As a group, we have discussed the idea of barring the uneducated or "culturally ignorant" (ie: have not progressed from backwards thinking) from influencing the public sphere. While this idea could come across to some as harsh or elitist, our point was actually that we believe that in order to influence the public sphere, a person should be required to meet certain requirements for the sake of progression. This comes from the idea that if "social retards" keep participating in social discussion, they only pull the discussion down, or in a circle, therefore preventing us from moving forward and solving actual problems in our society...and that sucks.
For an example of this type of sidelining ignorant banter, check out this video:
While watching this, we felt that some of these statements these people were making were racism disguised as "patriotism". In this latest election, we have heard statements from the "right wing conservatives" that claim liberals are anti-American, parts of this country are more PRO-America than others (ie: the ones that vote republican),and Obama is a Muslim terrorist who wants to turn this country into a socialist government. All of these statements are intended to influence the public sphere and they are using FEAR as a motivator.
This type of campaign is evaluating a candidate using intuition and impressions rather than research and fact, and this is a dangerous way to elect an official.
So what do you think? Agree or disagree, we want to hear from you!
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9 comments:
That video made me sad for the rest of the country that is still hung up on racism, and scares me for our future with people like that voting!
There is the idea, that one could try to educate these people first by including them in a dicussion about what is important to them. There is something quite obvious about political banter that is born out of racism. The question is about racism and it could be extremely dificult to bring these people around. Anybody who knows how a real presidential campagn functions these days will notice that there is nothing particularly intreresting or revolucionary about what the candidates say. Both Obama and McCain are privilaged because of the enormous economic support that is dished out between an age old duality of partisan political rhetoric that doesn't change anything anywhere. It's theater! and so are the racist comments. It theatrical rhetoric and it has nothing to do with law making and legislation. I live in Peru, because I'm an aliented army veteran and I'm tired of both sides talking and doing nothing. Those racist people have a right to feel afraid because they know that something is changing and it could be represented by an african american, but what they really represent is the isolation of subcultures in the united states and how they fail to be included on many different levels- education, civics, and society. Obviously they are a dying breed. The question is whether or not you want to include them in anything, because if you don't then why not just exterminate them? Wouldn't they do the same to you if they were the majority? By excluding them you are maintaining your socioeconomicalpolitical hegemony that still thinks that terrorism is committed by arab terrorists when it's really committed by US foreign policy. I know, I was one of it's tools.
These is pure ignorance at its best. What does this say about our country? Hmmm maybe that we have not come as far as we would like to think? If it wasn't so sad, it would actually be a VERY FUNNY VIDEO!
Hard to believe there are still people that ignorant in this country!
Well first I must say that it bothers me that there are that many ignorant people that breathe the same air that I do. These people have been persuaded by the media far more than normal and have chosen to be followers rather than leaders. I am completely against a president that has openly said that he will continue to waste American tax dollars on this war and that we will be at war indefiantly. The only reason why McCain is even getting the second thoughts and chances that he is getting is because he chose a female running mate, in hopes to catch the voters that were orginally for Hillary. Smart move? Maybe, but in these final debates he has shown his true colors and so has Palin. Palin is hot and that is why she is getting the Media attention, But Obama is far more smarter then either of them and has done nothing but spoke the truth and expressed his concerns and what he may or may not be able to do. I do however think that Obama should have choosen Hilary for his running mate, it was have been a smart move, not to mention that they would truely make a kick ass team! But that is not the question at hand. McCain and Palin have taken skin color and turned it into a terrorist campaign which is completely unfair as well as cowardly. No one wants to focus on the fact that Obama is taking the risk and the speaking up and choosing to make a stand regardless of his ethnic race. In the video someone made a comment about how Obama thinks the white race is trash, really, how friggin stupid is that! Do they not see that his runningmate is WHITE!!!!! I am thinking no. These people in that video really need to put their teeth back in their mouth and divorce their sister and see what asses they look like on video. And they wonder why they get called white trash? If the shoe fits, or as that hillbilly said if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then its a duck. Now don't get me wrong i am a white female and am far from racist, but these people wonder why we get such a bad wrap and are called white trash, they are the reason. And Baby killers? Really is that what you call that? Has that ignorant bitch ever seen the results of child born from a victim of rape? I bet she hasn't and she would think twice about it if it was her or her 12 year old daughter in the situation, they can not honestly say they would raise that baby with love and nuture or that that child would not grow up with issues. And if Barack wins the black will take over??? Really now how in the hell is that possible? This woman doesn't know her ass from a hole in the ground and really needs to shut up or go stab herself in the eye. 1st strigger? 2nd stringer? Since when do we compare the white house to friggin football? That guy needs to choke on a spoon. A wolf in sheeps costume? Oh and Palin is the holy spirit? You have got to be kidding me, he 17 year old daughter is friggin pregnant! and you want to talk about a "christian nation! Bitch please!"This type of campaign is evaluating a candidate using intuition and impressions rather than research and fact, and this is a dangerous way to elect an official" is the last quote on your blog and I have to say I could not agree more with that fact. It is very sad and really makes me angry that I have sat here responding to this blog and they are continuing to breathe my air. I would like to kindly ask them to stop. I can go on for days really I can but my fingers are getting tired.
Well, where do I begin? First, I am just glad that I am not one of those people. Second, What the hell are these people really thinking? And third, how many more people are there like those in Ohio who are involved in this election. More than we know of I fear and if so we are in for a fight to the finish for the President that SHOULD WIN!
Hiya Anonymous. I am one of the original student bloggers. I have an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances, and I have been, off and on, having a dialog with some of them about the elections, etc. in the last few months. I am absolutely appalled at how bigoted and narrow minded some of them are--maybe not quite as bad as those in the video, but some of them come close. Sure, the ideal would be to include everyone in the discussion, but the catch there is that everyone needs try to be open to new/other opinions. I think it was fair of you to acknowledge that those people are afraid, and that's the first step--trying to understand where the other side is coming from. But do you think for a minute any of those people would try to understand the other side? People like those in the video are not open minded at all. Some traits seem to go together and bigotry and closed mindedness just seem to go hand in hand if you ask me. It really is a waste of time to try to talk to them. Isolation of subcultures is a problem in America, I agree. But what can you do about it in the case of people like that? Of course like it or not we really can't exclude them from the public debate. But I would really like to minimize the influence they could have on the world. I don't want to live in their version of America.
It's sickening to see such opinionated ignorance.
Looks like you have "broken into the public sphere" like you wanted to. These comments aren't even about pornographic bee lords. I am impressed! P.S. Love the site and the humor is mahhhhhhvalous.
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