activities outside their own country.

I don't know why it is such a US characteristic, but it certainly is.

At what age you your think someone should start to take an active interest in political affairs?

I'm 16 and I haven't been much into politics until just recently. I'd like to be a bit more informed than my idiot friends who base all their views on what they see on humor web-sites, trying to sound intelligent by talking about how much of a dumb*** Bush is because they saw a photoshopped picture of him holding a book upside down. Then they watch Fahrenheit 9/11 and think they're the world's authority on political issues because they say with an air of pseudo-sophistication, "Bush is a traitor and he shouldn't be President because he's an idiot lol".

NAK... I don't know if there's a specific age, but my guess is that it's whenever an individual has the ability to dive deeper into an idea than what they get in a quick sound bite or news clip.

At some point, and you may be there (I'm using "you" generically), you need to become a skeptical, critical thinker. Do your own research. Understand that no one is "unbiased," so discover the biases of the people you are listening to or reading. You may or may not agree with their viewpoints, but you will be more informed.

To me, the key is when you are old enough to understand that being informed is more than reciting facts, but also taking into account bias, your own experience and a good dose of common sense, and ultimately making up your own mind.

Of course, knowing who the Speaker of the House is would help.

NAK,
I don't think you're ever too young to become interested in political affairs/current events. My only suggestion would be to keep an open mind. Listen to all sides. And practice tolerance and respect. And remember that the both right and left fanatics are always spinning so beware. So far, from what I see of your posts on this forum, it seems you're doing all the right things. It's wonderful you're taking such an active interest in these things. Be a voice and listen to other voices.

16? I had the impression you were older. Maybe someday you can move to the US! That would be good IMHO we could use a young citizen such as you.

It's not limited to 16 year-olds. Just today a couple of guys, in their late 40's or early 50's, were outside my office and one was telling the other about how bad Bush was because of the things in F 9/11. The thing is he said stuff that never even appeared in the film. Never mind that the film was filled with deceptions and outright lies. The film is a piece of propaganda that seems to leave many viewers with impressions of things that were never asserted. I was sorely tempted to have a "discussion" with this fellow, but I am management and he is union and that might be misconstrued. But I haven't closed the door on this opportunity yet.

Can you give me some sources that I can show my friends so they will stop trying to slam Bush for what they saw in F 9/11?

I haven't seen it yet, but there is a movie called "Fahrenhype 9/11" that breaks the movie down, detail by detail and also intervews several people (the Oregon state trooper, a soldier, a family member, I believe) who felt completely manipulated and said they had no business being part of that movie.

penny

NAK

The first thing I can refer you to are my reviews here, which I will reference below. They offer my initial impressions along with a few afterthoughts and limited research on some things I questioned. Subsequent to those being posted I have learned a lot more about Moore's lies, which I might get around to posting about soon. In the meantime:

Fahrenheit 9/11, my review - Part I
Fahrenheit 9/11, my review - Part II

Thanks, Gryph. Maybe now I can get my friends to shut up.

So much for my "do your own research, make up your own mind.." advice... :rolleyes:

Nina, when it comes to facts and figures, you don't need to make up your own mind, you just agree with the truth. As for research, I'm sure I could have found the same information elsewhere, but why do that when I can get it faster by asking here.

Gryphon,

very dangerous.

jf

Sorry, you don't get it. Thanks for playing.

You're right, I don't get it. Now for the next contestant on "Get Patronized by Nina"! Woohoo!