Reply #15: Prejudice against intellectuals [View All]

I find that I have very little tolerance for people who believe that Iraq was connected to 9/11 or want to ban a book from a public school because they heard that it was a "bad book." During the "election," I found myself becoming frustrated with "undecided voters" who could not figure out who to vote for and who were apparently too lazy to do some actual research.

I think that one of the main problems with our country is that too many Americans look down on intellectuals. I have heard people repeat the old and inaccurate stereotype that college professors and other educated people have "too much book smarts" and not enough "common sense." I have even read letters to the editor criticizing Kerry because he "thinks too much" to protect the country.

We need to eliminate this prejudice and we need to start emphasizing the importance of being an informed voter. It is every American's patriotic duty to know how the U.S. government works. It is patriotic to read the U.S. Constitution. It is patriotic to learn about American policies. It is not patriotic to vote for a candidate because "he seems like a nice guy" or the other candidate "rubs me the wrong way."