“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”
Isaac Asimov
“In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy.”
George Orwell
“I’m tired of ignorance held up as inspiration, where vicious anti-intellectualism is considered a positive trait, and where uninformed opinion is displayed as fact.”
Phil Plait
“For democracy to survive, Americans must learn to embrace intellectualism, reject cult-like behavior, employ analysis, understand and use science, and think for themselves.”
Charles F. French
It would help if we would all just grow up…
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I agree completely. A significant portion of the population needs to stop acting like spoiled children.
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Yes, that, too.
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Thank you
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Great quotes, Charles – all for important for this moment in time.
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Norah, thank you!
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so perfect for our times
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Beth, thank you!
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I see it, but I will never understand it.
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I hope that it can change.
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Excellent, Charles. I enjoyed all of the quotes. Orwell is always a particular favorite of mine. Thank you. The message is one that I have been expounding for decades. Perhaps as I was introduced early to reading? Or, perhaps because at an early age I began crossing the border and was exposed to my younger cousins and their superior education? Most likely, a combination of the two led me to form those opinions early.
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Lea, thank you so much!
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Charles, my pleasure. Stay safe.
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Reblogged this on poetry, photos and musings oh my! and commented:
Thank you, Charles. In the midst of the insanity around us, the reason is whispering its message.
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Lea, you are very welcome!
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📚
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Wow!
These quotations are so powerful.
““For democracy to survive, Americans must learn to embrace intellectualism, reject cult-like behavior, employ analysis, understand and use science, and think for themselves.”
It seems fairly clear that 72 million Americans will never be able to do this, or MATA.
Make America Think Again.
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Cindy — I love that MATA — Make America Think Again! Did you coin this phrase? I want to do a blog with it.
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Excellent quotations, Charles. I actually like yours the best!
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Jennie, thank you!
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You’re welcome, Charles!
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Great and strong quotes, including your own.
Let us hope for change to happen.
Miriam
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Miriam, thank you!
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Personally, I don’t believe it’s one’s lack of knowledge. I think it’s the failure to change or even to acknowledge a different point of view different to theirs.
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That is an excellent point.
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It’s very sad to see these things playing out, Charles. The far-right’s “populist” politics which plays on this prideful ignorance has tried to infiltrate other countries and stoke these prejudices too. Canada is not immune.
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Hi Cynthia, you are correct, and we must all be aware of it.
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Ran across this one recently, which seemed oh so appropo on so many fronts in modern society AND, well, has helped me to ‘chuckle’ instead of fume when I observer various things around me: “”Occasionally he stumbled over the truth but he always picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had happened.” – Winston Churchill
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Thank you!
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Awesome post, Charles! So true! I fear the 70 million! A favorite quote of mine is – “try being informed instead of just opinionated!”
😁✨✨👍
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That is an excellent thought!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
Food For Thought!
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Thank you!
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yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
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Thank you!
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Not everyone is dealt the same hand at birth. Many are concrete thinkers, focused on what they can see and touch. Learning only the hard way, by experience. And without enough imagination or curiosity to explore possibilities, good or bad. As long as there are as many or more of them as intellectuals, they have to be taken into consideration or reckoned with in a democracy. Possibly it’s an aspect of evolution. But regardless, they are the down to earth, pragmatic, kind to those of their tribe, but blind to the larger, longer picture. They don’t choose to be this way. They were born this way. In a fostering, mentoring, not demeaning relationship they can become more aware and open. But in a climate of us against them, they will dig in and fight for their way of being in the world.
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You make an excellent point, but all people can still learn to think and analyze to some degree. It is needed for all of us not to blindly follow leaders without thinking.
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We need to cultivate the art of discernment as well! These quotes (including your own) are very timely and much needed…
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Thank you!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you!
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