Posted on 06/27/2020 2:11:11 PM PDT by karpov
...
Today’s most serious problem, which annihilates thoughtfulness about all others, is that a significant portion of the intelligentsia — the lumpen intelligentsia — cannot think. Its torrent of talk is an ever-intensifying hurricane of hysteria about the endemic sickness of the nation since its founding in 1619 (don’t ask). And the iniquities of historic figures mistakenly admired.
An admirable intelligentsia, inoculated by education against fashions and fads, would make thoughtful distinctions arising from historically informed empathy. It would be society’s ballast against mob mentalities. Instead, much of America’s intelligentsia has become a mob.
Seeking to impose on others the conformity it enforces in its ranks, articulate only in a boilerplate of ritualized cant, today’s lumpen intelligentsia consists of persons for whom a little learning is delightful. They consider themselves educated because they are credentialed, stamped with the approval of institutions of higher education that gave them three things: a smattering of historical information just sufficient to make the past seem depraved; a vocabulary of indignation about the failure of all previous historic actors, from Washington to Lincoln to Churchill, to match the virtues of the lumpen intelligentsia; and the belief that America’s grossest injustice is the insufficient obeisance accorded to this intelligentsia.
Its expansion tracks the expansion of colleges and universities — most have, effectively, open admissions — that have become intellectually monochrome purveyors of groupthink. Faculty are outnumbered by administrators, many of whom exist to administer uniformity concerning “sustainability,” “diversity,” “toxic masculinity” and the threat free speech poses to favored groups’ entitlements to serenity.
Today’s cancel culture — erasing history, ending careers — is inflicted by people experiencing an orgy of positive feelings about themselves as they negate others. This culture is a steamy sauna of self-congratulation:
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I have limited bandwidth, and therefore don’t both with people like George Will or Ted Cruz, both of whom had a really tough time understanding the difference between Hillary and Trump (although Cruz came around once he realized that he was putting his seat at risk, as shown in 2018).
It doesn’t matter. This is why I loathe people like him on our side. We have the best writers, the best minds, the best analysts, the best thinkers, the best debaters because we have the best ideas. They have one thing.. they have the DOERS. And the doers will win. So all of this is BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. I am tired of talking. I am tired of debating. It’s time for action and we just don’t have the guts for it and the other side KNOWS it. That’s why if Biden wins, they will come after the guns. And judging by behavoir this past few months? Our side will hand them over. I’ll make a bet on it now.
“don’t both”
>>> “don’t bother”
Sorry, I know to review before posting.
I was never much of a George Will fan, but this column is right on target.
My question now is this: If Will can see the emptiness of America’s so-called intellectuals, why can’t he also see that the current domestic troubles amount to an attempt by these same elites to disenfranchise regular working Americans?
The title is right. Critical thinking is not taught any more. Understatement.
Being in the exact same job for 29 years, teaching the exact same maritime rules of the road, to the same age group (18-24), using the same tools (full mission, wrap around ship simulators), I have a unique perspective.
I started teaching in 1991, before anyone had portable electronics. Now everyone, of course, has portable electronics.
The trainees have become too “uninspired” to rely on their memories, their previous training and education, then process their current problem.
I’m telling you... it’s this generation being native to portable electronics. It’s an unintended consequence of all things at your fingertips.
Video game natives, that they are, also establish psycho- bizarre expectations, making simulation training nearly impossible.
While I don’t always agree with George Will. This article is spot on. As for the intelligentsia of today, the majority of the don’t know what they are talking about. They just allow their alligator mouths to override their hummingbird @$$es!!!!
Exactly.
The divide, to some extent, consists on the one side of intelligentsia which cannot think but which believes itself to be vastly smarter and more educated than others, and on the other hand, a collection of Doers who have practical knowledge of the working world, how to solve real problems, and how to live a life of self-reliance and independence.
That really successful real estate guy from NYC falls into the second category.
The people George Will enjoys talking to at his wine and cheese parties are in the first category.
George Will hates the really successful real estate guy from NYC.
George fails to understand the real nature of this problem.
George Will hated Reagan, too.
Will wants Biden to win.
George Will hated Reagan, too.
No he didn’t.
George Will is one of those who cannot think.
Back in 2018 Will said he wanted the Democrats to take over the House and Senate. He acknowledged that was the end of judicial confirmations. His stated reason: To curb Trump’s tariffs. He vaguely implied the Congress was violating some Constitutional requirement by letting him impose the tariffs, which is utter nonsense. And there was absolutely no reason to think the Dems had any interest in blocking the tariffs anyway.
The whole thing made no sense at all. Something bizarre is going on with Georgy Boy.
So George,
Wjydid you reference 1619 at all?
/@$$hole!
“George Will is unpopular here, but this is a good column.”
The title is true. We were discussing liberal inability to think on an earlier thread today.
But Will has decided to join in with these nob-thinkers.
Will in his senescence is guilty of the same sins he laments here.
Fashioning himself one of the good intelligentsia, he exudes and is consumed by everlasting hate for Donald Trump, who, ironically, seems to be the only one fighting the ignorant crowd.
He has spent five years deconstructing Donald Trump. Were there a statue of him, Will would be the lead on pulling the ropes.
Intelligensia is Einstein, Jefferson, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Feynman, etc.
The left’s share of intelligencia on a percentage base will not even approach two digits.
It’s amazing isn’t it. Before, all it took was speaking up. Saying something to a group of people whom you don’t know how they will take it. Before this point, all you risked was their disapproval or hate. Never start it but never let them finish it. People would say we don’t talk politics at the dinner table. Guess what, freedom is sacrosanct, dinner isn’t.
Now people will have to risk more. I see some of it happening, the black man in Seattle storming the gates of CHOP. The older black lady and her friends defending the statue of Lincoln that was paid for by freed slaves and dedicated by Frederick Douglas. The parishioners defending the saint in California, the people defending Columbus. That’s how it starts.
George Will has been weak kneed in the past but he is choosing a side here.
He is not risking nothing and for that I applaud him. Hopefully words still matter some but at this point we need more than that.
PING!
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