Today is astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan’s birthday (November 9, 1934, > December 20, 1996)
Most Americans do not learn from history. They will ignore, deny, or rewrite it to conform to their ideological bias.
We can’t expect the average American to be knowledgeable or even curious about science. It requires a basic foundation of math, biology, and chemistry with an understanding of the scientific method. An open mind and motivation to pursue a vast and enlightening, but also confusing, area of study isn’t in the nature of most people.
I’ve read some books by Carl Sagan and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and even “A Brief History of Time” by Stephan Hawking. That was enough to make my head spin, but also gave me a glimpse of our universe and a primitive understanding of astrophysics.
History, on the other hand, is more suited to simpler folks like me. Its lessons can be of equal importance to humanity as what we learn from science.
"Never again" seems to never sink in.
Sagan wrote a book on the evolution of human intelligence titled “Dragons of Eden” that explored human psychology and behavior in our journey from the trees to the savannah and caves, up to our so-called “advanced civilization”.
In his later book from 1995 “Demon-Haunted World” he notes a disturbing trend in America that explains its inevitable fall into Christian Nationalism and Trumpism.
Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is a way of thinking. I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time – when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness... The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.
This
week’s election has revealed the disturbing reality that most American voters have
succumbed to negligent, self-serving corporate media dereliction of purpose, and the primitive emotional
manipulation by a con man, that resulted in this kind of bamboozled celebration of
ignorance.
19 comments:
I remember that passage from A Demon Haunted World. Never thought in a million years it would get so extreme that some actually believe Democrats have the ability to generate and control hurricanes. Oh yeah, then there's the Jewish space laser thing.
Great post. I’ve read Sagan’s “The Demon Haunted World,” as well as Hawking’s book. The only way I could get a jot of understanding from Hawking’s book was through the patient explanations by my late husband, who was a physics major and graduate of MIT.
I’ve also read several of Richard Dawkins’ books as well, and am now a big fan of Yuval Noah Harari, who wrote “Sapiens, a Brief History of Humankind.” I’ve also listened to his podcasts and lectures. Maybe you are familiar with him?
I’ve also quoted that passage from Sagan on my blog, because it applies to the era of Trump we’ve been living in. It especially, IMO, applies to his cultists.
This quote by Asimov comes to mind today, “anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political & cultural life, nurtured by the false idea that ‘ my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”
#Resistance
Zaius and Shaw,
Trump and the Republican Party understand intuitively that "Ignorance is strength". "I love the poorly educated", illustrates this.
Years before Orwell's Big Brother slogan, Hitler realized it as well:
“I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few.”
“What good fortune for those in power that people do not think.”
Maybe this is what Trump meant when he said, "Hitler did some good things".
Close the Damn Border and Stop all this Illegal Immigration: This seems to be the response to hordes of illegals that are constantly flooding the border. Stop this “catch and release.and make it catch and Deport these Criminals and do it now. These 2 Moronic Democratic Candidates can't understand it, but when they lose, and Mr. Trumps runs rings around their sorry ass's they will understand and understand Good.
"Poncho" (sic)
Initially I took you for a long-time name-changing troll, but your response revealed you to be a different person.
So I'll start over and discuss your comment.
I agree border security and Illegal immigration need to be addressed. I also think we need to better vet immigrants and streamline the process for legal immigration.
The "moronic" dems said they would have supported the proposed bipartisan border funding bill, but Trump ordered his minions to kill it.
Trump now owns the border dysfunction. He shut down 1,500 new officers, expanded immigration courts, and MORE fentanyl detectors because he prioritized his political ambitions over dealing with the problem.
They're shaving their heads, coloring their hair
blue, became es·tranged from their families, and divorcing their husbands all because they lost. And they call us Trump Supporters a cult.
Who the hell is Sal talking about?
Did a cult leader tell someone to shave their head, color their hair, become estranged from families and divorce their husbands?
No. That would be how a cult works.
Did someone tell Sal to believe this crap?
Yes. That's how a cult works.
Sal proves my statement that, "A cult isn't a cult to a cult".
Sal is on the left side of the bell curve.
Shaw,
I'd like him to explain how they shave their heads and then color their hair blue.
Thinking is certainly low on their priority list.
Hey Dumbass, anyone would realize that I'm talking about the mass's not the same people that are "shaving their hair, and Coloring it blue" . But you seem to love to be a WISE-ASS and nit-pick at people's comments.
And as for Shaw, I'd bet that she's wearing all Black this week mourning for the death of Kamala's defeat.
So "Sal" is also "Anonymous" and "Opinionated and Right".
The poor confused fellow has identity issues or can't make up his mind. LOL!
And speaking of his inability to make up his mind, what am I, a "Dumbass" or a "WISE-ASS"? LOL!!
Let me help. I'm a smartass. 100%. Insults from low-information, poorly educated MAGA dupes and bigots roll off my back like water off a duck. In fact I welcome their neo-Nazi hate. It validates my judgment, knowledge, and virtue.
So, "Anonymous/Sal/Opinionated and Right", who are these "mass's" you're talking about? Got a photo? Names?
Just admit you copied it and have no idea what you're talking about.
It's pretty clear who the dumbass is. Thanks for showing the "mass's" what you really are. ;-)
Want to know the measure of character and decency? Compare the rection of Harris and her voters to the MAGA cult CRYBABIES. "WAAAH! RIGGED! They CHEATED! Elections only count when WE win! WAAAH!"
Watch the whiny little bitches STILL cry even with Trump having all the power he wants to commit more crimes. "But the libs! They need to be PUNISHED and sent to camps! How dare they call us fascists!!"
Putin LOVES his crybaby puppets.
Sagan's Pale Blue Dot -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO5FwsblpT8
Astrophysics, 3-dimensonal polar coordinate geometry and numerous nebulae can lead to some profound observations IMO. As for the ludicrous Trump nominations, we ponder whether he is testing his hyper-magnetic
hypnotism of the braindead? All, unqualified by any definition, like Caligula having his favorite horse made a member of the Roman Senate. In 4 years we may see the demise of the once Republican Party or the shameful era
of a series of Trump heirs leading our 3rd world pitiful remains of what was once the light of the world. Doggone, Dave - I'm glad I am so old and about finished on this Pale Blue Dot.
Yeah, BB,
When I was young I never imagined I would live so long to see why I would be glad I'm not young. After Reagan, Bush Jr. and Trump it all became clear.
Trump and Christian Nationalism will wreak their destruction and reduce the US into its deepest misery and shame.
The final toll of religion in politics could be humanity's self-extinction.
Why Humanity Must Overcome Religion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EdmF4OyoKI
"The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge, and there's no place for it in the endeavor of science...this combustible mixture of ignorance and power, sooner or later, is going to blow up in our faces".
Leftists please read, and Learn from what you read.
Trans = Is Really Only Make Believe
Because You Can’t Change Your Gender
DEI = Less for straight white men
Migrants ARE CRIMINALS and yes and they are ALSO ILLEGAL
Defund the Police was and still is Stupid
America Isn’t Systematically Racist
BLM is a TERROR GROUP
Affirmative Action is Racist
Queers for Palestine are dumber than Rocks
The Country Has Spoken, and Voted. So Live with it or Not, No One Really Gives a Damn! No One Cares Anymore.
PS Your Blog is Stupid, and Shaw's is even WORSE... You both need to GET A LIFE!
O&R,
Thank you.
We learned you are a white bigot and you FEEL like you are a "victim".
We learned you fear and hate Democrats, progressives, LGBTQ people, minorities, migrants, blacks and everyone sentient enough to see you for what you really are.
Not all migrants are criminals, but you VOTED for a convicted felon and indicted CRIMINAL.
You think "defund the police" is stupid, but voted for the CRIMINAL who wants a guy who said, "Abolish the FBI", to head the DOJ.
AND we learned you lack the mental acumen and language skills to logically dispute anything I write.
This is how you appear to rational people:
O&R: "Libs STUPID! Me SMART! Libs LIE! Trump HONEST!"
And, "They're EATING THE DOGS".
Dave Dubya
So "Sal" is also "Anonymous" and "Opinionated and Right"
Wrong as always David , I am not "Sal" as you and the other Moronic Dingbat claims, however your are Right about MY Hating Democrats just as YOU hate Republicans ... Only difference is that I Hate People like You and Shaw more than you could imagine.
O&R,
Thanks for confirming and projecting your hate and bigotry.
Bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices
especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
Your dishonesty is just as blatant:
Sal: "They're shaving their heads, coloring their hair blue..."
O&R: "Hey Dumbass, anyone would realize that I'm talking about the mass's not the same people that are "shaving their hair, and Coloring it blue".
How about that? You're either a liar or suffer from multiple personality disorder.
Yes, your cult is founded on hate, bigotry, and lies. That's why your intolerant cult blogs like Geez, etc. refuse to allow any dissent or discussion from those THEY HATE.
Thanks for confirming.
If I truly hated you, why would I tolerate your hate here? Hate clouds the mind and is destructive to both the hater and those he hates. Obviously you can't understand this, but the rest of us can see what hate does to people. It's a core symptom of White Nationalists, the Klan, and neo-Nazis. They delight in cruelty and suffering in those they hate.
Your hate defines you as one of their allies.
I have a niece and nephew who are in your cult. I do not hate them, nor do hate decent Republicans who show a conscience and loyalty to our Constitution. See Kinzinger and Liz Cheney. Even Mike Pence.
As I've said numerous times in the past, I do not hate cult members. They are lost souls who surrendered their conscience and ability to reason to an autocratic leader who fosters and thrives on their hate and paranoia. I pity them, but recognize their threat to justice, democracy, and equality.
Now go pray to Jesus to help you purge the darkness of hate from your corrupted soul. Love is the only antidote. White Christian Nationalists seem to ignore that lesson and choose to follow Trump's path of hate instead of true Christian love.
If you learn to reject hate, you would be welcomed into my home. Haters never make this offer, do they?
And yet you feel compelled to come here and bloviate on each entry Dave posts to this blog.
If trans is make believe, why does it bother you so much?
Tell us where the DEI touched you. Also, what's the word or phrase we're going to use next to have you folks frothing at the mouth like some sort of Pavlovian response? We've already done CRT, Woke, Affirmative Action, Title IX.
Migrants and the act of migration is not a crime. The United States is a nation of migrants. You, O&R, would do yourself a service if you understand what migration is. However, I suspect you are uninterested. You're drunk off the negative emotions your media consumption has given you.
Defund the Police is such a poor slogan, you're right. Bumper Sticker politics is part of the problem with this country's political discourse. Shifting funds and resources to other social services and taking the stress of some aspects and scenarios that fall upon the police departments of the country by default would be a better use of time and energy.
As for the systemic (Not systematically, that has a completely different meaning that what you intend) racism in America, that's just demonstrably false. It's also not your fault that it is, unless of course, you're perpetuating it. You know, like parroting something like BLM is a terror group or something...
Oh. Well... I guess you should probably educate yourself on what terrorism is. As well as, I guess, what a group is?
Oh, wait, there's Affirmative Action. We are still talking about that, apparently. But, hold up, I thought America wasn't systemically racist? Which is it? Maybe you can tell us where Affirmative Action has hurt touched you?
And, I guess, I can't really argue your point about Queers for Palestine. There's nothing to address with that succinct, steel-trap reasoning. Other than, perhaps, it's difficult for you to comprehend a marginalized group of people empathizing with another marginalized group? See, maybe that's the issue. You've never experienced being marginalized before. You know, since you're likely on the benefiting side of this country's systemic racism.
The Electorate has voted, yes. And we have to live with it, yes. However, I don't think it's very true to say no one gives a damn or cares. You're here giving a lot of damns and caring about it pouring from your fully capitalized words and insulting language.
TB3,
Now you've done it.
You've addressed O&R's lunacy with rational points!
Welcome to the "stupid club", where we have earned the hate and poorly educated nebulous assessment of a person who is convinced he has "all the answers". Paging Dunning and Kruger.
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