| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
06 Aug 2007 11:00:47 AM |
| Object: |
Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It? |
Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It?
Nancy Salvato, Education Editor
August 6, 2007 www.newmediajournal.us/staff/nsalvato/08062007.htm
If there is one thing for certain in this world, it is when Jack
Nicholson plays the male protagonist in a film, his performance will
be outstanding. As McMurphy, in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, his
impression on me is as compelling today -as it was over 30 years ago
when I first watched him bring to consciousness the minds of assorted
inmates staying on Nurse Ratched's ward of the mental institution. The
message I took away while watching McMurphy undermine Nurse Ratched's
authority over her unit -until she has him lobotomized, stands the
test of time. Power hungry people will resort to any means necessary
to maintain control. Although Nurse Ratched's actions were extreme,
her display taught me just how vulnerable people are if they are
labeled mentally unstable or forfeit the responsibility of making
decisions on their own behalf. Those placed in their charge are not
necessarily looking out for them.
Inherent in writing and exposing one's own ideas about terrorism (or
the war against radical Islamism), the border threat, or political
correctness, is the likelihood of being branded a right wing nut.
Being labeled as such isn't personally offensive (I've begun to grow
my Alligator Skin) but there is the danger that being branded as such
could chip away at my credibility, which is the whole idea behind such
mudslinging. This is why it's so important to be able to back up an
argument with facts. This is extremely difficult in the face of a
movement doing everything it can to shut down ideas which run counter
to their own.
For example, let's look at the Fairness Doctrine. In an editorial
titled the Unfairness Doctrine , the editors of the National Review
Online point out that even though Fairness Doctrine was not passed
into law this time around, other forms of legislation could equally
serve to stifle free speech. The liberal think tank "Center for
American Progress," founded and run by former Clinton White House
chief of staff John Podesta, has proposed there be new national and
local limits on the number of radio stations one company can own, a de
facto quota system to ensure that more women and minorities own radio
stations, and that the government should require commercial owners who
fail to abide by enforceable public interest obligations to pay a fee
to support public broadcasting.
By choice, people tune in to hear his or her views, or those of guests
on the show. By the same choice, people can tune out. These folks are
not a captured audience like school children required to sit in public
classrooms where liberal thought permeates 90% of the curriculum. Yes,
it should be made clear to any audience what is considered commentary
from what is news (which should only consist of facts, not speculation
or opinion) Listeners can choose to agree with commentary or not. To
require stations to offer shows which historically fail due to lack of
listeners, or change the content of their successful shows is
destructive to the ideas of free speech and free market. The market
bears what the market will bear. If there is money to be made, that in
itself will be enough to stimulate station owners to provide programs
which might not suit everyone's tastes. It's this simple; sponsors
will not offer financial backing if no one is listening. Sponsors have
the right to put their money behind ideas or people of their own
choosing.
The religion of Political Correctness attempts to crush free speech.
Adherents to this dogma are forced to phrase their thoughts in a
socially acceptable manner and censor what they truly believe, for
fear they'll be accused of hate speech. Counter to this movement is
Judeo/Christian doctrine. For thousands of years, adherents have lived
their lives according to the laws and principles that make up these
religions. No one has ever been forced to join a congregation in this
country, but many people choose to be part of these communities and
share these ideas by which to live. Every Christmas, there is a fight
to disallow public display of these beliefs. It's a striking contrast
to public schools exposing our school children to Islamic ideas, even
forcing them to practice them in classrooms as part of the curriculum.
Although I've never liked it, the Nazis have a right to march through
Skokie, but I don't have to watch their parade. Beliefs are a choice.
This is why we have free will.
The more ignorant a people, the less they are able to recognize the
erosion of their rights. The founders of this country understood the
importance of an educated populace and the likelihood of factions
grouping to promote their interests. The spectrum of where people
group themselves is dynamic, always changing. Labels are useful only
in that it can be understood where others are aligned at any given
point. When a person is labeled for his or her ideas, it confuses the
message with the messenger. Understanding the reasons for beliefs is
much more important than placing people or ideas in a box. Ideas are
meant to be debated, to come to greater understanding. There is no
room for name calling or labeling people in debate.
If there is no allowance for debating beliefs or ideas, we will soon
be left in the dark. People will become ignorant of the possibilities
or other ways of seeing things. True understanding of each other or
how to exist side by side as a community will be gone. We will have
forfeited our freedom by giving up free will and what makes each of us
individuals.
A good education, - an education that exposes people to facts and a
balance of opinion, as well as the tools to formulate their own ideas-
has always been the ticket to being able to succeed in any field. It
also allows us to exercise choice. In essence, knowledge equals
freedom. And freedom allows us to become whoever we want to be.
Societies in which people are not allowed to exercise choice or
receive a balanced education do not promote freedom. In these
societies, one group usually exercises control over another, by any
means necessary. Usually fear and ignorance plays a large role in how
people behave.
I've never understood the expression ignorance is bliss. Is any one of
us in a position to know when another person truly can't feel or
comprehend what is going on around him? Does nothingness equate to
happiness? On the flip side, can any one of us know with absolutely
certainty what another feels or believes without establishing the
trust that there will be no penalties for disclosing?
Once a society tastes freedom, it can never go back. Think about it.
Could Adam and Eve truly return to the Garden of Eden once they were
enlightened? Would a fully functioning individual want to return to
the womb? My guess is this could only be satisfactory if people were
too ignorant to imagine any other possibilities for themselves
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nancy Salvato is the Education Editor for The New Media Journal and
serves as the President of Basics Project, a non-profit, non-partisan
501(C)(3) research and educational project whose mission is to promote
the education of the American public on the basic elements of relevant
political, legal and social issues important to our country...
Opinions expressed by contributing writers are expressly their own and
may or may not represent the opinions of The New Media Journal, its
editorial staff or its publisher. Reprint inquiries should be directed
to the author of the article. Photographs featured in The New Media
Journal are for educational purposes only. While some of them are
factual in nature others are creations meant to incite thought to
further the socio-political and ideological conversation amongst of
our readers. Contact the editor for a link request to The New Media
Journal. The New Media Journal is not affiliated with any mainstream
media or ideological organizations . The New Media Journal is not
supported by any political organization. The New Media Journal is a
group of non-compensated, independent writers bringing researched,
fact-based commentary to the public in the midst of the mainstream
media's blatant, agenda-driven bias. The New Media Journal is a non-
profit educational effort.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of
which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance
a more in-depth understanding of critical issues facing the world. We
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material
as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance
with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
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copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go
beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.
The New Media Journal.us =A9 2007
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| User: "met00" |
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| Title: Re: Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It? |
06 Aug 2007 12:02:51 PM |
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wrote:
Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It?
Seems someone forgot that the radio wave belong to all Americans. That
they do not belong to the corporation who can buy the most of them.
Seems someone also forgot that outside of major metro markets most
people have a very limited choice of radio.
Seems someone also forgot that the fairness doctrine was designed to
ensure that people were provided with both sides of an OPINION. Not
news, but OPINION as supported by facts.
So, when you listen to Rush and BillO these people are presenting
opinion based on what they claim are the facts. The fairness doctrine
just stated that an equal amount of time must be provided to let the
other side present their opinion based on their facts. Now, how can that
be a bad thing, unless you don't believe that each side has an equal
right to express their opinion on the airwaves owned by the people.
Unless you feel that corporations have the right to propagandize without
letting the other side be heard. Unless you feel that the other side
might just have an opinion and facts that would make people thing about
the issues and OH MY GOD! they might use their own brains and decide
that these far right talking heads are nothing but lying sacks of *****.
Now, that makes it clear why the right is afraid of the fairness
doctrine and the left isn't.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It? |
06 Aug 2007 03:03:33 PM |
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On Aug 6, 1:02 pm, met00 <met00ci...@gmail.com> wrote:
last_p...@rogers.com wrote:
Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It?
Seems someone forgot that the radio wave belong to all Americans. That
they do not belong to the corporation who can buy the most of them.
Seems someone also forgot that outside of major metro markets most
people have a very limited choice of radio.
Seems someone also forgot that the fairness doctrine was designed to
ensure that people were provided with both sides of an OPINION. Not
news, but OPINION as supported by facts.
So, when you listen to Rush and BillO these people are presenting
opinion based on what they claim are the facts. The fairness doctrine
just stated that an equal amount of time must be provided to let the
other side present their opinion based on their facts. Now, how can that
be a bad thing, unless you don't believe that each side has an equal
right to express their opinion on the airwaves owned by the people.
Unless you feel that corporations have the right to propagandize without
letting the other side be heard. Unless you feel that the other side
might just have an opinion and facts that would make people thing about
the issues and OH MY GOD! they might use their own brains and decide
that these far right talking heads are nothing but lying sacks of *****.
Now, that makes it clear why the right is afraid of the fairness
doctrine and the left isn't.
Pure nonsense!!!!
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| User: "Bob LeChevalier" |
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| Title: Re: Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It? |
06 Aug 2007 04:34:30 PM |
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wrote:
No one has ever been forced to join a congregation in this
country, but many people choose to be part of these communities and
share these ideas by which to live. Every Christmas, there is a fight
to disallow public display of these beliefs.
No. There is a fight to disallow public resources being used to
display private beliefs. Using public resources forces all of us to
join the congregation of believers in whatever is being displayed.
It's a striking contrast to public schools exposing our school children to Islamic ideas,
"expose" is a vague word concealing a range of sins and perfectly
valid actions.
even forcing them to practice them in classrooms as part of the curriculum.
One of those rumors that seems to be much larger than life.
Although I've never liked it, the Nazis have a right to march through
Skokie,
So do Christians. But neither Nazis nor Christians have a right to
have their theology taught in the schools.
but I don't have to watch their parade.
But kids in school have to watch the parades that the teachers put on.
They don't have the choice to walk out.
If there is no allowance for debating beliefs or ideas, we will soon
be left in the dark. People will become ignorant of the possibilities
or other ways of seeing things.
The right wing would prefer this. The fundamentalist Christians
believe that there is only one way, one Truth.
I've never understood the expression ignorance is bliss.
Ignorance means that you don't have the stress involved in making
choices, and the worry that you might have chosen wrong.
For some, the reduced stress is worth the reduction in choice.
Could Adam and Eve truly return to the Garden of Eden once they were
enlightened? Would a fully functioning individual want to return to
the womb? My guess is this could only be satisfactory if people were
too ignorant to imagine any other possibilities for themselves
Most people want something in between the two extremes.
lojbab
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| User: "David Johnston" |
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| Title: Re: Ignorance Is Bliss, Or Is It? |
06 Aug 2007 11:13:34 AM |
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On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:00:47 -0700, wrote:
For example, let's look at the Fairness Doctrine. In an editorial
titled the Unfairness Doctrine , the editors of the National Review
Online point out that even though Fairness Doctrine was not passed
into law this time around,
And never actually came close...
other forms of legislation could equally
serve to stifle free speech. The liberal think tank "Center for
American Progress," founded and run by former Clinton White House
chief of staff John Podesta, has proposed there be new national and
local limits on the number of radio stations one company can own, a de
facto quota system to ensure that more women and minorities own radio
stations,
Limits on the number of radio stations one company can own would not
ensure that more women and minorities own them.
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