The "Medium and the Message"

[MorganGrayson]

JR...you have several valid points. I think one concept needs to be added though, and that is "familiarity." Long ago I had a discussion with someone about racism, and this person's take was "if you've only met one black person in your life and this was a bad person, you're going to think all black people are bad." If, however, you have a broad familiarity with lots of different races, ethnic groups and religions, your experiences broadens and so does your tolerance.

Dravyk...it's a virtual certainty that in 50 years, someone will be sitting around saying something about someone. As a species we seem to have an adamant refusal to learn from history.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

... If, however, you have a broad familiarity with lots of different races, ethnic groups and religions, your experiences broadens and so does your tolerance.

Morgan, there is where you've touched on something that's bothered me for a long time. We really need to have a basic qualifications exam of some type for those who'd like to become president.

Someone should have to train up a bit even to be considered. And high on the list should be that they've traveled the world enough to see what it's like. Right now we're stuck with a "leader" who just isn't one. One who hasn't experienced enough of the world to know how to deal with other countries and their peoples. And now, he's also demonstrating to the world that when catastrophes happen, he's just not up to the demands.

The other thing that having "a broad familiarity with lots of different races, ethnic groups and religions" gives you, besides tolerance, is the inability to watch unmoved as those unlike yourself suffer.

Unfortunately, it looks like George W has no problem hanging out at the ranch (or reading to children), when he should be doing the "presidential" things that could have made a difference during the first days following the storm.

Racism? Yeah, it's always an issue.

But I don't think it was racism that slowed response.

We just don't have a man at the helm who knows what to do when you're taking direct hits and the crew is screaming for help... for leadership.

Simon