To answer your last question first, there is a difference between the label Christian and Stupidland. Stupidland is implied in the same way that Pro-Death is implied in the label Pro-Life. Given a choice between being Pro-Life or Pro-Death most people would want to pick the positive sounding one. Christian is a label which doesn't have a negative opposite. Although it usually depends upon which side of the fence you're on, Atheist isn't really a negative term. My point is that Christian, historically (I think we can both agree that the situation is beginning to change on this one, it scares and annoys me.) hasn't been used as wedge to divide people into "us and them" categories.
It seems that "Smartland" was a poor choice of words for OSC, eh?
The first thing that we have to set straight is that this isn't a black and white issue. Between Stupidland and Smartland there are many shades of grey between the accedemic crowd and the blind-faith crowd.
The next thing to keep in mind is that the only ones that perpetuate this kind mental meme littering are those that stand the most to gain. There's the sheep and then there's shepherd, and it does no good to scold the sheep for grazing on your lawn. There was a time, not too long ago, when the religious right didn't exist as a political entity.
By pointing the stick at a group of people, who have basically had their world hijacked for political gain and labeling them negatively, you have provided the real enemy with ammunition to further be used against you. Many of these people won't or can't get what is going on and there will always be people that will never get it (some of the people all of the time?), but the only way to beat them is through non-offensive opposition. Explain your viewpoint, don't force it. Know your enemy and understand them fully. Draw your oppenent out into the open and into the light of day then they can be seen for who they are.
Name-calling only brings short-term gain and only with the people that already agree with your viewpoint.
That having been said, I think that the religious right movement (or fundimentalist fascists, and yes that's name-calling, I'm not immune) is beginning to lose ground in America. Particularily since their heroes are beginning to fall from grace.
no subject
It seems that "Smartland" was a poor choice of words for OSC, eh?
The first thing that we have to set straight is that this isn't a black and white issue. Between Stupidland and Smartland there are many shades of grey between the accedemic crowd and the blind-faith crowd.
The next thing to keep in mind is that the only ones that perpetuate this kind mental meme littering are those that stand the most to gain. There's the sheep and then there's shepherd, and it does no good to scold the sheep for grazing on your lawn. There was a time, not too long ago, when the religious right didn't exist as a political entity.
By pointing the stick at a group of people, who have basically had their world hijacked for political gain and labeling them negatively, you have provided the real enemy with ammunition to further be used against you. Many of these people won't or can't get what is going on and there will always be people that will never get it (some of the people all of the time?), but the only way to beat them is through non-offensive opposition. Explain your viewpoint, don't force it. Know your enemy and understand them fully. Draw your oppenent out into the open and into the light of day then they can be seen for who they are.
Name-calling only brings short-term gain and only with the people that already agree with your viewpoint.
That having been said, I think that the religious right movement (or fundimentalist fascists, and yes that's name-calling, I'm not immune) is beginning to lose ground in America. Particularily since their heroes are beginning to fall from grace.