I have been involved with several political debates lately. How do I get involved? Simple. When I hear some dolt making a blanket statement about how "the threat of global warming is going to kill us all" or "we just need to go along to get along" I shout back at them. "What are you talking about? Do you have a slight bit of information to back up what you're saying? If not, shut up!"
So my life goes.
The tragic part of this is the fact that the people who think this way, KNOW that they are not logical and are not thinking but reacting from emotion. They often times tell me "I know in my heart that buying carbon credits is a good thing, I FEEL IT!"
What are all these things about? Failure of the Mind. People don't want to think anymore. Folks would rather go through life, gorging themselves at the table of mediocrity. Nobody wants to be special, nobody wants to earn, nobody wants to think. Chances are that if you have read this far into my post, these rules don't apply to you. However, if you often times turn on the history channel and think you are learning, you are not out of the woods yet.
People don't want to think. A friend of mine at work (who shares a similar disdain for lack of thinking) was recently talking to a person who he had a disagreement with.
Idiot: You don't have many friends, doesn't that bother you?
My friend: It's lonely at the top of the mountain. You lower your standards to please people, and that makes me sick.
Idiot: I would rather throw aside my standards than be lonely.
I wish this type of thinking was the abnormal, but tragically I find it to be the standard. Don't believe me? Find some bilge rat wearing a Vikings hat... Approach him and say "Excuse me sir, could you tell me who is the Quarterback for the Vikings?" When he promptly replies "Brett Favre of course". Come back quick with, "Could you tell me who the Senate Majority Leader is?". When he stares blank at you, just remember... Thinking is hard, that's why people don't do it.
Or try the Michael Savage test. Find a recent high school or college graduate (even a regular adult will do). Ask them "Scuse me sir... Could you tell me the difference between these 3 items:
1. Fettucini
2. Rigatoni
3. Mussolini"
When he calmly chuckles and says, "How silly of you! I have a PHD in Social Work, not in Italian Food! HAR HAR HAR!!!!" while he steps into his Prius, just remember how I say, "Thinking is hard, that's why people don't do it"
How does this have to do with conservative thought? It doesn't so much. It more has to do with "Rogue thinking" and going against the norm. Like signing your signature on the Declaration of Independence.
I firmly believe that if you talk to people, challenge them, and get them to think, they will become conservatives over time. There is no way around it. Get people to read books. Any book will do, because eventually they will want books with substance and authenticity, and look to classics and others that promote critical thought.
"Thou Shalt Think" -Ayn Rand
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Great post John! I know we have had many dicussions on how best to engage and challenge others and I think you are on the right track. We have seen this tactic work on some of our very own friends who now begin to engage in dreaded "doublethink".
ReplyDeleteAsk them a question and let the conversation and debate ensue, everyone will be better off because of it.
oh and by the way John... I know the answer to your little trivia quetion there.
Answer : 2 out of the 3 are delicious!
Mussolini are the italian noodels that come in the shape of various world dictators, right? Like "spider-man" macaroni! Mmmmmmmm Mmmmm.
ReplyDeleteMoving on.....I think your point can be shown also in the frequency that liberals attack the individual instead of the idea (Alinski), as well as their continuous play of the race card. It's the ultimate idiot trump card of the left. They equate any dissagreement with them on any issue to some horrendous historical event, or some dissproven scientific theory that hasnt been discussed for 500 years. Then they are able passify themselves by KNOWING that your opinons are dissmissable, and not worth further thought. If you don't like wellfare, then you must hate poor people, and are most certainly a racist. If you don't believe in global warming, you are a holocaust denying NAZI. If your against socialised medicine, then clearly you are Hitler-loveing, murderous fascist.
These are the same people who make ridiculious correlation/causations missteps in relating any two things that happen to coincide with each other (Ex: Ice cream consumption is the #1 variable for increases in crime). They don't want to really think about any issue at all, because the work required for any one subject is extensive. They would rather go rent "Bowling for Columbine"; and then they KNOW, that lack of government Gun restriction is the reason we have so much violence in school. They don't look at the real source of the problem, or the contrary evidence to the claims they hold. Too much thinking involved. They just stick with "4-legs good, 2-legs bad". At least until they are told that 4 is better.