April 29, 2003
Withhold information. Ignore and hide what doesn’t support your point of view. Manage facts. Demonize opponents. Over on Insiteview, Tom Shugart cites some frightening quotes from a truly disturbing review of a new book, 'The Language Police,' by educational authority, Diane Ravitch, appearing in today’s New York Times.
The book apparently documents the ridiculous levels of censorship and educational manipulation that occurs when both the 'compassionate conservatives' and the 'politically correct' exert their influence over not only what gets taught, but even what is allowed to come up for discussion in the classroom.
No wonder the Little Picture is so skewed. Look at what the even some mainstream media is finally admitting about the behavior and attitudes of our fearless American leaders as they model what it means to be educated, thoughtful, responsible, adult citizens and role models in the Really, Really Big Picture:
From ABC News: To build its case for war with Iraq, the Bush administration argued that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, but some officials now privately acknowledge the White House had another reason for war — a global show of American power and democracy.
From the Independent: The case for invading Iraq to remove its weapons of mass destruction was based on selective use of intelligence, exaggeration, use of sources known to be discredited and outright fabrication, The Independent on Sunday can reveal…. A high-level UK source said last night that intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic were furious that briefings they gave political leaders were distorted in the rush to war with Iraq. "They ignored intelligence assessments which said Iraq was not a threat," the source said.
If we want our kids to become educated, thoughtful, responsible, adult citizens, we're going to have to start making changes at the very heart of who we are as role models -- Big Picture and Little Picture.
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Old Comments (3)
Tom Shugart on 30 Apr 2003
Thanks for connecting this information to its broader context. Excellent point!
myrln on 30 Apr 2003
4 questions for our roll mottles:
-- Where is bin Laden?
-- Where is the anthrax mailer?
-- Where are the WMDs?
-- Where is Saddam?
All these, Dubya and Friends told us were essential to be found. So....? A measure of the administration's meaningful effectiveness (aside from killing people)?
And a 5th question: Where is Dick Cheney? Is it true they keep him cryogenically-suspended until such time as they deem him needed to make an appearance???
Kate S. on 30 Apr 2003
I can't help but think about the little boy who will grow up and someday ask his father: "What did you do in the war, Daddy, when I got my heart transplant back home?"