Brains Are Back!

Jeepers, what would you say if Mr. Obama had lost? While I did not vote for Mr. Obama, I will not spend the next 4 years lamenting Mr. McCain's loss. I will not be a sore loser. I will not speak poorly of my new President. I will not degrade him at every opportunity. I will not be gleeful when he makes a mistake. I truly hope that he succeeds for all of our sakes during this difficult time. And if he does I might consider voting for him in 4 years. You see Mr. Hirsch, I am an American and you - well, I am not sure what you are.

Thank you Mr. Hirsh for saying so well what I think. I too look forward to the return of intellectualism and old fashioned USA pragmatism. Thank you!

Excellent bit of opinion editorial, but there are a few more things I would add... By not taking irrational and unscientific view points to task, the media helped create and sustain the era of anti-intellectualism that erupted as a backlash against the social upheaval of the 1960s. Academia and rationalism became enemy number for those with extreme views, especially those on the far right in the US. The misconstrued idea that every concept or story has two sides and that each deserves equal weight led to a ridiculously childish and superficial public discourse over the last 30 years about everything from global warming to civil rights for gays and lesbians. In the information age it is not enough for journalists to present a so-called "unbiased" story by simply printing what someone says about a subject in quotation marks without any fact-checking or analysis of the issues. If the mainstream media cannot provide this type of analysis in the modern age, then their role as disseminators of information will be replaced by highly ideological and biased websites and programming where zealots are all too happy to provide their biased analysis of the facts or simply lie to further their agenda. So, it would be easy to scapegoat "Sunbelt politics" for our nation's anti-intellectualism, but the truth is that there is plenty of blame to go around. Just recall the way the press failed to challenge our head-strong and ideological right-wing politicians in the run-up to the war in Iraq.

WeisWulf, I think I might love you.

Adclose, if you are talking to me, you did not read a single word that I wrote. I never said he would be sprouting anything, as Mr. Hirsch mentioned "Barack's last name is not panacea" . However, Barack is thoughtful (what makes you think he's not?) and has never given any indication that he is hasty or impulsive so far, if you have proof I would love to hear it.

The recent events as well as your above comentary and others like it are a great relief to me. I live in soutwest Ohio, where one-occupant, sureally huge SUVs and beat-up pick-up trucks still proudly display "Bush / Cheny '04' stickers. I had come to feel despair and alienation about a nation where the height of "wisdom" and patriotisim seemed to have become willfull ignorance; loud, angry arrogance; rigid black & white thinking about complex issues; fear and loathing of "THEM"; sociopathic pursuit of self-interest and reacting to world events and anyone who questioned current policy with the mentality of a high-shool jock.

We can all be thankful that Sarah Palin, the epitome of the "ignorant American" stereotype did not make it to DC. Although anti-intellectualism is deeply ingrained in American culture, let's all hope that its heyday has passed as we begin to grasp the magnitude of what faces us as a country and as part of the world community.

What a marvelous article, Mr. Hirsh. Thanks so much for your insight which you express so well.

You will (and have, I see) receive many comments here from people who have all kinds of reasons why your championship of intellectualism is anti-faith, anti-patriotic, anti-American, etc. Ignore them, read only the much more numerous comments from admirers and supporters, like myself.

Man there are alot of bitter McCain supporters on here. I can't believe that some folks have such selective memory. Bush flat out LIES to the american people, terrorizes a country that has aboslutely nothing to do with terrorism, McCain swears the fundamentals of failed Bush economic policies are solid, Palin can see Europe from her house...where does it end? After the bumbleling idiocy of the last eight years, how bad can Barack really do? He is highly intelligent and thoughtful and does not shoot straight from the hip. The man is not the Messiah but at least he has a plan and is willing to work with others to get America out of a hole that Bush has so rapidly dug for us. WAKE UP PEOPLE. Michael you are right on point with this article.

Okay, I just can't let this fabulous thread pass into history without one more teeny observation:

It is flat-out hilarious that the pattern of responses seems to be "Michael Hirsh is a big MEANIE! What an immature jerk he is to call a spade a spade!"

I guess it could be argued that it's not necessarily nice to point out the flaws and shortcomings of others, that's true. Of course, it's also not nice to alienate half (or more) of the country by casting aspersions on both their patriotism and their character for daring to question the wisdom of disregarding things like information and consideration as valuable tools of governance.

So, y'know, I'd say maybe we're a little closer to even now. Check back with me in four years and we'll see how the tally's shaping up.

What a marvelous article, Mr. Hirsh. Thanks so much for your insight which you express so well.

You will (and have, I see) receive many comments here from people who have all kinds of reasons why your championship of intellectualism is anti-faith, anti-patriotic, anti-American, etc. Ignore them, read only the much more numerous comments from admirers and supports, like myself.

Says Michael Hirsch?? LOL!!!

as for intellectual..I should probably spell check my wording before hitting send :)

I like the "anti-illectualism" sentiment, espeically since I'm independent, but to take a potshot against McCain, especially the "72-cancer victim" part. What the hell was that?

You say Obama will not get wrapped up in ideology, then say he's avoiding Bush's summit because "he doesn't want to be tied to Bush?" No one in their right mind would ever link Obama to Bush, so what's his REAL reason? Probably the reason is, Obama will scrap whatever Bush lays down at this summit and start over, so why bother? Same question I'd be asking Bush.

Technologist, you are correct in that God's law does not apply to me. I also don't recognize the legal powers of Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and The Loch Ness Monster because, like God, they are ficitional characters.