I am starting to see a convergence between my two observations about conservatives. I have said they are willfully ignorant, choosing not to think about things they don't like or understand, essentially ignoring reality. I have also said they have a lack of historical perspective, taking things out of context and focusing on them. Lately I have seen a combination of the two (not that they're really all that different): a willful lack of historical perspective.
Man, I'm stereotyping, generalizing, lumping all conservatives together. There are certainly conservatives who are thoughtful, who try to learn from history and from new ideas, who actually use their brains when confronted with reality. But when I look at conservative media, politicians, and frankly most of the conservatives I meet, I see people who are either stupid or who just don't want to think about things. Some claim to be interested in history, and cite examples (particularly about the Founders.) But they ignore so much about events, and people, of the past. They just don't want to hear about it. Not surprisingly, this distorts their ideas.
One more recent example: I suppose if you only focus on the moment when George Zimmerman was
(allegedly) getting beaten up by Trayvon Martin, you could call that self defense. Of course, you have to completely ignore everything that happened before or after that moment. I call that willful ignorance, and it's essentially the same thing as a lack of historical perspective.
Another example: the Economist recently had an article about how Bush started many of the anti-terrorism security procedures that Obama has continued and expanded, and that many people are now upset about. In the comments section, there was plenty of "Oh, you're still blaming Bush?" Um. Folks? It's reality. It's history. Bush did start a lot of this. Now, we can talk about it, and figure out how to move forward. Or, I suppose, we can ignore it and get upset about things we don't understand. Which is better for the country? I'm sorry you don't like hearing the truth. Or is it just that you only believe what you hear on Fox?
Another example: got into a discussion online about ACA and health costs, and some conservatives said costs will go up dramatically. What do they consider dramatically? 20%. Well, my costs have been going up at that rate for the last decade or so. And plenty of ACA came from Republican ideas. They didn't want to hear either of those things. Again, willful ignorance and a lack of historical perspective.
I could go into this more, but I have to go to work. You know, to a job, like most liberals don't have. 47% of the country is lazy and all that (one more idiotic mindset that keeps popping up.) Which reminds me of a conversation I had at work. Someone said Glenn Beck was talking about how Al-Jazeera was trying to take over US media. I said he was a liar, which didn't go over well. After a little research, I found there was a speck of truth, distorted and then turned into grist for the fearmongering mill. Al-Jazeera did indeed buy Al Gore's old TV network, snagging it from Glenn Beck. He couldn't or wouldn't pay enough for it, so it sounds like sour grapes. Now he's saying "help me get my channel on more cable systems, to counteract this." In other words: Beck is whining, and lying, and exagerrating. Surprise!
Have a good day. Think for yourself. Research what you see, hear, and read.
