yes, it is saddly that i say this. Americans are the stereotype of the blind. We trust our government too much. As a society, we need to ask more questions. We need to put more trust in ourselves, and not democracy. We need to rebel. We will not be silanced. Ok, that was it for my monolog.

I lay blame squarely at the feet of American parents. No nation spends less time with their children, and no nation complains more loudly about the education system as a knee-jerk reaction to the rampant stupidity that results.

Don't get me wrong, the education system is in shambles, but that's besides the point. The point is, they're your kids, so educate them. Simple.

Parents don't have enough time, or rather, they don't make enough time. Kids are coming into the world looking up to musicians and movie stars because they lack the guidance necessary to fully realize their potential. They're isolated from the aspects of learning most important, imitation and discipline. There has been a catastrophic failure of parents in this country to do right by their kids.

It won't change until we change it.

Now, that being said, I agree that there is a large degree of programming going on. Frankly, Advertising has gotten smarter and more cunning, while people have gotten dumber and more gullible, and that's a deadly combination.

We're raised to be good little consumers, mindless, soul-less, drug addicted psychotics. We're told that soda, coffee and cigarettes, pharmaceuticals and food additives are good for us, and herb, blow, and other assorted 'narcotics' are bad for us. That's a blatant double standard reinforced by stupid parents, which makes for stupid kids. We're told that we're insane, "Mental illness rates are SKYROCKETING" and on top of that, we're told it's all our fault. Nevermind the fact that we live in a hypocritical, insane society. That couldn't possibly have anything to do with it right?

I think there will either be a very real change in the next decade or less, or else this country, and indeed the world is doomed. No pressure or anything.

all the attention that is focused on commercialization and marketing has a lot to do with it. things are just overwhelming at times, its as if nothing or no one can survive without adhering to the giant corperate entity. it considered socially unacceptable to blast the way things are. problmes abound, with the facts under the table. definatly not a good situation.

Two examples. On 19 March, the day the war with Iraq began, two experts in child psychology appeared on a highly regarded radio show in southern California to talk about the best way parents should explain world events to their impressionable offspring. Betsy Brown Braun, a child development specialist, acknowledged the difficulty of justifying the morality of warfare to children forever being told to resolve their differences without resorting to violence. But her solution was simply to defer to the official line. Parents, she said, should explain that "we tried to talk to people in Iraq", but that this is "a dangerous situation that has to be stopped". "Think what you will about President Bush," she went on, "it is our job to let our children know that President Bush's number one concern is that everyone who lives in this United States is safe, that we're not trying to hurt anybody, that we want to keep all the people in the world safe."

HAHAHAAHA What a load.
My daughter is four, the war started before her 2nd birthday. Bush has been known to her, since that time as "The evil man". She knows the war is about greed, and not about keeping anyone safe, and that thousands of people have been killed. She was as upset as I was when Bush was not removed from Office, "Daddy how come people didn't vote against the evil man?" She went to the voting booth with me so it was personal for her.

I teach her "Not to believe the hype", when I see her mesmerized by television or print ads.
How many parents tell their kids the truth? Not many. First theres a Santa Claus, then an easter bunny, then jesus, then the boogey man, then those pesky terrorists who hate our freedoms, and the biggest myth of all, a President that is concerned about the welfare of people...how laughable, maybe I'll leave out milk and cookies for him should he and his Homeland Security Elves visit me in the middle of the night on their mission to spread democracy.

Most parents don't tell there kids that the corprations are willing to poison them for profit. Instead they want to shut there kid up so in the mouth goes the pepsi and the candy and the mcdonalds.
Then they buy there girls barbies and say "this is what girls are supposed to play with", followed up with a life long affair with cancercous cosmetics followed by mounds of maintenance drugs.

Most kids are raised by daycare. Then go home to passively watch TV full of commercials that people just allow themselves to be deluged with. When Possible I hit the mute button, thats half the battle, and more when possible avoid commercial television and anything with "pro-cop, pro special ops, pro drug war, pro spying, or pro religion" messages. Keep the brain washing to a minimum.

12 more years, and my kid is going to be a voter registration card holding free minded hell raiser.



Get your kid on the right path today, teach them the truth!!!

It's also visual and audio brain washing. The GOV pays and blackmails the TV companies to subliminally teach people that the wars and the destruction of countless people are in the name of good.

Legalizer,
Why is it that people like you only have one child or two at the most and it's the idiots of the world who are having like 17 kids most of which are abandoned intentionally by those who spawned them??

Don't forget to remind your kid that when she does become an adult, approx. 90% of her Adult Peers are not to be trusted, either because of their Pre-Programmed Agenda or because of their Incompetence.

BTW, you got my WATS vote.

You know you are right, people can not understand why I can be so open in my views and I can see more of what is going on that most people.

You know why, because I was not brainwashed at childhood (only by religious believes) but not by that blind love, obedience and compliance that make some be tag fanatical patriotic that agree with anything and follow blindly without quesiton.

Why? because until I was 21 I was not living in the US, and after I came here it took many years with me not really be that much involve but on raising my children.

Now I understand and now I have the time to contemplate on the American patriotic meaning, and Its true most people are just brainwashed.

No only about political views but religious views.

I made sure that my children were open minded and to disagree with what they see no fair and balance.

These arguments are ridiculous. Our education system is in shambles? We are so bad, and stupid, and greedy and whatever else you want to call the U.S. This is the greatest country in the world right now, and possibly ever. Everyone moans and complains at the slightest change of anything in this country. So a lot of people don't know about the outside world or where things are. For people that will never leave their hometowns, knowledge of things outside their routine in many respects is irrelevant. No two people are exactly the same, and everyone does everything with a different thought process, yet we act so surprised when people can grasp onto something that makes them proud or happy. What is the amazement at the fact that we drill national pride into everyone who lives here? I am proud to live in this nation, as we have much to be grateful for. Our education system pumps out doctors and economists and biophysicists and a monsterous array of people in pretty much any field thinkable. Things go up and down in every aspect of life. Social issues are just another issue in question, and as fast as we think our education system as a whole is deteriorating, our colleges are still pumping out intelligent people at an extraordinary rate.

Who is not "brainwashed"?
Which country has citizens with the "dirtiest minds"?

Politicians, media, spiritual leaders, teachers, parents.
All are guilty of attempting to formulate the brains of those who will listen.

So, who is not brainwashed? Raise your hand!

perhapse it would not be so bad if one parrent was not required to work or made a sacrifice of career to stay home with the children instead of dumping them into a daycare for what may well be the most criticle period in a childs mental developement. to be at home after school and to not just leave it to tv, video games and school to raise their children. then wonder why they have turned out so wrong.

no one forced you to have a child. if you were raped then it should be up to the raper to support you. otherwise if you are willing to have kids you should also be willing to be there for them. you should read to your children, discuss what is happening in the world, school, even on the playground. you should spend time with children not just sit there with them watching tv.when watching tv discuss the program and even the comercials with your children. teach your children right and wrong. don't leave a childs education to the schools. after all a school is no place to get a good education. their concern is only to cram as much information into a child's head as possible. it is your concern to teach a child how to behave and think for themselves. a parrent should disiplin when nessisary and compliment a job well done. that is the most important education a child can get. the stuff from school is just information.

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
I lay blame squarely at the feet of American parents. No nation spends less time with their children...
...Parents don't have enough time, or rather, they don't make enough time....

True American parents work paycheck-to-paycheck to give their true American kids a true American home, and hopefully, after spending a true American lifetime providing for their true American kids, the TRUE American dream of becoming what they find passionate in life becomes their reality.
Truthfully WyrdeOne, if you want somebody to blame, blame the guy who invented time, because sometimes, after all is said and done, there's not enough time in the day.

originally posted by WyrdeOne
I lay blame squarely at the feet of American parents. No nation spends less time with their children, and no nation complains more loudly about the education system as a knee-jerk reaction to the rampant stupidity that results.

Don't get me wrong, the education system is in shambles, but that's beside the point. The point is, they're your kids, so educate them.

The education system has been in shambles since your grandparents’ first day in first-grade, so it is only natural that they pass on what they learnt to their children, and then their children’s children. But I do agree that it is the ignorant parents that pass on these messages, but it is not their fault (or maybe it is), that they cannot recognise the blatant stupidity that is all around them. Be it TV, Advertising, Junk-Food, Education, Foreign Policy, all these things, that you as the US populous think are gods gift to world – ARE SADLY MISTAKEN… You are the self-proclaimed “watch-dog” of the world, out to right the wrongs in every “back-ward” nation out there, yet you would have to be the most “back-ward” nation out there! Fix your own country before you go trying to “fix” others…

I would have thought having 12000 gun related murders in your country would be enough to prove that… Are you aware that more US Citizens were murdered in Washington in 2003, than all the soldiers that were killed in Iraq - During the first year of the invasion…

originally posted by WyrdeOne
Parents don't have enough time, or rather, they don't make enough time. Kids are coming into the world looking up to musicians and movie stars because they lack the guidance necessary to fully realise their potential.

Musicians such as; Christine Aguleira, Britany Spears, J-Lo, all the other skanks out there… OR… 50 Cent, Ja-Rule, G-Unit, or all the rest of the self-proclaimed “gangsters” and “drug-dealers” who treat women as objects… No wonder you are all so derelict, all you have to do is watch an episode of Jerry Springer and you can easily see the problems with America… Kids grow up watching a show about “My Girlfriend is sleeping with my brothers dad, who happens to be in the KKK!” … Its that kind of rubbish that makes me despise your country – The fact that you consider that entertainment, sit around watching it with your 8-year old, stuffing your face with Pizza, and then, the next day, you send them off to school where they have to walk through a metal-detector, and then assimilate themselves into a malfunctioning education system… Its disgusting!

originally posted by WyrdeOne
We're raised to be good little consumers, mindless, soul-less, drug addicted psychotics. We're told that soda, coffee and cigarettes, pharmaceutical’s and food additives are good for us, and herb, blow, and other assorted 'narcotics' are bad for us. That's a blatant double standard reinforced by stupid parents, which makes for stupid kids. We're told that we're insane, "Mental illness rates are SKYROCKETING" and on top of that, we're told it's all our fault. Never mind the fact that we live in a hypocritical, insane society. That couldn't possibly have anything to do with it right?

I think there will either be a very real change in the next decade or less, or else this country, and indeed the world is doomed. No pressure or anything.

There will only be a change if the US Public realises there is no QUICK-FIX for everything… Something you don’t seem to understand, because there is a media bombardment every 10 seconds of TV, claming to have the cure to what ills you have… Two out of three children in America are obese, then you expect them to lose weight doing 10-Minutes a Day exercise, and cut down on food… *shakes head in disgust and disbelief*…

The US always just solves the surface layer of the problem, never looks beyond the obvious… Look at the "War on Terror" for a clear example...

Instead of always treating your headaches when they arise, why not think about whats CAUSING them – and come up with a solution to that!


[edit on 28-3-2005 by ghostsoldier]

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
Instead of always treating your headaches when they arise, why not think about whats CAUSING them – and come up with a solution to that!

The majority of americans are not taught to think critically. They are not taught how to assess and a situation using logic. They are not aware of logic fallacies and as a result do not recognize when opinions and general ideologies are used to sway their opinion, enlist their action, and rationalize their economic support. Indeed, their economic support is designed to make their direct involvement exclusive.........go to work, operate in what are customary social fashions, obey the law, pay taxes and you will be defined as an upstanding citizen.

The majority of americans are raised in ideological fashion.....religion is a major factor in many lives and T.V. is employed to entertain/babysit....and T.V. is not a well known source for objective reasoning skills. The Theta wave induction is perfect for suggestion and at an early age, people are learning to be commercialized and have their imagination be dictated by cartoons. It is true that parents are largly responsible for the thought process of their child, much less their education. I believe their is a vaunted misconception held by these same parents that the system has their child's best interest in mind and as a result, they don't expend any effort in their child's experience.

Experience.....that which are personalities and subsequent intellectual thoughts are formed and checked against reality........but who among us even realize that this current day is an experience? The nefariously subtle passage of time encourages and rewards routine and in this routine we as a society get lost in blind pursuits....most of them out there more than others. A critical mind isn't rewarded like the conformed mind.........

Hmmm...

Our education is in a shambles huh ?

So tell me folks...just why are people from other countries coming over here to learn in our universities ??

Originally posted by Jedi_Master
Our education is in a shambles huh ?

So tell me folks... just why are people from other countries coming over here to learn in our universities?

American universities are well funded, and alot better off than alot of the Third Worlds (obviously), that doesn't mean they are better than Australian and European Universities... You'd find that the people coming from all around the world to go to your Universities have little to no understanding of what America is like...

Originally posted by Jedi_Master
Our education is in a shambles huh ?

So tell me folks... just why are people from other countries coming over here to learn in our universities?

Hahaha Padawan

The United States is 49th in the world in literacy (the New York Times, Dec. 12, 2004).

The United States ranked 28th out of 40 countries in mathematical literacy (NYT, Dec. 12, 2004).


"The International Adult Literacy Survey...found that Americans with less than nine years of education 'score worse than virtually all of the other countries'" (Jeremy Rifkin's superbly documented book The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream, p.78


"The European Union leads the U.S. in...the number of science and engineering graduates; public research and development (R&D) expenditures; and new capital raised" (The European Dream, p.70).

"Europe surpassed the United States in the mid-1990s as the largest producer of scientific literature" (The European Dream, p.70).

Nevertheless, Congress cut funds to the National Science Foundation. The agency will issue 1,000 fewer research grants this year (NYT, Dec. 21, 2004).

Foreign applications to U.S. grad schools declined 28 percent last year. Foreign student enrollment on all levels fell for the first time in three decades, but increased greatly in Europe and China. Last year Chinese grad-school graduates in the U.S. dropped 56 percent, Indians 51 percent, South Koreans 28 percent (NYT, Dec. 21, 2004). We're not the place to be anymore.

That is why you fail

Is there Brainwashing going on - yes! Why & How?:

Quote: "all the attention that is focused on *Commercialization* and *Marketing* has a lot to do with it. Things are just *Overwhelming* at times, its as if nothing or ***no one can survive without adhering to the Giant Corporate Entity***."

And so there you have it! Personally I am only Half Brainwashed (I have lived in America my whole life after all) and they are still working on me - but I Resist - the other Half of me raises my Fist (hey that Rhymes)!

Sincerely S.S. (Subversive Sycophant to you)!

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
I would have thought having 12000 gun related murders in your country would be enough to prove that… Are you aware that more US Citizens were murdered in Washington in 2003, than all the soldiers that were killed in Iraq - During the first year of the invasion…

Source please?

Musicians such as; Christine Aguleira, Britany Spears, J-Lo, all the other skanks out there… OR… 50 Cent, Ja-Rule, G-Unit, or all the rest of the self-proclaimed “gangsters” and “drug-dealers” who treat women as objects… No wonder you are all so derelict, all you have to do is watch an episode of Jerry Springer and you can easily see the problems with America… Kids grow up watching a show about “My Girlfriend is sleeping with my brothers dad, who happens to be in the KKK!” … Its that kind of rubbish that makes me despise your country ing!

Nice generalizations and self-righteousness. You must be fairly young.
IIRC, you are originally American?

Judging me, my family, my friends and millions of others based off what you see on TV?

Again, nice generalizations.

We have our problems here, we are not perfect, but at least I don't go looking down my nose at others.

Get over yourself.

The majority of americans are not taught to think critically. They are not taught how to assess and a situation using logic. They are not aware of logic fallacies and as a result do not recognize when opinions and general ideologies are used to sway their opinion, enlist their action, and rationalize their economic support. Indeed, their economic support is designed to make their direct involvement exclusive.........go to work, operate in what are customary social fashions, obey the law, pay taxes and you will be defined as an upstanding citizen.

The majority of americans are raised in ideological fashion.....religion is a major factor in many lives and T.V. is employed to entertain/babysit....and T.V. is not a well known source for objective reasoning skills. The Theta wave induction is perfect for suggestion and at an early age, people are learning to be commercialized and have their imagination be dictated by cartoons. It is true that parents are largly responsible for the thought process of their child, much less their education. I believe their is a vaunted misconception held by these same parents that the system has their child's best interest in mind and as a result, they don't expend any effort in their child's experience.

Experience.....that which are personalities and subsequent intellectual thoughts are formed and checked against reality........but who among us even realize that this current day is an experience? The nefariously subtle passage of time encourages and rewards routine and in this routine we as a society get lost in blind pursuits....most of them out there more than others. A critical mind isn't rewarded like the conformed mind.........

This is so true--And if you mention that there may be a greater conspiracy at work, people look at you as if you are a raving lunatic.

One promising trend is that many people are waiting until they are older and more settled in their careers to have kids. I think that when you aren't as caught up in a hamster wheel, trying to make ends meet, you may be less likely to dump your kids in front of the idiot box. When you have been through more, you are more apt to think for yourself--and help your kids become free thinkers instead of automatons.

Of course, there are certainly a fair share of mature adults who are also sheep as well.

My parents had me when they were relatively older and I wasn't allowed to watch a lot of TV. My mom turned me into a nerd by making me play chess, jigsaw puzzles, listen to classical music, and read big dusty books in the 1st and 2nd grade (and play the accordion... and then the clarinet... I was really a geek...) We weren't allowed to eat sugar, anything with food coloring, things that came in a mysterious mixes with weird chemicals--I never even had a Froot Loop or a Pop Tart until I had my own apartment. It certainly made me different from all the other kids (thanks mom...) and while I cursed her for it at the time, I learned to appreciate it--especially now.