Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Democratic Defection by Edward I. Koch (article)

Lebell · 02-05-2004, 01:30 PM

I sincerely believe that the majority of people have a hard time moving beyond their own immediate surroundings and times to encompass world events and history.

Young people today think of WW2 as ancient history, on par with the War of the Roses, the Hundred Years war and the War of 1812, when the reality is, those events are still shaping world politics today (not to mention that there are plenty of people who remember the real fears and hardships that accompanied that war.)

So it is hard for the average person to really really understand world politics and other cultures. (And I am not claiming to be an expert at it). They don't understand that they could be in real danger from anyone (except possibly the crummy neighbor next door or their own government).

No, Iran, North Korea, even China, it's too nebulous to them.

It takes an event like 9/11 to shake them up, and then if they did not know someone who died, it is too much like watching the Death Star get destroyed: it just isn't real to them.

Add a 30 second sound bite culture and the memory quickly fades.

02-05-2004, 01:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	I sincerely believe that the majority of people have a hard time moving beyond their own immediate surroundings and times to encompass world events and history. Young people today think of WW2 as ancient history, on par with the War of the Roses, the Hundred Years war and the War of 1812, when the reality is, those events are still shaping world politics today (not to mention that there are plenty of people who remember the real fears and hardships that accompanied that war.) So it is hard for the average person to really really understand world politics and other cultures. (And I am not claiming to be an expert at it). They don't understand that they could be in real danger from anyone (except possibly the crummy neighbor next door or their own government). No, Iran, North Korea, even China, it's too nebulous to them. It takes an event like 9/11 to shake them up, and then if they did not know someone who died, it is too much like watching the Death Star get destroyed: it just isn't real to them. Add a 30 second sound bite culture and the memory quickly fades. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!