Obama, War on Brains

good last two blog posts,I haven't seen the Bush documentary yet but I will

Very good article!

" one-fifth of Americans believe that the sun orbits the Earth."

i know americans are stupid but i cannot believe that

sad but true, believe it.

if 1/2 believe in creationism, then 1/5 believing that the sun orbits the earth is quite believable.

however, even the most educated among us also believe in falsehoods. sure they are not as ridiculous as the example above, but when we assume we know it all and stop having an open mind for knowledge, then we become no better than the rednecks who believe that the sun orbits the earth.

very very true
even among university students, sometimes i dont know if they truly value intellect

On November 11 2008 10:19 TenBagger wrote: if 1/2 believe in creationism, then 1/5 believing that the sun orbits the earth is quite believable.

I don't believe that either, though. I think a lot of people feel like they "have to" say they believe in creationism because of their social circle and stuff. They're not really answering "do you believe in.." they feel like the question is "who's side are you on? the christians or the bigots?"

I don't think it's a good measure of how smart they are, either

With the other question it's even more so. I think faith could again have an impact on their answer (god's earth has to be important so the sun prolly revolves around it) and also it's simply easy to answer incorrectly if you don't think it through.

I remember always thinking you had to remember this question just like you remember the difference between left and right and getting the answer wrong over and over until some teacher finally drew a huge sun and a tiny earth on the board and then asked me the question again; "which do you think revolves around which?" It doesn't really matter that I was just a kid, those ppl just haven't had it explained to them decently one time or answered too quickly without thinking.

I don't think anyone is stupid for getting that question wrong.. and lolling at them and saying theyre stupid probably makes people get this attitude of "learning that stuff is for brainiacs anyway, not for me"

I agree it isn't necessarily a measure of their intelligence.

But I totally believe those statistics because I have seen them with my own eyes. I see your point, but it is like saying how many Christians REALLY believe in jesus and his resurrection? Of course there may be some with doubts that may answer yes because of social pressures. But for the most part, it is precisely those social pressures that suppress the doubts and they effectively become believers.

The bigger tragedy is as Kristof notes the culture of anti-intellectualism. Creationism undermines the entire field of science. Those statistics are supported by other statistics that show the US trailing far behind in field such as math and science. Sure they may have the raw brain power to understand and comprehend complex issues but what use is that when one is so closed minded as to not even seek knowledge and truth?

[B]I don't think anyone is stupid for getting that question wrong.. and lolling at them and saying theyre stupid probably makes people get this attitude of "learning that stuff is for brainiacs anyway, not for me"

.
They are definitely not getting that attitude. Their attitude is not of self doubt but of self assurance. They are for the most part 100% positive that the world was created 5000 years ago in 7 days and that evolution is a big hoax. See grot, the problem is not that one doesn't know or understand. It is when one refuses to have an open mind. There are many school districts in the US that are trying to ban the teaching of evolution and/or teaching creationism as a science and not religion. This is not a case of mixing up left and right or some kid trying to learn algebra but failing and saying fuck it I suck at math and giving up. Although I am not religious, I have no problem with religion. I do have a problem when religion is passed off as science and the US is the only country in the world that is trying to teach creationism in science class.

You have school boards made up of redneck parents forcing science teachers to teach this stuff against their will. This mentality is similar to Bush ignoring the advice of the entire scientific community on global warming. The education system in much of the US is so fucked beyond belief. So much that someone from mexico and belgium find it hard to believe. Well guys, it is that fucked up. It is not a mix up of left and right. And it isn't just limited to math and science. The average american's knowledge of geography is so horrible that it wasn't that shocking when the vice presidential candidate thought that africa was a country. Hopefully, Obama will usher in a new ag of thought and reason to America.

OMG this article is EXACTLY what I was trying to say someone. I remember I wrote a post basically saying the same thing.
Obama is smart and thats the great thing about him.
Also he is black and thats another great thing about him. Getting people excited and proofing that racism in US is at a different stage at least(Im no going to say there is NO racism.) Specially showing that anyone can be president. just look at Obama.

On November 11 2008 11:48 Jelle wrote: Show nested quote + On November 11 2008 10:19 TenBagger wrote: if 1/2 believe in creationism, then 1/5 believing that the sun orbits the earth is quite believable. I don't believe that either, though. I think a lot of people feel like they "have to" say they believe in creationism because of their social circle and stuff. They're not really answering "do you believe in.." they feel like the question is "who's side are you on? the christians or the bigots?" I don't think it's a good measure of how smart they are, either

Thinking according to a social circle, therefore not asking questions, isn't thinking clearly. I think clear thinkers are smart while most of those people are blind and will stay blind, no matter how hard you try to teach them.

great post and a good read