The Dumbing down of America - Racism and violence in the USA
Carl Sagan wrote a book titled “The Demon-Haunted World,” in 1996. The premise was to get people to become free critical thinkers. In the opening excerpt of the book he wrote -
I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or my grandchildren’s time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness. The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.
Sadly Carl Sagan was correct and really it is much worse than he predicted, as seen by the display of violence and racism in Charlottesville VA . I literally cried when I saw people rally in front of a church at night with torches chanting " Blood and Soil" this is a slogan that predates the Nazis but was used and co-opted by them in 1930 to promote eugenics.
Pic credit University of VA
"Richard Walther Darré popularized the phrase at the time of the rise of Nazi Germany; he wrote a book called Neuadel aus Blut und Boden (A New Nobility Based On Blood And Soil), in 1930, which proposed a systemic eugenics program, arguing for breeding as a cure-all for all the problems plaguing the state."
Credit Wikipedia
The climate of idiocracy in America has reached new heights since President Trump was elected. Sadly his rebuke of the events did not include the words racism, white nationalism or neo nazis. What he did say was
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides. It's been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump not Barack Obama. This has been going on for a long, long time."
I expect more from the person who holds the office of the President of the US. He will names "radical islamic terrorism" but won't utter the words domestic terrorism, racism, neo nazis or white nationalism.
As sad I was to see the violence in Virginia and sadly the three deaths that occurred. I still have faith that this incident may be a catalyst of change. I hope some good can come of these events.
Rally against racism & violence wherever you live!
I believe it is easier to love than to hate. I believe in peace not violence. I believe we are better than this.
Proud member of MSP - PAL #Ecotrain & #Whalepower
There seems to be very little we can do as individuals. If each individual makes a decision to treat others with love a respect maybe we can change the world one person at a time. Maybe we can have a world that values people and not ideology. I'm hoping in my lifetime I see a states convention. I hope I see our federal government lose power. I hope I see a president that actual CARES about his/her PEOPLE. I hope and I hope. And I try to affect change by being the change. By showing love to everyone i encounter.
I believe there is a lot of power in what you do as an individual. Just being a good human being and as you said treating everyone you meet with love and respect. That reflects back to others and spreads. Love beats hate. I really believe that to be true. And I believe you can affect change by being that change as you said. I believe many of these people who are part of the white nationalist movement are disenfranchised poor uneducated people from bad families. You're born with love you have to be taught to hate.
I watched an interesting movie the other day on netflix. Its name escapes me but ill try to find it. It is about a controversial black man who meets and befriends KKK members! The interesting thing is many, most after meeting him and after some time learn to respect him realize they were wrong and many gave up their KKK robes and left the KKK. He has a whole collection of Robes from people who left. He gets some flack for what he does. But I believe he is right in doing it. He doesn't condone their actions but he starts a dialog and often that leads to them having a major change of heart and complete life change.
I heard that story too. Very inspiring. Here it is as a podcast
http://snapjudgment.org/node/52767
Tim, I am worried that this is only part of the beginning. We have a very difficult fight on our hands. Every white person needs to be out in the street condemning hatred and racism. At this point, keeping silent is tacit approval.
My daughter was born in Charlottesville, it was a precious place for me. I was an assistant Track and Field coach on the UVA track team. Most of my athletes were young people of color. I keep thinking about what I would be saying to them if I were still there. What is the role of adults now, of teachers and mentors? What we do or don't do will be a game changer in this climate.
Action is necessary beyond writing and sharing information. I'm just so, so sad about this. Last night I wrote to a friend of mine that it feels as if my country is disintegrating like sand slipping through my fingers. But I refuse to let hopelessness or helplessness control me. I already know where I will be showing up in person today to #resist
I could not agree more. Were having a rally here in my town today and I will be there! I also agree it is just the beginning of a long fight. We all need to fight this and condemn it as loudly as possible.
Yes!
We had a terrific demonstration against hate here. Hope it went well where you are!
heading out now they are normally really good. But being where I live, were preaching to the choir mostly, but, all major cities are doing it and that does make a difference I think.
It is being orchestrated by the two party system. Divide and conquer. The more we are divided, the easier we are to subjigate(sp?).
Hopefully Steemit can be a platform for meaningful, good change!!
Peace!!
You said it @em3 . Divide and conquer. The oldest trick in the book, yet we still fall for it every time.
Thank you for this post. I share your very serious concerns when I see the amount of inflammatory material that is being shared widely by large numbers of posters on social media (not Steemit but another platform). I feel that trolls may be being employed to spread racism and normalise these retrograde attitudes but I have to admit that I rarely speak out about it.....because there is SO MUCH of it....I don't even know what to call it! "Mass mind control", perhaps? That depends on your angle, I guess. But thanks for raising this. Upvoted and resteemed.
yeah I feel the same. Not sure what to call it accept racism and a miss mash of different groups. I think they feel emboldened by Trump and feel more comfortable coming out now. And there is certainly a ton of propaganda for them to feed off. Very sad.
You said it @healingherb . The way the social media is being used as a means of mass mind control and to spread fear and hate is one of the most frightening aspects of events leading up to the rise of Trump. It is orchestrated from high levels of power and your feelings are almost certainly correct, when it comes to paid trolls and even more subversive goings on behind the scenes. Especially on facebook. propaganda has been taken to new levels in recent years as governments and secret services come to realise the power of social media and the internet, both to monitor and control populations behaviour. what we are talking about is cyber warfare. It is very worrying indeed and a terrible misuse of the awesome power of this technology, which could be used instead to unite people and spread freedom.
Thanks so much for feeling (should I say "seeing") the same, @stillgideon. I was taking about the Minds platform in particular, there seems to be so much of it there - post after post against Moslems then more about white supremacy. That's why it's so much better to home school if you can; at least you have some understanding of what is going into your children's subconscious. But that's why I feel positive about the ecotrain - it is about something very good and very real that is safe for young people and inspiring to all age groups. The more of it the better, to help muffle some of that hatred. Peace and love, friend.
Well said @tim-rumford . Thank you for speaking out and standing up against racism and mindless nazi thugs. It's something everyone needs to do in these times. Sometimes I just have to pinch myself to check I'm not dreaming that this is really the 21st century and this is really going on. A sad state of affairs. It gives me hope to see good people coming together.
Resteemed
Great post! It is sad, but true..... Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to read it means much to me.
You're welcome.
Yes, this is truly frightening. Upvoted and resteemed.
thank you!
This post has received a 8.54 % upvote from @bellyrub thanks to: @cryptoted.