Very interesting post there......

It's good that Europeans watch videos that show not all of us Americans are stupid

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I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.
You and I must fight to survive

Glad you liked it! Susan Jacoby is no dummy. And neither are most Americans.

As opposed to not meeting Americans in person?

What world are you from?

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And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

What world are you from? And what do you mean by your question "As opposed to not meeting Americans in person?"? It seems nonsensical, but perhaps you can derive a meaning?

Problem is, how are most Europeans supposed to meet Americans? I've been lucky enough to gone around the world a bit, and I've had the chance to meet a lot of people from different countries and cultures. But I can't afford to go to every country in order to meet the average folks. And I seriously doubt that many people can.

Face it, we form our opinions from the areas we have access to, mainly the media. Forums like this one has definitely helped the situation, but most people still tend to have fairly limited knowledge of the rest of the world.

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Could you perhaps comment on Susan Jacoby's views? Given your vast experience abroad, your view would seem even more relevant.

I think she has some valid points.

I agree that we have failed to understand other nations and their methods, and that has possibly limited our responses to our own problems.

I disagree that the POTUS is the "teacher-in-chief", but I do think that our leaders' ingrorance has influenced the nation greatly.

I agree that many Americans do not attempt to learn multiple views on subjects. We tend to only look for information that reinforces our current opinions.

On "infantainment" my first impression is to disagree with her. The average 5 year old spends about 14 hours awake. Reading is not the only continuous interaction we have with our children. Without reading her book, I don't know what other information was considered.

I agree that our public education systems is a joke at best. On creationism and evolution, I disagree with her. I think that both should be taught, one as science and one as religous philosophy. Children need to have exposure to both.

I also agree with her comments on the constitution.

But, this is based just on the interview. Think I might pick up the book and see what else she has to say.

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A very interesting piece and I think a lot of her facts reflect how uneducated and misinformed the American public is at times.

However, I don't know if we can just "go back to the ol' days." With the advent of new media formats that cater to short, quick soundbites, I don't see how we can have an information format that can attract so many and give out so much information like the "good ol' days."

But then again, the 30's and 40's were no golden ages of information. Government propaganda hit its high marks during WWII and news reporting was incredibly shoddy. If anything we have WAY more access to information, its just a matter of the average citizen taking the time and looking for this information.

That's not to say the media doesn't deserve its fair share of blame either. By progressively moving to infotainment/ "infantainment" it has literally cut out education and replaced it with entertainment. IF the news were as academically rigorous as 50 years ago and actually posed both sides of questions instead of catering to either one side or the other, we might have news stations that serve their function to inform.

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And you don't understand how that might be a problem?
Having seen a few "infotainments" Her meaning seems clear.
Could you provide a reason why?
Good for you!