Updating Karl Marx who said that Religion is the Opiate of the People

These days, add sport.

This morning after CBS Face the Nation, and this evening I tried to turn to local news to find out about the weather - it was mentioned in the "teaser" that this night will be the coldest of the season. To find out about the Coleman-Franken race, perhaps about road construction and traffic in such a miserable weather and all they are talking is about the Vikings. On and on.

In the summer they will talk about the Twins and in fall and spring about the other state teams. Or about college sports and, the one that really gets half the front page of the Star Tribune is about girls high school basketball.

Give me the weather! In Minnesota this is news this time of year!

No wonder we rarely watch the evening local news. At least in the morning they do provide weather and traffic and a bit of local news.

It is sport that is the Opiate of the People. Always has been, except now we don't throw people to the lions as a form of sport. We only get roosters and dogs to fight each other to the death.

End rant.

People rarely try to kill each other over what's on TV. Well, outside the midwest, anyway.

They are more a distraction to make us feel content than a drug to control our minds and actions.

do you know who moan about porn and then live vicariously through the physical exploits of football players or ice skaters?

See "Manufacturing Consent."

And, e.g., the last few paragraphs at http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/1992----02.htm

Interesting comments and conclusion and still repulsive.

I remember going to work for a Monday meeting, dreading the before meeting talk "how about them...(fill in the blank)"

Especially in the office, talking about last night's game is supposed to break the ice, to start any discussion or a meeting. And if you are a member of the tribe, you are expected to, at least, know what happened last night at the game.

And, I think, it sets the double standards that women have to fight throughout their professional life. Starting at school, the jocks are the heroes. The girls are to cheer. Yes, I know, alumni contribute handsomely to support the home team and this is why a coach will be making a million while a science teacher only, what $70K?

We'd have an AWESOMELY aware electorate.

Shortly before their demise. Just another cliche statement, but very relevant at the same time.

The square electric drug is the new sedative for the masses.

And it contributres greatly to the increase of bad health.

Julie

Marx was talking about how religion is a consolation to people too poor to afford drugs to numb the pain of an alienated way of life:



http://atheism.about.com/od/weeklyquotes/a/marx01.htm