He thinks that intellects are full of themselves?
Maybe they don't like people to think too much, much like the brainless media and entertainment industry.
The USA seems so happily non intellectual.
So happily downhome and yahoo.
Is this something to be proud of?
refinement seems like a dirty word, and thinking seems like a dirty word to most of the powerful.

Originally posted by schmoe
He thinks that intellects are full of themselves?
Maybe they don't like people to think too much, much like the brainless media and entertainment industry.
The USA seems so happily non intellectual.
So happily downhome and yahoo.
Is this something to be proud of?
refinement seems like a dirty word, and thinking seems like a dirty word to most of the powerful.

Huh?

Maybe he find a lot of people who call themselves "intellectuals" to be snobby and condescending. I know I do. But I disagree that the US is not intellectual.

has this been a statement from him?

politicians don't like intellectuals becasue they tend to be the one's who plot against the governemnt, incite revolutions, etc. etc. though I doubt there are any large scale plans to overthrwo the governement right now (and if there are, why have I not been informed?) but it's just the inherent intimidation of knoing that some people actually see the corruption of he governement that politicians don't like. most poeple aren't all that smart, which is a principkle governemnts must function on, and usually exploit, so those who aren't the norm aren't all that welcome. although I doubt the U.S. is any less intellevtual freindly than other countries. you just can't make a living being ap philosopher any more these days. (which is why sputnik and I will end up living in a box under the brooklyn bridge)

schmoe

Well put and I agree with the majority of your post in general. I could argue that the entertainment people are really no different than mainstream americans, some are dems, some are reps, some are educated and some are uneducated ... but they have the power of the media at hand showing them off (or riduculing -- whichever is appropriate at the time) so we, as everyday people tend to either hate them or like them. There's is no inbetween, notwithstanding the spontaneous shifting of political positions -- I.E. one day the Dixie Chicks are the good gals and the next day their the bad gals over one single statement. That type of behaviour is more of a testament to the left/right ideological divide that exists throughout the country.

Also, I'm not sure the USA is full of happy, proud, downhome and yahoo-ing non-intellectuals. Our colleges and universities are crammed full all the time and our grad schools have waiting lists, all of which betray the idea of us being happily dumbed down.

Granted there are some that take the path of least resistance but that really isn't that many -- it only seems like it is because that's what we see on TV. NASCAR, Survivor series, tractor pulls, pudding wrestling, whatever -- that for some reason, right or wrong, have been associated with dumbing down. Don't shoot me on this one -- I'm only the messenger.

Refinement is a dirty word with probably 1/3rd of the country. Outside of that narrow-minded set, most people simply can't afford to take part in the activities which are defined as refined.
(Rhyming not intentional.)

If, for example, you have a friend that loves the rodeo and has never been to a symphony, it's probably because (s)he just can't afford to do both so the money goes to the known loved event which is the rodeo. Now, suppose you buy a ticket for this friend and take him to the symphony. Chances are that friend will enjoy it, admit to enjoying it and feel good about being able to say in general conversation "Yeah, I've been to the symphony". It doesn't make the person (or you) refined anymore than the next person -- it only means you're enjoying life a little more than someone else.

To answer the original question: Why doesn't our president like intellectuals? Dunno.

Dop

Lungdop;

Going to a car race or tractor pull doesn't make one smart or stupid, it just shows they may like something fast pace. Maybe they like the roar of the engine or maybe they want to see a crash. Lets all go to the symphony and wait f o r t h e a.c.t.i.o.n. What we choose to do for fun doesn't allways show what ones smarts are. Lets face it how many people do you know that are real smart, but still like to drink, smoke, etc... Now that doesn't take much smarts does it?

Mad dog

That's why I added a disclaimer to that part of the post which states I'm only the messenger.

I'm simply pointing out that certain events are tied to certain types of people -- right or wrong -- they are.

I personally never judge a person on anything except how that person acts toward me. I couldn't care less where his/her head is.

Dop

Originally posted by Lungdop Philing
Mad dog

That's why I added a disclaimer to that part of the post which states I'm only the messenger.

I'm simply pointing out that certain events are tied to certain types of people -- right or wrong -- they are.

I personally never judge a person on anything except how that person acts toward me. I couldn't care less where his/her head is.

Dop


Dop So you dont think perpetuating the sterotype is wrong? That is hypocritical at best Dop.

I don't see how you can read 'perpetuation' into my post Havok but the point is taken.

I don't stereotype beyond what is considered acceptable and in good taste. An example would be a polish joke. They've been around so long now that no one with moving gray matter takes them seriously. Even my polish friends laugh at them.

In my post, I only point out what I see -- not what I feel. I think that should be quite clear.

And now that I think of it, my example belies the fact that sterotypes can be perpetuated at all; at least not in the sense we perpetuate a 'species' or in other words "forever".

Dop