Duly Noted: Ignorance Rules

From the desk of George Handlery on Sat, 2008-03-29 10:34

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The bits in the mosaic of our time are overlooked as we focus on the big chunks. This column presents some issues that might deserve attention.
 
1. Charge and countercharge. Clinton attended the 2005 funeral of a Communist who served the cause from the 30s through 9/11. One that celebrated the Soviet Union (“Black men should associate their hopes with the promises of Socialism”) who went on the street for the atom-spies, the Rosenbergs (guilt confirmed by post Soviet Russia). Would Clinton have taken part if this individual had not been black? Is the answer “unlikely”? If so, what are we to think of the Clintonista charge that if Obama would be white he would not have gotten where he is?
 
2. Witnessing a strange game. Iran is working on a nuclear project. At best, those ingredients are being prepared which, when assembled, allow for the quick completion of a bomb. US diplomacy tries to enlist other powers to apply pressure on Iran to desist. These efforts are consistently emasculated, hindered or blocked. A possible consequence: direct action once the political process fails to provide for security. Once this happens, those now blocking a political solution will complain. They will allege that America‘s imperial preference for unilateral military solutions has deprived diplomacy from a chance to work.
 
3. China has the means and the local prestige to pressure North Korea economically and politically to live up to the promises it had made for juicy bribes. The West does not have unlimited time to write off concessions made in exchange for lies, deception and insults.
 
4. Regardless of “April 15” (for Americans) taxes are perennial topic. The more so since cutting taxes is becoming a mainstream issue. The left’s standard reaction to such nightmarish outrage is to claim that tax-cuts favor the rich. This is correct in a way not meant by those who raise the charge. Expressed in absolute monetary units, reduced tax rates affect the above average more than the below average. This is especially true when the lower 10-20% enjoy tax exemption. “No tax, no refund” is the principle that applies. Actually, lowered taxes do not damage the “poor”, they only hurt the left. In exchange for power conferred through votes cast, it has less to fork over to bribe its clients. Of some of these dependents, you can say that they are paid for being poor. Doing so assures us that they are likely to continue to live under precarious conditions.
 
5. Success! Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s Marxist dictator (sorry to use two adjectives when one suffices) has finally scored. The inflation rate is over 100 thousand per cent and so it might topple the hither world record set by occupied Hungary after WW2. An additional achievement emerges. No one is counterfeiting the papers used as imitations of money in the once prosperous country kidnapped by Mugabe.
 
6. Elections show how the voters reacted to the facts they thought they knew. However, contrary to what some party platforms imply neither elections nor the elected have the power to change the real facts.
 
7. A quick glance at platforms and party-programs reveals something significant about politicians and parties. They tell what some politicians think people want and how high they rate the street-smartness or the gullibility of the vowed. The matter is two pronged. For one thing, there is a tendency to promise to change the facts. (Shutting down nuclear power stations in Germany and gaining the needed energy from the sun and the wind.) Even more frequent is the case when the challenging facts are ignored to imply that doing so amounts to a solution. In this case, the core of the political dogfight is about whether a problem exists or is properly beyond the pale of civilized discussion. (Almost everything connected to immigration falls into this category.)
 
8. It is often hard to determine whether those that ask for tolerance aim at ultimate domination. It is equally difficult to tell whether the advocates of compromise seek, a common denominator based on reason or, driven by self-hate, they just need an excuse to give up.
 
9. Under new management, France and Germany express greater solidarity with Israel than shown earlier. What will be the substance once the situation demands more than declarations? Both countries are democracies with elections and are led by politicians in need of votes. There is no majority appreciative of Israel’s predicament, in fact there is no awareness that a nuclear Iran’s will have an impact on Europe’s security either. A majority might even be lacking for military self-defense. Regarding the Near East, 3% of the Germans support Israel, 91% are neutral. Merkel has admitted the problem. She is also willing to educate her public. This, if seriously attempted, produces credentials that make her rise from mere politics to statesmanship.
 
10. Serbia proposes (24 March) to divide Kosovo along ethnic lines. With this she takes a position she had opposed when Kosovo’s independence was the issue. A detached logic, which might not convince the Albanians, demands that, this partition be supported. The earlier separation of Kosovo from Serbia implies that territorial integrity, wile preferable, is not sacrosanct. If borders are subject to revision when the principle of their inviolability collides with that of self-determination, then it applies to Kosovo, too. Therefore, the Serb districts adjacent to Serbia should be allowed to revert to Serbia. Kosovo’s reaction was “we do not discuss such proposals” as they are “reminiscent of the old way of thinking”. How this is proven as implied is unclear. What is clear, however, is that chauvinism catapults the infected into an exalted sphere to which common sense cannot rise.
 
11. Ignorance rules. The scene is a US quiz show. The contestant is to name the country whose capital is Budapest. It might be France, is the answer. Being wrong causes no embarrassment to the person who has never heard of a country called “Hungry”. The wide spread ignorance (in America and also in Europe) regarding politics, economics and even the recent past, is stunning. It is one thing to hold the educationalists responsible. Regrettably, permissiveness’ destruction of knowledge and values is allowed to continue. Even more frightening is that thanks to this cultivation of ignorance the past can, and is, coming back.
 
12. A connected case is the March 16 celebration of the Latvian Region in Riga. Even with much empathy for the tragedy of a small people trapped between unscrupulous great powers, there is reason for raising eyebrows. Helping the occupier that hurt your family less than did his enemy, is understandable. Especially when your community is small and is left without a decent ally. What is an understandable act in a desperate moment is still subject to subsequent review. Joining the Waffen SS to fight the Reds, or – this was more rarely the case – linking up with the Soviets to fight Nazis, was plainly wrong. That it happened is a sign of a predicament for which the Latvians were not responsible. This still leaves little reason to celebrate those who succumbed to the hopelessness of a moment that left them little choice. To praise those involved –instead of commiserating them at best – is a symptom of the mixture of ignorance and half-truths that determines the public affairs conscience of many of our contemporaries.
 
13. More regarding political culture and its Conservative component. A reader reacted to my previous posting by suggesting that the Palestinians should be “destroyed”. This must have been a from-the-hip reaction prompted by (understandable) frustration. The writer regrets that his piece has provoked this reaction. Extremism does not fit the conservative profile. We are individualists and as such resist the assignment of guilt based on group membership. Radical simplifiers have done that. Among the highlights are the Inquisition, the “Terror” of the French Revolution, the Communist in Eurasia and the National Socialists. We also believe in limited government and that the less force is used by it the better. As a related matter, conservatives regard individual morality and sense of responsibility as the factors best suite to set the limits of man’s actions. It is also these forces that are to guarantee the judicious yet resolute use of power once the safeguarding of life and liberties require it. We therefore also believe in the rule of morally sustainable laws that are made by individuals capable for, and committed to, rational thinking.

Ewwwwww....

Submitted by atheling on Wed, 2008-04-02 02:51.

*picturing something out of Silence of the Lambs*...

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

LOL!

Submitted by atheling on Wed, 2008-04-02 02:34.

Cough! Sputter! (Don't make me laugh, I have a cold)

He never did get around to answering your question about his creepy comment, did he?

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@Atlanticist911

Submitted by atheling on Wed, 2008-04-02 02:14.

What? No comment on the Rosie picture?  I would have thought that at least you'd run screaming from the room.

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

Sad state of education

Submitted by BollekeBoy on Tue, 2008-04-01 06:10.

There have been many arguments here about what may be better or worse about America when compared to Europe. I'm proud of my country, but when it comes to K-12 education Europe has us beat hands down. This is particulary true when it comes to basic math, science, and foreign languages. The one important area where both sides are lacking is in the proper teaching of history which is tragic. Flatlander is correct that the teacher's union in America is the problem. The union has the Democratic Party in their back pocket. The teachers claim that the reason the children in school are underachieving is that the schools are not 'fully-funded' so the Democrats get them more money. This process repeats itself over and over again. Where is the incentive to excel? The more you fail the more money you get. I'm not as familiar with the education systems in Europe, but I know my wife got a far better education in Belgium than the average American.

@atheling

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Tue, 2008-04-01 05:43.

I. In my initial statement on this subject, which was repeated exactly in my prior comment to you in this thread, I clearly stated "usually impregnated".

 

II. The academic institutions I used as sources, which are merely a few of the many scholarly inquiries into African-American slavery, are fairly diverse as far as it goes. I could prepare an exhaustively researched dissertation, however, I don't see you writing me any cheques thus far. Furthermore, that Western academic institutions generally take up ideological positions I disagree with to varying degrees, does not mean that they are incapable of decent research or that every faculty, instructor, professor and researcher is necessarily producing and/or disseminating fallacies or propaganda.

 

III. The ball is now in your court buckwheat. It is on you to prove me wrong, and not merely in the absolute sense. Obviously I can insert a "nearly" before the "all". However, that wouldn't prove "all" wrong or specify how close "nearly" is to "all". You will have to prove that a statistically significant number of African slaves were not raped. Expiration on the trans-Atlantic journey does not count. Neither does a descendant of a raped slave, as rape had already occurred and she may even be a product of it. I am explicitly referring to the first generation of female slaves, so escape to Canada or freedom following the Civil War again, does not count.

 

atheling: If you were to be stuck on a desert island with either the all white Rosie O'Donnell or the Latina Jennifer Lopez, who would you choose?

 

Rosie of course! I mean how many coconuts can you eat?! Haven't you seen "A Boy and His Dog"?

 

I'm sorry atheling, yoga, pilates and personal training do not equal tender meat and crackling skin.

@KA - This Rosie?

Submitted by atheling on Wed, 2008-04-02 01:05.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_MH9gixUWX70/RvH6YqSdNQI/AAAAAAAAADQ/TrRSCu2Ty38/s1600-h/TheRealRosie.jpg

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@KA

Submitted by atheling on Tue, 2008-04-01 16:43.

I stand by my comment. I know exactly what verbiage you used in your original statement.

However, I congratulate you on your mental gymnastics - you would have made Bill Clinton proud.

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@Atlanticist911

Submitted by atheling on Tue, 2008-04-01 00:49.

Lol! I was tempted to write a postscript to you in my original question to Kapitein Andre because I knew you wouldn't be able to help yourself!

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@Kapt. A...and when you least expect them..

Submitted by Sagunto on Mon, 2008-03-31 14:37.

;-)

 

"..Poke her with the soft cushions!.."

 

Anyhew, I thought it quite funny that a "Phd-holding" historian, obviously not specialized in the Middle Ages, I reckon, should ride such a high horse about "ignorance" whilst perpetuating age-old myths about this sinister mediaeval institution.

Bet he'd be able to conjure up many more stories concerning those supposedly "dark" Middle Ages. Specialists in the field often despair at the perpetuation of these popular myths, but hey.. I'll survive. I've got my own cushions handy ;-)

 

Perhaps Mr. - "we are all conservative individuals" - Handlery might not agree fully with an author like Henry Kamen ("The spanish inquisition", 1998), but really.. To first reproach radical simplifiers and then to line-up the Inq. with the Nazis? Seems like the shortest way to a self defying statement i.m.o.

 

Sag.

Mr Handlery perpetuating ignorance..?

Submitted by Sagunto on Mon, 2008-03-31 10:04.

"..We are individualists and as such resist the assignment of guilt based on group membership. Radical simplifiers have done that. Among the highlights are the Inquisition, the “Terror” of the French Revolution, the Communist in Eurasia and the National Socialists.."

Oh dear, here we go again.
Equating the Inquisition with "radical simplifiers" and Lo behold! placing it in the illustrious company of the Nazis. Boy, have we heard that song before..

Speaking about radical simplification indeed ;-)

Wonder what sources make Mr. Handlery state such radical claims. Did he get any further than the famous sketch by Monty Python? I wonder..

Does Mr. H know that in those days when the Inquisition came about, the general public wasn't too friendly at all towards anyone they suspected to be a heretic? As a historian, he must at least be somewhat familiar with the need for regulated trials ("inquiry") instead of the vicious mob-rule that was commonplace? Why perpetuate the old one-sided myth about "The Inquisition" which is way past its sell-by date?
Wouldn't be due to some convenient bit of eh... "ignorance" now would it? ;-)

Kind regards from Amsterdam,

Sag.

 

@atheling

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Mon, 2008-03-31 06:43.

atheling: And of course, there's Kapitein Andre, who was taught by that wonderful European educational system that...

 

Actually my exact words were: "each and every female African slave was raped and usually impregnated by her White American owner". Moreover, facts such as these are not learnt in a primary and secondary classroom setting, as I am sure you are aware.

 

atheling: ...he has no evidence...

 

Although I cannot locate the exact sources which I relied on, as they included a television documentary programme and various studies in the field of racial anthropology, there is a wide literature on sexuality and slavery, due to Western academia's embrace of all things anti-racist (anti-White), feminist, socialist, multiculturalist, politically correct, etc.

 

According to Brandeis University, "rape of enslaved black women—by enslaved men or by white men—was commonplace", in the antebellum American South. The obvious aside, it contributed to "increasing the labor force" and was a "tool for inspiring terror". The Medical University of South Carolina supports this: "As early as 1660 in Colonial America laws encouraged the "sexual tyranny" of African American slaves by slave owners to enhance owners' economic and social gain." The University of Dayton regards such sexual abuse as the "secret" of slavery. Lastly, PBS stated that African American women had to endure the "practice of sexual exploitation" and that the practice was "widespread".

 

Given the rapes that were committed by occupying Soviet forces on Berlin's women following the city's fall in 1945, to such a large percentage (in the 90s) and within such a short time frame, one finds that the rape of African slaves by Whites in the United States is subject to a time and circumstance (laws, means, etc.) factor that reduces the number who were not raped to a statistically insignificant figure: hence my comment.

 

Below are the relevant links:

 

atheling: ...it's probably a secret dream of his...

 

This assumes I'm even attracted to them.

Hypothetical Question for Kapitein Andre

Submitted by atheling on Mon, 2008-03-31 21:35.

If you were to be stuck on a desert island with either the all white Rosie O'Donnell or the Latina Jennifer Lopez, who would you choose?

Just wondering...

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@KA

Submitted by atheling on Mon, 2008-03-31 20:03.

Excuse me, but you did NOT use the word "usually" in your statement. You said:

"Each and every female black slave was raped and impregnated by her American white slave owner".

Secondly, your quote from Brandeis U: "rape of enslaved black women—by enslaved men or by white men—was commonplace", does NOT mean that "EACH and EVERY female black slave" etc... The word "commonplace" does NOT imply that it occurred to EACH and EVERY female black slave. It implies that it was generally widespread - but the idea that it occurred to each and every black female slave is ludicrous. How can it be historically recorded, may I ask? Were journalists and witnesses present at EACH AND EVERY rape?

Also, the idea that they were ALL impregnated as a result of the rapes is absurd! What are the odds of that happening?

"there is a wide literature on sexuality and slavery, due to Western academia's embrace of all things anti-racist (anti-White), feminist, socialist, multiculturalist, politically correct, etc."

And so you rely on that? Do you think that maybe their assertions could be false (as well as absurd?) I find it odd that suddenly you claim that these people, whose agenda is to discredit any and all endeavors and actions by white men, are academically reliable.

I'm sorry, but getting your information from a television program is hardly good academics. If you can't recall what program it is, perhaps your memory of what was said is also quite faulty.

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

@Armor

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Mon, 2008-03-31 05:50.

Aryan supremacist?

 

Please! I have little regard for Iran or the Parsis of Northern India.

American education

Submitted by Flatlander by the Lake on Sun, 2008-03-30 23:32.

As an American, I can tell you that the problems with our education system could be easily corrected if we could wrest control of our schools from the grip of the teachers' unions.  Make teachers accountable, and eliminate tenure in our colleges.

Secondly, political correctness in the schools has resulted in the movement away from teaching the essentials: reading, writing and arithmetic (and science, and history, and geography, etc.)

 American kids are hard-working and very intelligent.  Our problem is with the grown-ups that are in control of the schools.

Best wishes from Chicago.

 

re: American education

Submitted by Armor on Mon, 2008-03-31 00:43.

"I can tell you that the problems with our education system could be easily corrected if we could wrest control of our schools from the grip of the teachers' unions."

Same thing in France.

What???

Submitted by atheling on Mon, 2008-03-31 02:27.

Armor blaming teacher's unions for this??? I thought for sure he would be blaming immigration!

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

It does seem just as bad in

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Sun, 2008-03-30 03:53.

It does seem just as bad in the UK, at least as far as the chavs are concerned.

 

Though many at the Brussels Journal deplore the idea that European youth believe in conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11, the War on Terror, etc., it demonstrates a certain understanding of global politics. Many Americans, unfortunately, do not even have an adequate knowledge of their own domestic politics, let alone those of France, Britain or Germany.

 

For all those considering seizing upon my YouTube link, please take note that it was forwarded to me by a dear friend...and an American born and bred.

Au contraire...

Submitted by atheling on Sun, 2008-03-30 23:11.

"Though many at the Brussels Journal deplore the idea that European youth believe in conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11, the War on Terror, etc., it demonstrates a certain understanding of global politics"

It does??? So, you're saying that believing in conspiracy theories like Marvin Brevnik (or whatever his name is) still demonstrates a "certain understanding of global politics"? Sheesh. And all this time I thought it meant that his tinfoil cap was wound too tightly around his head.

Oh, maybe you mean Monarchist, who, despite the overwhelming history of tyrannical European monarchies, still thinks (and I use that word lightly) it's better to bow to a king than to no one. He really came to the proper conclusion, didn't he?

And let's not forget kappert. Silly, foolish kappert, who somehow believes that singing Kumbaya will solve the world's problems. Now, from his STRANGE and disturbing recent post about sex, we see that he harbors some perverse disorders... wouldn't want that creep around my kids.

More recently, we see maitre'z (is that a PC term for a dishwasher?), who can only spit and spew froth from his keyboard. A poodle he is, or should we say, a rabid one?

Ooops, mustn't forget Armor, who blames immigration for everything - from declining birthrates to improper fractions. A product of inbreeding, no doubt, and a warning that people shouldn't marry their cousins.

And of course, there's Kapitein Andre, who was taught by that wonderful European educational system that EACH AND EVERY FEMALE BLACK SLAVE WAS RAPED BY HER AMERICAN WHITE OWNER. Of course, he has no evidence, but hey, it's probably a secret dream of his, being the Aryan supremacist that he is.

And you're quite wrong about American students not knowing about the domestic politics of France, Germany or Britain. Indeed, they are taught by their marxist teachers in high schools and poison ivy league schools how wonderful socialism is, how wonderful the multi culti society that exists in Europe is, and that we NEED to pattern our own nation after theirs. After all, based on current European policies, Obama is the dream candidate!

I heard that Der Spiegel is swooning over Obama... Doesn't that just make your day?

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

What about me ?

Submitted by Armor on Sun, 2008-03-30 23:41.

- Marvin Brevnik (or whatever his name is)
- Monarchist
- Silly, foolish kappert
- maitre'z (is that a PC term for a dishwasher?)
- Kapitein Andre, the Aryan supremacist

Hey, what about me ?

No Whinging Allowed

Submitted by atheling on Mon, 2008-03-31 00:00.

Buck up, Armor!

Compared to the frothing by your compatriot maitre'z, my post was genteel!

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine

Education

Submitted by Vincep1974 on Sat, 2008-03-29 23:20.

Education in the US is horrible. Agreed.  A significant portion of the youth believe that Churchill is a non-existant mythical figure. I cried when I read about that.

 

BUt it seems just as bad in the UK .. I can't speak about Europe as i dont know.

 

 

RE: "Ignorance Rules"

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Sat, 2008-03-29 21:14.

Handlery: Regarding the Near East, 3% of the Germans support Israel, 91% are neutral. Merkel has admitted the problem. She is also willing to educate her public. This, if seriously attempted, produces credentials that make her rise from mere politics to statesmanship.

 

Did not Western governments endeavor to educate their publics regarding the heinous goings-on in the Balkans and their sole perpetrators - the Serbs? No one is obligated to support any particular country and one's support or lack thereof cannot be considered on the face of it as ignorance.

 

Handlery: ...a country called “Hungry”.

That's why they came up with a country called "Turkey". If you're upper crust, there's "Champagne", and if you're dirty, "Bath". I'll spare you any reference to Thailand's capital.

 

In any event, Europeans seem far better educated than Americans on average, no doubt due to the abysmal quality of America's K-12 public education system.

 

For instance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SawqX45frdU