Very nicely put! I feel inspired. On Mar 29, 2013, at 9:53 AM, Glenn moyer wrote:
> > > "profound critics often agree but joust and fight for personal positions, not > seeking agreements as much as victories. Could both aggressive dismissing and > coalescing be in our genes?" > > That's precisely what corporate media insists as an absolute truth-endless, > ruthless competition as the only human nature. But, I believe huuman nature > allows a great range of possibilities. > > In the mass insanity we've embraced, we believe there is something natural > about the propaganda and distractions we're fed by the competition we view in > the powerful corporate media. We don't watch news, for example, we watch > brands, largely keeping the masses equally divided as Republicans and > Democrats. With their screaming pundits, they keep us equally balanced, as > partisan supporters, while using issues and priorities designed to keep us > distracted from the big targets and at each otherrs throats. > > It's easy to see victory as the only principle, when you get caught up in the > mass insanity surrounding us. Yes, I think it's in the range of human > possibilities to be driven for victories at all costs and we watch it on TV, > but I strongly believe it is primarily learned behavior, and that there is > another completely natural, and stronger pull, toward human cooperation. > > But I don't think it stands a chance as long as we allow deception and power > to make truth and reconciliation impossible. > > That takes us back to Greenwald's analysis. It's vital that assiduous > citizens learn to see logical fallacies like ad hominem. When people are > denied the truth and power imbalances make debate and discussion impossible, > people need to recognize that the disempowered side has not been refuted so > much as beaten. Too often, people are brain washed to judge those > engagements as if they were "fair fights" like a football match. The very > idea of logical fallacies is therein nulliified!!! (Greenwald's point: The > powerful propaganda wins without ever being refuted!) > > Best, > Glenn > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Conrad > Sent: Mar 28, 2013 10:19 PM > To: Glenn moyer > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [UC] Greenwald on ad hominem, Guardian > > That and health of community issues you have been citing; responsibility > issues and questions, fairness concerns, etc. > though I find that behind your back and when not feeling they are in > competition, profound critics often agree but joust and fight for personal > positions, not seeking agreements as much as victories. Could both > aggressive dismissing and coalescing be in our genes? > > On Mar 27, 2013, at 7:58 AM, Glenn moyer wrote: > >> From the Guardian: >> >> "One very common tactic for enforcing political orthodoxies is to malign the >> character, "style" and even mental health of those who challenge them. The >> most extreme version of this was an old Soviet favorite: to declare >> political dissidents mentally ill and put them in hospitals..." >> >> >> "...But what is at play here is this destructive dynamic that the more one >> dissents from political orthodoxies, the more personalized, style-focused >> and substance-free the attacks become. That's because once someone becomes >> sufficiently critical of establishment pieties, the goal is not merely to >> dispute their claims but to silence them. That's accomplished by demonizing >> the person on personality and style grounds to the point where huge numbers >> of people decide that nothing they say should even be considered, let alone >> accepted. It's a sorry and anti-intellectual tactic, to be sure, but a >> brutally effective one" >> >> >> Everyday, there are important specific issues to bring to an informed >> citizenry in the neighborhood. So why is this Glenn Greenwald analysis the >> most important topic for people to consider here in the upscale UCD village? >> Why are neighbors so terrified to engage in meaningful discussion about the >> power structures transforming the neighborhood, city , and country into an >> inverted totalitarian corporate state??? Is it only the censorship >> exemplified by UCneighbors, founded by the University of Pennsylvannia, >> which causes the silence of locals? >> >> I remember finding it amazing that neighbors would silently watch me face >> year's of personal attacks, while "community leaders" would never ever >> refute the truths I brought to the public! >> >> >> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/23/noam-chomsky-guardian-personality >> ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named >> "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see . > >
