What neuroscientist and public intellectual Sam Harris says about the thought expressed at left is, “There is no reason for us to have the word ‘atheist’ in our language. Is there a word that means ‘the group of people who don’t believe that Zeus is the king of the gods?'”
“Failure to conduct an oversight hearing on Secretary Kennedy’s actions would be an abdication of our responsibility—both from a moral perspective and as a matter of sound public health policy,” argues Sen. Bernie Sanders and HELP Committee Democrats.
One of the most pathetic aspects of the dwindling spiral of American civilization is its rejection of science. We clearly don’t care how many men, women, and children die of preventable diseases, and we certainly don’t worry about the capacity to support life now, and into the future.
IMO, what Plato said here is true in some cases, but certainly not all.
Lots of people, me included, make a big deal out of standing up against injustice, even though we’re extremely unlikely to be personally victimized by it.
I’m an older, financially secure, straight white guy. It’s going to be very difficult for anyone or anything to commit an injustice against me and get away with it. In fact, protecting people like me is one of the few things this country is still proficient at.
I like the idea expressed here, and I would include:
Honesty, trustworthiness, warmth, humor, mercy, charity, integrity, kindness, helpfulness, fairness, curiosity, and empathy.
What can the rest of the world possibly think about a country whose leader makes a disgusting generality about the people of another nation?
Why in hell can’t we remove him?
We all know that many corners of the globe are afire on account of religious differences. Israel and Palestine are two entirely different religions, so it makes sense that one’s trying to exterminate the other. But how far apart are Shiites and the Sunnis?
In the United States, it’s even more indefensible to have enmity, potentially violent, between religions.
What a brilliant insight this is.
We search for reasons why conservatives are able to organize so much more effectively than liberals, and perhaps Chekov has nailed it right here.
Conservatives, especially those in today’s MAGA ultra-right, have a visceral hatred of dozens of different groups they find vile: liberals, intellectual elitists, non-whites, Muslims, LGBTQs, “corrupt” scientists, environmentalists, animal rights activists, those who dare question the power of the president, to name a few.
Indeed, hate is a powerful motivator. Let’s hope it doesn’t destroy us.
One of our nation’s thorniest problems is the ignorance of the voter base. Small-town Kentucky voted for Trump by a huge margin, but they can’t seem to figure out that they are cold and hungry, in part, because of Trump’s policies that include cutting food assistance programs, tariffs that drive up food prices and cripple farmers, and creating enormous tax cuts for billionaires.
The cartoon below captures this nicely.
The world is sitting on the edge of its seat, wondering about this question. He’ll be gone soon, but how will history remember him?
A question in return:
Will the rest of the world ever get over the catastrophe that has happened here in the United States? There are plenty of credible thinkers who believe that the answer is no.
They say that the world’s people will never forget that, even as of today, approximately 50 million American voters avidly support this criminal madman.
Trump will soon be gone, but what about the fact that half of Americans are hateful idiots?
Almost all respondents on social media were enthusiastic about banning the garb at left.
Two points:
1) I’m thrilled to live in a country that protects its people’s freedom of expression. As an older American, I’m not crazy about massive tattoos, face-piercings, and young guys walking around with their pants worn down around their knees, but I’m a real fan of the United States Constitution.
The author of the meme might want to take a peek. It’s a good read.
2) What actually works on a societal basis, and what no one can regulate, is public acceptance or rejection. You’re free to wear extreme forms of the hijab, or claim that the Holocaust was a hoax, or believe that the Earth is flat, or tell your neighbors that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, that you, with no training in science, think climate change is a hoax, or that vaccines are often lethal.
However, you’ll pay a stiff price in terms of acceptance into refined society. Want to get a high-level job or join a country club dressed like that? Do you think that spouting off the gibberish of uneducated MAGA slobs in the workplace will advance your career?
Good luck.
