After reading about the Schiavo affair ad nauseam, I have reached the

conclusion that what is preventing us from seriously discussing any issue is that we love spectacles. Unless there is an entertainment value attcehd to any event, we seem to be totally lost. This was driven home to me when my high school daughter came home one day and pronounced Calculus was boring. I told her calculus was not developed by Isaac Newton for its entertainment value. Either you devote your time to learning a subject respectfully or take up underwater basketweaving which will be more entertaining.That has temporarily quelled the demand for subjects to be entertaining but I think it will return in some mutated form later.

I recall Neil Postman's excellent book AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH which examines this disease of spectacles as our national means of conversation about all matters, trivial or serious. When Britney Spears' navels have the same level of attention devoted to them as
the Abu Ghraib tortures or Bush's AWOL status nither one has any chance of being examined by adults. On top of this addiction to spectacles, the giggling kewpie dolls of TV, with their attention span lasting all of 90 seconds don't make matters easier.

... that underwater basketweaving is entertaining. It's boring, plus your hands get all pruney.

;)

Except these stingy bastards don't even want to hand out the bread.

If you're wondering what the Fall of the Roman Empire looked like - you're living it. I've been writing this for days. (Well years really, but in a different context.)

I once read somewhere, that once we are aware of something, we are then responsible. There is no going back, or hiding behind ignorance.
It takes great courage to become aware, to know.
That is why everyone on DU is a hero, in my eyes.

of this song..

On The Turning Away

by Pink Floyd

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won't understand
"Don't accept that what's happening
Is just a case of others' suffering
Or you'll find that you're joining in
The turning away"
It's a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting it's shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we're all alone
In the dream of the proud
On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
And mesmerised as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night
No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It's not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there'll be
No more turning away?

that had to be one the more beautiful things I have heard.
I dare someone to have a dry eye by the end of listening to it. :-)

often 'bittersweet' I suppose
thanks :hi:

subjects in depth because we lack what is called the "Tragic Sense of Life'. That feeling of life's pitfalls and our vulnerabilities exist in other societies to a degree that is not seen here.May be that is why our children want their teachers to be entertainers.How does one talk to our teenagers about that tragic sense of life when 'girls, they just want to have fun' seems to be the ruling passion.

perhaps the biggest problem is we get thrown out of balance.
Modern technology and entertainment are obviously part of our 'destiny' at this point, but we obviously need to reclaim some kind of balance. Going for walks and hikes once in a while, etc.
It's not easy. Many people seem so 'ungrounded' these days.

the more she learns - the more she likes it. (She's in college).

I don't have any explanation for this. I just figured I would throw it out there.


On edit: word fix

beginning to appreciate the beauty and power of calculus. In the process, I think, she has stopped demanding her teachers be entertainers. I hope this lasts.

I hated it very much and so I never put any time or effort into it so I never did very well (just enough to pass). I've started slowly liking and tollerating it to a degree. I still have trouble with it but I'm at least taking some effort to like it. I used to do pretty decent with English and any type of history because I enjoyed reading and studying past things. I've started recently not to watch too much tv now days but I still have my favorite shows I always have to catch and some movies I'm interested in.

indicates a spiritually void life. I use the word "spiritual" in the broad sense to mean a connection to and awe of others, the world, the universe, the mystery of life and existence. I think that is what religions and many philosophies express, each in its own way.

Curiosity about how things work, feel, move, live, grow, are constantly created is the natural consequence of a robust spiritual life. Get a telescope. Show your child the photographs taken of Mars. Tell him/her the role that higher mathematics starting with calculus plays in getting us there. See if you can somehow introduce her to mathematicians and scientists who are excited about their work. Do the same with ordinary experiences that involve movement -- like driving a car, flying in an airplane. That is how to lead your child to a truly satisfying spiritual life. He/she will become an avid, permanent student in the process and be better able to cope with life.

subjects did not have the myriad electronic gizmos like iPod,Instant Messenger,CD Players,Cell phones to totally destroy their concentration.I have totally stopped all TV in our house but realize that with these new fangled toys my job as a parent has gotten harder.

Both of my daughters went into scientific fields -- to my utter shock since I found science "boring" as a child -- thanks to a limited spiritual environment.

I had a teacher once who actually worked with Neil Postman, and thought he was a genius--that book was actually one of our class texts.

He spent a bit of time telling us how Sesame Street and shows like it were almost damaging to the educational system for the reasons you described. Of course, soon after he had a baby, so I'm curious how he followed through with that, LOL.

I remember being in kindegarten and we would watch Seasme Street and Mr. Rogers. I always found them rather boring. My Mom has told me that me and my brother never cared for those shows. I'd prefer My Little Pony. ;) But the orginial poster is right. Nobody anymore cares about real issues of the day. It's all about being right, entertainment etc. Just look at the Terri Schavio thing! My gosh. It's a circus now. While all this is going on other major important issues are being totally ignored.
*sigh*

is I think what is going to bring this society down ultimately. When Schwarzenegger was elected governor of my state, I lost all faith in Americans as a responsible citizenry. Collectively, we just don't deserve the country we have.

for most of the life of our Republic. Now we have mean spirited men who have mastered the entertainment and propaganda values of the media and are able to influence our thinking.And because we seek constant entertainment, we are willing victims of these men.

I would much rather have the "raw truth" and "reality"! And by doing so you you become a REALIST as opposed to an EXHIBITIONIST!!

And regarding your comment about "spectacles" that was a pun wasn't it???

I have used the word spectacle as in some sort of a hyped act.

I just thought you were trying to be funny! Just like the bathroom is called "the water closet" or "the Lou"!

I WAS trying to be funny!

In my household, I am known as the fossil.

I'm a "boomer"! So that should tell you something like maybe I remember Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights marching! I lived in Texas back then and there were actually water fountains with labels on them!! One said White and one said Black!!

I think I'm probably older than you! I remember the Beatles hitting America for the first time. I was just getting ready to graduate from high school!

And who says a woman NEVER tells her age!!

Please don't be so hard on spectacles. Some of us have no choice but to use them.

:dunce:

IMO, this story is being PUSHED on us, and there is much evidence to support this. Sure generally I would agree w/your post, and you are correct -but this shit is all corporate propaganda being shoved down our throats.