As Texas Dumbs Down, So Does the USA

[B_VinylBoy]

But I like poetry and pretty pictures. I thought you did too. :frown1:

No, I do love poetry. A lot. Used to do a lot of writing myself, and I still watch Def Poetry like it's brand new. Great prose restores my sanity when insanity surrounds me. As for pretty pictures? Well, my avatar is anime and I think The Boondocks is more entertaining than most shows on prime time. I'd rather show my nieces and nephews reruns of the Animaniacs before Spongebob, and also think Jem does more to inspire little girls than iCarly. Does that help? :biggrin1:

 

[midlifebear]

VB: Now don't be dissing my Sponge Bog. He's even more intellectual in Spanish!

Just sayin'

 

[maxcok]

Does that help? :biggrin1:

Not really. Now you're getting all literal on me. What happened to the humor? :frown1:








(I'm starting to love you a little less. Your avatar, btw, is why you have not been invited to join my exclusive 'friends' list. Too scary. And it moves.)

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Not really. Now you're getting all literal on me. What happened to the humor? :frown1:

Perhaps I should work on some of my more obscure references? :sorry:

(I'm starting to love you a little less. Your avatar, btw, is why you have not been invited to join my exclusive 'friends' list. Too scary. And it moves.)

It's Hayate Kakashi from Naruto. Despite the freakiness of the avatar and the red eye, he really embraces the concept of teamwork & friendship. Has a slightly perverted streak, which he keeps to himself for the most part, but will go all out to protect the people he truly respects and cares for. Kinda describes me a little bit.

 

[maxcok]

Perhaps I should work on some of my more obscure references? :sorry:

No, those were obscure enough. I don't watch much teevee and I have no small children.

It's Hayate Kakashi from Naruto. Despite the freakiness of the avatar and the red eye, he really embraces the concept of teamwork & friendship. Has a slightly perverted streak, which he keeps to himself for the most part, but will go all out to protect the people he truly respects and cares for. Kinda describes me a little bit.

Well you don't scare me one damn bit. I think you're a pussycat. As for hati kashi, it's not so much the red eye, as the way he zooms in that scares me. Can you make him stop?

 

[B_VinylBoy]

No, those were obscure enough. I don't watch much teevee and I have no small children.

I have lots of nieces and nephews...
And 4 great nieces and nephews between the ages of 2-9. I must keep my kids informed of the good stuff. It's my duty as "Super Uncle".

Well you don't scare me one damn bit. I think you're a pussycat.

Meow! :wink:

As for hati kashi, it's not so much the red eye, as the way he zooms in that scares me. Can you make him stop?

I'll eventually find a different avatar... one that isn't animated.

 

[Pendlum]

No, those were obscure enough. I don't watch much teevee and I have no small children.

Well you don't scare me one damn bit. I think you're a pussycat. As for hati kashi, it's not so much the red eye, as the way he zooms in that scares me. Can you make him stop?

What's really scary is that red eye isn't his, he got it from someone else! He can also use it to copy actions in real time, and use it for hypnotic suggestion.

 

[maxcok]

What's really scary is that red eye isn't his, he got it from someone else! He can also use it to copy actions in real time, and use it for hypnotic suggestion.

.......:hypnotized:

 

[B_VinylBoy]

What's really scary is that red eye isn't his, he got it from someone else! He can also use it to copy actions in real time, and use it for hypnotic suggestion.

Stop scaring everyone!
But yeah, it is true. :biggrin1:

The red eye, known in the story as a Sharingan, was given to him as a present from a ninja before he died, after Kakashi's eye was damaged in battle (hence the vertical scar on his face). It gives Kakashi many special powers, including the ability to learn other people's techniques which has earned him the respect of being a formidable opponent by his adversaries. Dubbed by some as "The Copy-Cat Ninja", he's learned more than over 1000 techniques.

Alas, if this story was explained in this manner in some schools these days, it would be perceived as witchcraft and it would be banned quicker than Harry Potter. :biggrin1:

OK... a little desperate to make the post slightly on-topic. Sue me!

 

[maxcok]

The red eye, known in the story as a Sharingan, was given to him as a present from a ninja before he died . . . OK... a little desperate to make the post slightly on-topic. Sue me!

Dear El Bear,

VB and I are genuinely sorry for driving your thread off topic with talk of Ninjas and such. I would also like to note how pleasant and refreshing it has been to spend more than 24 hours without having to dodge any throwing 'stars'.

Sincerely,

Max :ninja:

Now back to the Christian zealots and book banging.

 

[midlifebear]

Sir giant Maxcocx: Hey, no one has enjoyed it more than me.

 

[faceking]

You are such a removed dumbfuck from real life. You and the "squeeze" should just continue to saunter about in denial, and your every-so-often rips on America are tiresome. Midlifeprick... move already... denounce your citizenship since you shit on the US at every turn. No really.

Or maybe, for once, post a pic and/or verify yourself... fucking coward.

The most influential State Board of Edjumacation in the USA is the Texas Board of Edjumacation. The content of the MAJORITY of K1 through K12 textbooks used by all other boards of education throughout the USA is decided by the 15 "good christians" who make up the Texas Board of Edjumacation -- or more properly, edjumakashun. So, if anyone is interested in knowing why so many 'Mericuhns are dumb as bricks I suggest you take the time to read the linked article on how Texas decides how history is rewritten and then taught to the rest of the majority attending public schools in the USA.

It's beyond Orwellian. And it's true. The publishing companies that create the textbooks for USA public schools don't really have any sense of telling the truth or reality -- their bottom line is selling books. And christian mega churches don't care for anything that might not be in goose step with what the charismatic, child-molesting (see Holy Crimes thread) pastor or whatever their particular "spiritual leader" may be pushing.

How Christian Were the Founders? - NYTimes.com

It's a long article (more than most LPSG-ers who think "right is might" are able to read). But if you slog through it, you just might find yourself feeig a bit unsettled and maybe a bit pissed..

Enjoy.:smile:

 

[bigbull29]

Anti-intellectualism is just the way of the world now. It's not just an American phenomenon (trust me I've lived overseas recently - Europe and Australia).

Now in Japan, they still do take education very, very seriously. I do admire them for that, but they put too much pressure on young kids, which is unhealthy. Here, in the US it's the opposite: the majority of kids lack discipline and care only about being a professional athlete in high school. Many adults foster this attitude towards education, but then want all the high-schoolers to go to university "to become something"?!?!.

 

[Qua]

Freedom 'of' and freedom 'from', as our forefathers intended.

Freedom from is disingenuous. People should be free to express their religion however they see fit, and the government mustn't stifle that.

The government itself should remain secular as a body, I do not disagree, but once one treads into this "people should have the right to live their lives as if religion doesn't exist and other private individuals should respect that" garbage we get very close into infringing upon the very natural rights of free expression the founders sought to protect when making the government secular. You are very free to be offended at someone expressing their religion or culture, but to deny them that right does against everything the founders actually stood for.

 

[maxcok]

Freedom from is disingenuous. People should be free to express their religion however they see fit, and the government mustn't stifle that. . . .

I think you have misinterpreted my meaning, at least I hope. Individuals are certainly free to express their religious beliefs under free speech protections. Freedom 'from' religion to me means that people are free to have no religion whatsoever if they choose. It also means we should be free from having any religious belief - especially any particular belief -promoted by any government entity or imposed in the public square, such as through organized prayer in public schools for example. Or in textbooks.

I think/hope we are in agreement?

 

[justasimpleguy]

Yes, Max, especially in textbooks. Only in Texas...or maybe Alaska.

 

[midlifebear]

You are such a removed dumbfuck from real life. You and the "squeeze" should just continue to saunter about in denial, and your every-so-often rips on America are tiresome. Midlifeprick... move already... denounce your citizenship since you shit on the US at every turn. No really.

Or maybe, for once, post a pic and/or verify yourself... fucking coward.

Yup, I always listen to the completely unglued on how and where to live my life (not). What FaceQueen fails to understand is that I have every right granted by the Constitution to live where I want, say what I want, vote how I see fit, and give generously to non-profit organizations that help the mentally ill -- among other folks unable to make it in main-line USA society.

Is there any question that FaceQueen is in need of a little (or possibly several years) of one-on-one therapy with a kind, sympathetic, compassionate certified therapist?

I sincerely hope he receives some sort of help to deal with his deeply embedded anger issues. You see, I've been dealing with angry screw-loose homophobes all of my life. I've been shot (as in "taken a bullet') three times during my life -- thus far -- just for being gay. It took a while after the third incident for me to learn to be at peace about the reality that many people are mentally ill and need to be shown compassion rather than hate.

So, Facequeen -- I hope there's a way for you to get the professional help you need to deal with your anger and learn to channel it in more constructive ways. :smile:

 

[B_VinylBoy]

You are such a removed dumbfuck from real life. You and the "squeeze" should just continue to saunter about in denial, and your every-so-often rips on America are tiresome. Midlifeprick... move already... denounce your citizenship since you shit on the US at every turn. No really.

Or maybe, for once, post a pic and/or verify yourself... fucking coward.

Don't use my arguments for your bigoted retort.
You don't even have a face pic yourself, so STFU.

One can at least understand and respect MLB's posts. You, on the other hand, race bait more than Larry Craig taps his feet in a bathroom stall.

 

[Qua]

I think you have misinterpreted my meaning, at least I hope. Individuals are certainly free to express their religious beliefs under free speech protections. Freedom 'from' religion to me means that people are free to have no religion whatsoever if they choose. It also means we should be free from having any religious belief - especially any particular belief -promoted by any government entity or imposed in the public square, such as through organized prayer in public schools for example. Or in textbooks.

I think/hope we are in agreement?

Oh ok, yah I'm cool with that. Freedom from seems to get taken to far by some, to the point of demanding secularism in the public sphere and all religious expression confined to the privacy of one's home.

 

[Sergeant_Torpedo]

I confess I am ignorant of States education polices, but amazed to discover that an unrepresentative elite in Texas set the standard (and a low one at that) for the majority of Americans. I received my education in independent faith schools, but in Europe that means Christian in the true sense of the word, not an heretical sect that found favour in 19th century USA.

Do I blame the pastors and zealots? No. I am disappointed thpough in you Americans who endure this: stand up to your politicians, demand your state governors and own boards of education have their own independence - that is what the USA is supposed to be about.