ILLITERACY

 

This was posted on 2008, a pathetic commentary!

Illiteracy

Chris Hedges wrote Forget Red vs. Blue -- It's the Educated vs. People Easily Fooled by Propaganda that contained the following excerpted comments that seemed to be defining --

There are over 42 million American adults, 20 percent of whom hold high school diplomas, who cannot read, as well as the 50 million who read at a fourth- or fifth-grade level. Nearly a third of the nation's population is illiterate or barely literate. And their numbers are growing by an estimated 2 million a year. But even those who are supposedly literate retreat in huge numbers into this image-based existence. ***A third of high school graduates, along with 42 percent of college graduates, never read a book after they finish school. Eighty percent of the families in the United States last year did not buy a book.

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The core values of our open society, the ability to think for oneself, to draw independent conclusions, to express dissent when judgment and common sense indicate something is wrong, to be self-critical, to challenge authority, to understand historical facts, to separate truth from lies, to advocate for change and to acknowledge that there are other views, different ways of being, that are morally and socially acceptable, are dying. Obama used hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign funds to appeal to and manipulate this illiteracy and irrationalism to his advantage, but these forces will prove to be his most deadly nemesis once they collide with the awful reality that awaits us.

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*** To me, this statement is truly distressing.

A strong case could be made for the threat declining educational quality poses to our nation's ability to compete. Maybe it's time to shut off the television?

http://middlebororeview.blogspot.com/2008/11/illiteracy.html

This was a comment that was posted: 

Anonymous said...

As an educator, this information is particularly troubling. What has become frustrating is teaching to perform well on a statewide exam, but ignoring the importance of instilling a thirst for knowledge and intellectual curiosity.

Because I work in a neighboring community, I witness the lack of commitment by parents to their children's education. Many lack the time or are stressed by their financial situations and work long hours.

Others simply lack the education themselves and work in jobs that are threatened by the economic downturn. They lack the tools to assist their children to achieve. And they lack the understanding of what will be needed by their children to compete.

Much of this stems from a carefully concealed agenda to eliminate the teachers' unions and move forward with a voucher system for schools. The voucher system (by whatever name whether it's called Charter Schools) was intended to destroy public education as we have known it. Teachers are paid far less, are not always carefully screened and credentials are not carefully scrutinized. The remaining population in the public school system will include those children who need the greatest resources and appear disproportionately expensive.

What is needed is to de-politicize public education and restore its value.

THURSDAY, 27 NOVEMBER, 2008

CC Newsletter 23 Dec - Japan Plans Dumping Fukushima’s Nuclear Waste In Ocean: Pacific Collective Vows To Oppose

 

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The Pacific Collective on Nuclear Issues, a group of civil society and student organizations, has categorically denied the veracity of a report released by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO), vowing to oppose Japan’s planned mass disposal of wastewater stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. The strong objection comes a day after TEPCO submitted a detailed plan to the nuclear regulation authority seeking the release of accumulated wastewater into the sea. TEPCO said it would use an underwater tunnel to dispose of 1.28 million tons of contaminated water of the plant at a depth of 12 meters in the

sea.

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Japan Plans Dumping Fukushima’s Nuclear Waste In Ocean: Pacific Collective Vows To Oppose

by Countercurrents Collective

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/japan-plans-dumping-fukushimas-nuclear-waste-in-ocean-pacific-collective-vows-to-oppose/

The Pacific Collective on Nuclear Issues, a group of civil society and student organizations, has categorically denied the veracity of a report released by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO), vowing to oppose Japan’s planned mass disposal of wastewater stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. The strong objection

comes a day after TEPCO submitted a detailed plan to the nuclear regulation authority seeking the release of accumulated wastewater into the sea. TEPCO said it would use an underwater tunnel to dispose of 1.28 million tons of contaminated water of the plant at a depth of 12 meters in the sea.

Debunking the Eternal Economic Growth Model

by John Feffer

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/debunking-the-eternal-economic-growth-model/

Can those who advocate hitting the brakes on economic growth get their message across before it’s too late?

Voices of Concern: Aussies for Assange’s Return

by Dr Binoy Kampmark

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/voices-of-concern-aussies-for-assanges-return/

With Julian Assange now fighting the next stage of efforts to extradite him to the United States to face 18 charges, 17 of which are based on the brutal, archaic Espionage Act, some Australian politicians have found their voice.  It might be said that a few have even found their

conscience.

‘Previously Unknown Massacres’: Why is Israel Allowed to Own Palestinian History?

by Dr Ramzy Baroud

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/previously-unknown-massacres-why-is-israel-allowed-to-own-palestinian-history/

Haaretz’s investigative report – ‘Classified Docs Reveal Massacres of Palestinians in ’48 – and What Israeli Leaders Knew’ – is a must-read. It should be particularly read by any person who considers himself a ‘Zionist’ and also by people who, for whatever reason, support Israel, anywhere in the world.

Democracy as commodity

by Jim Miles

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/democracy-as-commodity/

The U.S.’ Summit for Democracy has come and gone without too much fuss.  It was a strange little show with the leader of the so called ‘free world’ – being those “democratic” countries that for whatever reason support U.S. dictates – attempting through rhetoric and probably a few winks and nods to maintain its

establishment as the group’s leader.    From what I saw in the MSM it really amounted to little and may well have shown how weak the supposed leadership is.

Left Smiles in Chile

by Bhabani Shankar Nayak

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/left-smiles-in-chile/

In the age of rising tide of neoliberal authoritarianism and populist reactionary religious politics, the electoral victory of left brings smiles to all progressive forces beyond Chile.

Albert Camus: Living in the Tension & an Ethical Politics in the Absurd World

by Dr Pravat Ranjan Sethi

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/albert-camus-living-in-the-tension-an-ethical-politics-in-the-absurd-world/

By one of the most profoundly influential thinkers of our century, The Rebel is a classic essay on revolution. For Albert Camus, the urge to revolt is one of the “essential dimensions” of human nature, manifested in man’s timeless Promethean struggle against the conditions of his existence, as well as the popular

uprisings against established orders throughout history.

Saffronization    of  the  army  and  militarization  of    the  government

by Sumanta Banerjee

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/saffronization-of-the-army-and-militarization-of-the-government/

The  outpouring  of  grief  over  the  tragic  death  of  General  Bipin  Rawat  is  manifesting  itself  in  an  ugly    belligerent  form,  which was    never  witnessed in  the  past    on  similar  occasions,  like  the  passing  away  of  army  stalwarts –  Sam  Manekshaw,  Arjan  Singh  and  Sundarji.  The  present  state-sponsored  display  of  national  mourning  over  Bipin  Rawat’s  death  is    fast  degenerating  into  an  orgy  of  revenge against  those  who  are  expressing  their  misgivings  about  certain    dubious  and  oppressive  acts  by  the  late  general  during  his  tenure  as  both  the  army  chief  and  later  as  the  Chief of  Defence  Staff.

Consciously Superstitious Elite and Flourishing

Superstitions in India

by Dr. Y. Srinivasa Rao

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/consciously-superstitious-elite-and-flourishing-superstitions-in-india/

In a country where almost eighty percent of population live in rural India and at least sixty of India population is illiterate and uneducated, it is quite depressing to know that at least, ninety-five percent of Indian elite are deeply religious, ritualistic, god fearing and superstitious. It is against the logic of the co-relation between reason/rationality and economically, socially and psychologically secured lives, the religious orthodoxy flourishes among the elite.

An Open Letter to the Chief Minister of Odisha over the ongoing police repression in Dhinkia

Press Release

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/an-open-letter-to-the-chief-minister-of-odisha-over-the-ongoing-police-repression-in-dhinkia/

We, the undersigned, are shocked and deeply concerned over the ongoing police repression on the peasants and betel

growers of Dhinkia, Gobindpur and Nuagaon villages of Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha who for seventeen years have used the most democratic means to resist the forceful acquisition of land for the POSCO project.

Thousands Protest Against Karnataka Anti-Conversion Bill In Bangalore

Press Release

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/protest-against-anti-conversion-bill-in-bangalore/

Today the streets of Bangalore saw an outpour of citizens in large numbers to protest against the anti-people and unconstitutional ‘Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021’. The rally began from Mysore Bank Circle and culminated at Freedom Park. A broad coalition of more than 40 organisations vociferously demanded that the Bill be withdrawn as the Government of Karnataka is trampling upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion, privacy and dignity.

Think twice: Can we deliver on #HealthForAll without saving lives from viral hepatitis?

By Shobha

Shukla & Bobby Ramakant

https://countercurrents.org/2021/12/think-twice-can-we-deliver-on-healthforall-without-saving-lives-from-viral-hepatitis/

Despite over 350 million people living with hepatitis B and C virus globally, and 3 persons dying every minute, much-needed efforts are yet to be on-track to end viral hepatitis in next 108 months (by 2030) as promised by heads of all countries in UN General Assembly (by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals). More importantly, during the Covid pandemic, efforts to prevent and save lives from viral hepatitis had taken a backseat – which is risking losing the gains made earlier in addressing viral hepatitis across the world.