[Reader-list] US : An anti-intellectual society

Wed Dec 26 13:27:31 IST 2012

I absolutely agree here. Good clear analysis will always be more effective than simple bashing. It reminds me of the recent remarks by Executive Vice President of the NRA Wayne LaPierre by the  on CNN host Piers Morgan in relation to the second amendment. (http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/employers-must-pull-trigger ).
____________

Gianni Wise
Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy, Sydney College for the Arts, 
University of Sydney
gana at iinet.net.au
gianniwise.com

On 26/12/2012, at 4:10 PM, "Tara Prakash" <taraprakash at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good points Z. America bashing sells very well in India, throughout the world in fact. But on a forum like this, it helps if our analysis does betray nuances.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "BombayZack at hotmail.com" <bombayzack at hotmail.com>
> To: "'A. Mani'" <a.mani.cms at gmail.com>; <pragoti_readers at yahoogroups.com>; "'sarai list'" <reader-list at sarai.net>; "'The Moderates'" <the-moderates at googlegroups.com>; <issuesonline_worldwide at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 11:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] US : An anti-intellectual society
> 
> 
>> I don't want this to be a flame war, but for goodness sake --
>> 
>> The link you provided actually VALIDATES the point about the sloppiness. You don't see that??  He has been appointed to the committee in the COMING congress.  That's in Jan, 2013.  That's 'will be', not 'is.'
>> 
>> Second, a comment on a Slashdot forum is pretty weak, as sources go. Really.  Your original posting was much more authoritative sounding: America=anti-intellectual -- and here's the proof.  But now that I see your basically forwarding an internet comment I'm amused at how it was able to trigger a reaction in me.  Still, it should have been cited correctly.
>> 
>> Third, your reply --
>> 
>> > No you are wrong, it is not a case of somebody believing in religion.
>> > He would as well deny funds for people maimed for veterans if it fell within his purview.  'christian science' is clearly 'anti-science' .
>> 
>> -- is flat out wrong.  It took me literally 45 seconds to find an example of him voting to expand medical services for maimed veterans --
>> http://votesmart.org/bill/3247/8019/27097/department-of-veterans-affairs-improvement-act-of-2003#.UNp9I_JuKSo
>> 
>> How can you just make up such things???
>> 
>> Plus, don't you see how wrong it is to say "he WOULD..." -- as if you are all-knowing about his behavior?
>> 
>> You've put me in the uncomfortable position of looking like I'm defending Smith.  I'm not.  I'm defending making your case fairly, objectively, accurately.
>> 
>> As I said, there is ample history of anti-intellectualism but your post and reply does a disservice to making that point.
>> 
>> Regards to all,
>> z
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net] On Behalf Of A. Mani
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 6:58 AM
>> To: pragoti_readers at yahoogroups.com; sarai list; The Moderates; issuesonline_worldwide at yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] US : An anti-intellectual society
>> 
>> On Wed, Dec 26, 2012 at 12:13 AM, BombayZack at hotmail.com <bombayzack at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> There is ample history of anti-intellectualism in American society, but your post is sloppy and does a disservice.
>>> 
>>> First, Smith is not YET the head of the committee. It's that he 'will be' -- not 'is'.  If you're so loose with facts that are easy to spot, who knows what else is going on.
>>> 
>> 
>> http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3338009&cid=42384227
>> 
>>> Second, what exactly are you quoting? It's just basic courtesy, not to mention more honest, to cite your source.  You mention two wiki links below.  Does the quote come from both of them; one paragraph from one, one form the other; or you edited it all together? Who knows!!
>>> 
>> 
>> Missed the source:
>> http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3338009&cid=42384465
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>> Fourth, I'm not defending Smith, but the logic of the text below is non-existent.  By this argument, everyone has a conflict of interest on, say, abortion -- because everyone's religious beliefs have some opinion on it.  So, what, Catholic lawmakers can't serve on Health-related committees, because they would have a 'conflict of interest'?  Or, only atheists can be congressmen, because only they wouldn't have such 'conflicts of interest'??  Ha!  His having a religious belief, even one which you consider extreme, does not necessarily mean he is an unjust lawmaker.  To take your example -- surgery: Do you think Smith would deny funds for maimed veterans needing surgery, just because he himself chooses to avoid surgery?  No. Judge Smith by his actions, not his religious beliefs.
>>> 
>> 
>> No you are wrong, it is not a case of somebody believing in religion.
>> He would as well deny funds for people maimed for veterans if it fell within his purview.  'christian science' is clearly 'anti-science' .
>> Or ... is he supposed to be a hypocrite of worst order.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Best
>> 
>> A. Mani
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> A. Mani
>> CU, ASL, CLC,  AMS, CMS
>> http://www.logicamani.in
>> http://www.logicamani.co.cc
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