Ignorance is NOT Blis!!!!

I was watching some clips from Glenn Beck's show today -- the clips were not from today, I was watching them today. I like to see what the talking heads from both sides are saying. I found something very disturbing.

He had his chalkboard set up with assorted pictures and was describing how all of these people were corrupt and how they were somehow related to the President -- thereby making the President corrupt by association. He made comments about how the liberals are full of corruption. He brought up William Ayers. He talked about how all of these Democrats like Tom Daschel and Bill Richardson and others show how corrupt the party is.

At first I was simply offended at his implication that only Democrats are corrupt. As though Republicans such as Tom Delay and Ted Spencer and Larry Crist do not exist. To say nothing of the morally corrupt Mark Sanford. It was a such a one sided argument. Everyone knows there is no shortage of legitimately corrupt politicians are both sides. We certainly do not need to bring in William Ayers again to prove a point.

As I watched his presentation more, I became disturbed for a different reason. I used to watch Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow regularly. I cannot recall the last time I saw either show. What disturbed me about Glenn Beck's presentation was that it was a very similar tactic to one that Rachel Maddow uses. A complex presentation using sources and references that all seem legit. And to the uninformed, it is legit. But if you know the subject matter or do a little digging you quickly see that, while some points are valid, you are not getting all of the information.

Rachel has gone to great lengths on many of her shows to draw a line between some seemingly grass-roots organization and FreedomWorks, a well funded lobbying firm. Glenn was using the same approach to discredit both ACORN and President Obama.

My anger is not at Rachel and Glenn. They do, after-all, get paid to do exactly what they are doing. My anger is at their loyal viewers who do nothing but watch one side of the argument and assume they are getting the unbiased truth. When you buy a car, do you take everything the salesman tells you as unadulterated fact? Do you really think that Glenn Beck or Rachel Maddow will offer any information that does not support their claims? They host editorial programs. They spout their opinions. They are under no obligation to provide facts.

I am a fan of the 1951 Alistar Sims movie 'Scrooge'. We watch it every year. As the Ghost of Christmas Present is about to leave, he opens his robe (not dirty like it sounds) and shows two scruffy looking children sitting at his feet. He then offers the following.

"This boy is ignorance and this girl is wont. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy."

I could not agree more. Ignorance, followed closely by fear, is the most dangerous weapon around. These talking heads shows do nothing but perpetuate ignorance on both sides. It is up to their viewers to recognize that and verify everything they see and hear. Do not trust Glenn Beck. Do not trust Rachel Maddow. They are giving you their side of the story. They are stoking the fires for the sake of their own ratings. It is up to you question what they are telling you.

Don't just take what they tell you and start echoing it at the top of your lungs. If you feel strongly enough about something where you would go to a rally in Washington to accuse the President of being a Socialist and a Fascist, don't you think it would be wise to first check and make sure that you have all of the facts?

If you were on trial, wouldn't you prefer that the jurists get all of the evidence before making their decision? So why are so many people content to only hear one side? And not just hear that one side, but take that one opinion and treat it as their own and act as though it were gospel from the almighty.


Ignorance is a very dangerous thing. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but please make sure they are yours and not someone else's before you get onto your soapbox.