-
-
Our Founding Fathers On Liberty and Tyranny
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perfect union... a free union. We don't truly have that today, and the main reason why is because we as a people have to really want it. I question now if we really do, and that is sad. These words of wisdom and warning from men who though flawed were brilliant and who knew something themselves about slavery of the mind and soul are words to be reflected on. As John Adams said, "Liberty once lost, is lost forever." We as a people are allowing liberty to slip away as we distract ourselves and lose our focus on these words. How I wish we had men of such courage and brilliance as these to once again point us in the right direction. However, their words can be the inspiration we need to now do that. The question is: will we? To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perf... more
-
rough cut: something about love
if romance is about skewed perception and documentary is about objectivity, then this was the most obvious way to get over reuben.
(previously titled "don't even think about parking here" until i remembered how much i value subtlety) if romance is about skewed perception and documentary is about objectivity, then this was the most obvious way to get over reuben. ... more -
On Reason - Big Think
"Steven Pinker talks about his personal philosophy and what reason means to him."
-
Al Gore's The Assault On Reason A Transference Of Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson and Al Gore. Both spokesmen for truth, both statesmen of exemplary principle. But are we truly heeding their words?
"My hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by reason." --Thomas Jefferson to George Mason, 1791. ME 8:124
"I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of the issue where reason is left free to exert her force." --Thomas Jefferson to Comte Diodati, 1789. Papers 15:326"
Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights." --Thomas Jefferson to Ezra Stiles, 1786. ME 6:25
"A government of reason is better than one of force." --Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 1820. ME 15:284
"This blessed country of free inquiry and belief has surrendered its creed and conscience to neither kings nor priests." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1822. ME 15:385
"It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified." --Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1820. ME 15:258
snip
And that is why I have to type this as well as a supporter of Al Gore who is now on my third time reading The Assault On Reason which to me is the Jeffersonian doctrine of our time: Al Gore stated right from the beginning that this book is not a 'candidate' book, and that is correct. It is a serious look in the mirror not only for those in our government who have abandoned reason in exchange for the politics of fear, propaganda, and expediency of men over the rule of law, but more so for the complicit corporate media that is their accomplice, and even more so for the citizens of this country used by that fear, propaganda, and expediency who on the whole constantly complain about the state of affairs but who never seem to want to get their hands dirty when it comes to truly standing up for it. This book is a primer for them in doing that, and yet I don't get the feeling that is how many see it and that is disappointing to me.
I have stated many times how I would feel regarding Mr. Gore leading us in a system envisioned by Jefferson, and I am absolutely heartbroken at the turn of events these past eight years after fighting for him for so many years before that. He will always be my president, and has been since December 13, 2000. However, as he has stated as well, this is not about him but about all of us, and he has done more for this world as a statesman than any of the cretins that stole this Democracy from us and for that he will have my undying respect because he has done it and continues to do it against all odds with a conscience and moral awareness I frankly do not believe politicians possess or are allowed to possess.
He is the premiere American statesman of our time which has come with many years of service through wisdom and pain, and the words I read and am again reading in his book were not read with the eyes of someone just looking to use quotes in them to prop him up as a 'candidate' in a toxic system that wronged him and us for political expediency. I see clearly what he is talking about in this book. And what he is talking about is exactly what Thomas Jefferson spoke of in his time when he was one of the premiere American statesmen: and that is that a Democracy is only as 'Democratic' as the people make it. It cannot be done from the cheap seats. It must be hands on or it is lost. And that does not always mean from a political place, for surely as we have seen those who work outside to bring change inside have been more successful in bringing that change.
more at the link. Thomas Jefferson and Al Gore. Both spokesmen for truth, both statesmen of exemplary principle. But are we truly heeding their words? ... more -
The Rule of Reason: From Jefferson To Gore
"Shake off all the fears and servile prejudices under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1787. ME 6:258 Papers 12:15
The above words spoken by the greatest American statesman, Thomas Jefferson, are very important words regarding American Democracy today. And as Mr. Gore so aptly and eloquently illustrated in his speeches in January 2006 and October 2005, they are words that have slowly been eroded in the ever present atmosphere of government/corporate ownership and manipulation of our airwaves, our newspapers, and our thoughts.
This proliferation of corporate ownership (used to send out propaganda messages to the public ever so subtly while freezing out free thought and important information essential to sustaining true free and balanced Democratic thought not only in the marketplace but in our communities,) has also spawned a society more concerned with distractions for entertainment rather than the preservation of our Democracy. Even today we see that a vast number of Americans have been brainwashed by subliminal suggestion to think that anything they see on TV has to be true. They think the government would never do anything to hurt or lie to them and that no matter how many elections are stolen that the process is still fair and sound. And as a result of this blind trust and in many cases fear brought on by this propaganda they do not then take it upon themselves to research, to read, to analyze, and to then think with their own reason to form their own opinions.
These are the exact types of people George W. Bush and his Neocons look to target, and unfortunately to the detriment of this Democratic Republic they have to date been successful. And to be honest this has been going on for decades.There have also been many scientific studies done over the years on the affects of television viewing amongst the masses. Those who are involved in the political end of it know about these studies as well and that television is a medium that can be manipulated to give the desired effect regarding propaganda. They then use it well, and their mantra is if you control the media you control the masses. And to a great extent it is true.
However, this is not being governed by the Rule of Reason, this is being governed by people the likes of characters in a George Orwell novel. And it has not only eroded colorful and passionate political discourse in this country as well as truth, it has eroded the very Democratic Republic Jefferson and the Founding Fathers so passionately envisioned all those years ago.
The Rule of Reason was also the guidepost used by our Founding Fathers as they searched for the freedom they did not know under King George III. They had then come from an aristocracy, a government ruled not by reason but by divine right. And it was this rule by divine right, the presupposition that wealth and absolute power trumped reasonable free thinking men (and most certainly women) that prompted these seekers of truth and freedom to birth the United States of America.
And now in this age of technology those who hold absolute power have so many more mediums with which to exert that control besides the written word. In one of his speeches regarding media, Al Gore spoke of "digital brown shirts." This phrase seems to have ruffled the feathers of some at the time, but I believe it is accurate. For there is no better example in my opinion of a modern digital brown shirt than Clear Channel Communications which has been in the pocket of the Bush administration as it slowly gains more and more control over the airwaves.
more at the link "Shake off all the fears and servile prejudices under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and... more -
Al Gore Was Right: Our Political Campaigns Are An Assault On Reason
Will we ever see a campaign where someone with qualifications could be seen as a serious contender without having to be a millionaire? It sure isn't this one. Will we ever see a campaign where someone with qualifications could be seen as a serious contender without having to be a millionaire?... more
-
Sam Harris at AAI 07
Sam Harris's infamous speech at the 2007 AAI conference. Very ballsy!
-
related topics
Reason
Contributors (25)
Reason
