How we see war

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by Sean

To the point about airing more graphic footage from wars on the news, I personally have a bit of an issue with that. My wife and I are starting to try to have kids, and I don't like the idea that if I had a young child and I was watching the news, they could suddenly be subjected to images of violence on that scale. I get what you guys are saying about driving the reality of war home to people, but I'm not sure that shoving images of it in the faces of children who aren't ready to process the raw pain, death and emotion of it all is the way to go.

yeah I didn't really think about that angle.

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by BeautifulBurnout

Tru dat. Although, to be fair, slavery is no longer a state-sponsored and Vatican-approved activity.

Myrrh - I see where you are coming from. It took me a long while to understand why so many Americans unquestioningly believe they live in the best, most civilised, most popular country in the world. I think it has to do with your education, pledging allegiance to the flag and such - something we never do here. It is almost like finding fault with your own country or the behaviour of its Administration is an act of treason in itself.

Perhaps it is because we have lost an Empire in the UK that we are considerably less patriotic; perhaps because we have so many different countries, languages and cultures on our doorstep, many of which are considerably better than ours; I really don't know what the answer is. But we are, in general, not so prepared to swallow the "Great Britain is best" argument, neither do we baulk from seeing the bad side of ourselves. I repeat, in general, because there are obviously vast swathes of citizens who swallow everything and are patriotic to the last hair in their armpit.

I don't personally have a problem with patriotism. I consider myself to be fairly patriotic. I have a problem with stupidity. I guess what I'm saying is that when americans say they live in the best country in the world, it doesn't come from their patriotism, it comes from their stupidity.

I know this sounds really elitist, but its not because I admit that I am no genius. However, there is a huge difference between me and most of the people that surround me on a daily basis. Unlike most americans, I don't think its ok or even cute to be stupid. Its the willful stupidity, chosen out of some drastically misguided sense of right and wrong, this is what kills me.

And maybe I'm turning into myshkin, but I really have this suspicion that America is corrupted with a culture of willful stupidity, engineered by corporate power.

[Deckard]

Originally Posted by Sean

To the point about airing more graphic footage from wars on the news, I personally have a bit of an issue with that. My wife and I are starting to try to have kids, and I don't like the idea that if I had a young child and I was watching the news, they could suddenly be subjected to images of violence on that scale. I get what you guys are saying about driving the reality of war home to people, but I'm not sure that shoving images of it in the faces of children who aren't ready to process the raw pain, death and emotion of it all is the way to go.

That's true, but let's certainly see it on the 10pm bulletins.

Originally Posted by Strangelet

I know this sounds really elitist, but its not because I admit that I am no genius. However, there is a huge difference between me and most of the people that surround me on a daily basis. Unlike most americans, I don't think its ok or even cute to be stupid. Its the willful stupidity, chosen out of some drastically misguided sense of right and wrong, this is what kills me.

No mate that's not elitist. I consider it ultimately far more damaging when people deny the overwhelming amount of stupidity (by that I mean wilful ignorance) out there - it has to be one of the most potent forms of political correctness going. It should be perfectly legitimate to acknowledge, free of any guilt, that large swathes of people in the richest country in the world show an enormous amount of ignorance when you know that you personally mean no harm and take no pleasure in seeing/saying it. I realise that we don't nurture understanding and education by dismissing people as stupid, but there comes a point - for instance when 'intellectual' is a dirty word - that people have to speak out.

Originally Posted by Strangelet

And maybe I'm turning into myshkin, but I really have this suspicion that America is corrupted with a culture of willful stupidity, engineered by corporate power.

You know it may not be centrally organised in the true conspiratorial sense, but certainly corporate and political entities benefit from the spread of stupidity. (Btw, where is that dude these days? Do you think we came across as sheeple a little too strongly? )

Incidentally, Chuck - not read the article yet, hence no comment to make on it. I'll get round to it...