Mar 25 2008
Think About It…
We live in a society that thrives on bite-sized information packaged for quick consumption, allowing us to bypass the work of reading, interpreting, understanding and criticizing. I’m likely going to offend someone who reads this blog by merely suggesting that America is imperfect (God forbid), but I think one of our biggest problems today is that no one is thinking for him or herself. We rely on Fox and CNN. We care more about celebrities and sports than we do politics. We don’t read the newspapers. We listen to sound bites and endless analysis and let others decide for us.
If ever there were a time to actually spend some time reading and thinking, it is now. Let me suggest you start with Senator Obama’s speech on race. You can watch it on video using the same link, but I urge you take the time to read it. And think about it. And decide for yourself what the real issues of this election are. Decide for yourself what matters. Do you remember writing research papers in high school and college, when you had to cite multiple sources on an issue to prove your point, and then fully address the counter argument to your thesis? There’s a reason they taught us to do that.
I fully agree with you about us being a fast food culture, a sound bite culture. Thanks for sharing. That was a good read… This race between Hilary and Obama has really been something to watch. The firestorm within the democratic party is going to be a real media show when one of the candidates finally calls it quits. I think this race dragging out gives McCain a leg up.
This is an interesting article:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Somebody forgot to tell Hillary Clinton the Democratic presidential race is over and Barack Obama won.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080327/pl_nm/usa_politics_campaign_dc;_ylt=AuWG6fLNg1THtSJ98ekO0yWs0NUE
Brad do you watch Countdown on MSNBC? That and the Daily Show+Colbert is all the news I need.
Brad, you seem (obviously) really fired up and passionate about this election. I feel the same way. Obama spoke in Portland recently — the Bill Richardson endorsement event — and it was amazing. I had wanted to take Cub but lining up at 530 am for a 930 speech is not really possible with a baby as you know. But I watched it and I can’t help but be beyond moved when I hear him talk about working class values. His version of patriotism – one of tolerance and diversity is one that makes me want to put the flag out on my flagpole on the weekends. Maybe even to campaign. Now I live with a Clinton supporter so that complicates things.
But I’m still really optimistic about the election. I think the media sees this tempest in a teapot and loves what it can talk about. But in a world where Clinton “wins” Texas though she gets less delegates, of course the media runs with the horse race story even if it is innacurate.