I teach at a university. I talk with my students and my collegues about current events.
I know some of you will say that today's youth don't pay attention. While I think that's generally true, I think it's mostly because we 1) let them, and 2) make them struggle to get educated (ie working to pay high tuition and living expenses combined with a bad overall educational system). My collegues also suffer from over work, struggle just to make ends meet.
What's surprising? Today I asked my students for comments on the Scooter Libby trial. Who, they said. You know, the Valerie Plame scandal/trial/indictment/conviction? Nope. Never heard of it...more on the flip.
So not one student had heard about Scooter Libby. Two out of 50 had heard of Valerie Plame but weren't sure where or in what context.
The good news here is that I took the time to educate them, encouraged them to go online, and even told them about some of the interesting things going on in places like TrueMajority.Org after one student said there's nothing one person can do.
I'd like to think this ignorance is just in my students, just in the newly adult demographics. Nope.
I've been talking with friends/collegues/college-educated "smart" people about the 363 tons of cash that Paul Bremer "lost" in Baghdad. So far the response has been:
Them: Nuh uh. No way.
Me: Yep. CASH. $100 bills in bricks of 40k, shrink wrapped.
Them: No one could possibly be that dumb. I don't believe it.
Me: Actually it's the smartest way to embezzle money--everyone just thinks you're an idiot--and the public won't believe "that crazy story."
Them: But there's no way they'd send that much cash over there.
Me: Here's my CNN source. And a UK source. And another.
My plea to you is to EDUCATE EVERYONE. Email your family. Make sure your friends and co-worker know. Post an article on your office door or cubicle. Talk with your kids and your parents. Remember, these are not the people who will read the news in depth. This is the MSM-consuming crowd. You have to show them what's really going on now.
Our democracy depends on an educated public. Let's make sure we let everyone know.