The Two Cultures....With All Due Respect

www.fredoneverything.net ^ | August 18, 2003 | Fred Reed

[wbill]

As usual, Fred nails it.

[Tax-chick]

Excellent. I resurrected "shiftless" years ago to describe my in-laws; it's nice to see someone else using the word!

[45Auto]

In current society, there are no "bums", just the societal-bred "Homeless"; no one is "stupid", just society's "victims"; there are no insane, just "mentally challeneged" individuals that must be taught as if they were normal; no deranged perverts, just "gender neutrals" who 'prefer' to have sex with "one of their own". We've come a long way, baby!

[RLK]

Beautiful. Until we return to this view, we are doomed.

[neutrino]

Bump!

[sweetliberty]

Excellent article.

[blam]

"As usual, Fred nails it."

Yup, he sure did. I grew up in Alabama in the 50's also.

My only child has a PhD in physics.

[niteowl77]

It's more than education. One doesn't have to be a genius or a good student to be a great citizen, but I will admit that common sense sure helps. My life has been blessed with people who were considered "dumb as a box of rocks" as far as "book learning" was concerned, yet they have been straight arrows in their habits and their jobs, and thus have made good, productive lives for themselves. Character and courage are not determined by education.

One could convincingly argue that a lot of the problems we face in this nation are due to the influences of well (or over) educated people who are simply no damned good, but who know how to kill a culture by leading the gullible and the indolent. Such as, say, the Smartest Woman in America® (PIAPS).

[teldon30]

agreed!!!

[arasina]

Terrific read!

I suggest another word be resurrected: shame.

[Frank_2001]

Excellent article!

[F16Fighter]

Everything is going as planned as per the NEA's socialist/communist take over of the Public School System.

[UncleDudley]

resurrected "shiftless" years ago to describe my in-laws;

LOL!

[Sloth]

Since few people are very stupid

He lost me there.

[Billthedrill]

This one's a keeper. I haven't reached the "contempt" level yet, having painful memories of not-so-recent youthful notions that I was the Smartest Guy In The World - I grew out of them due to a cornucopia of contrary evidence.

But I would certainly use the descriptive "disdain." And maybe "pity," because most of them are too shielded by those who should know better to realize what they're missing. Some have a dim idea. For them there's hope. Because it really doesn't take a great deal to turn it around here in the land of milk and honey - library cards are free, for starters.

And, sadly, if Fred really is an elitist in these matters he'll have to admit that for a significant proportion of the subject population a shallow, nugatory existence is all they're really up to. Due to the efforts of their betters over the years it needn't be an uncomfortable one. I don't think it is they that have gotten under Fred's skin here, but rather the defiantly ignorant who are so happy in their illusions that they mandate them for everyone else. For them, all right, I give up, for them contempt.

[potlatch]

One worth saving!!

[GOPJ]

Amen:

... Character and courage are not determined by education.

One could convincingly argue that a lot of the problems we face in this nation are due to the influences of well (or over) educated people who are simply no damned good, but who know how to kill a culture by leading the gullible and the indolent. Such as, say, the Smartest Woman in America® (PIAPS).

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[wbill]

I think that 'contempt' is a fairly strong word, as well. But I surely characterize myself as an elitist. If considering myself better because I work hard and strive to improve myself, while others allow themselves to stagnate, is wrong - then I don't want to be right. :-)

[wbill]

Character and courage are not determined by education.

Bingo. I would argue that they're far more important than education and will get you much farther in life.

I think that "Integrity" is another word that needs to come back into style.