Michael Moore, the Democrat Party, and their candidate...

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by ElizK
I understand how things can be taken out of context .

I just can't imagine how "Americans are stupid" can be meant in any other way than stated.

You claim to understand how things can be taken out of context, but you can't imagine how something taken out of context can mean anything else other than what YOU want it to mean -- especially when it's taken out of context.

First of all, get the quote correct. It is: "Americans are possibly the dumbest people on the planet... in thrall to conniving, thieving, smug pricks. We Americans suffer from an enforced ignorance. We don't know about anything that's happening outside our country. Our stupidity is embarrassing."

Followed by:

"Do you feel like you live in a nation of idiots? I used to console myself about the state of stupidity in this country by repeating to this myself : Even if there are two hundred million stone-cold idiots in this country, that still leaves at least eighty million who will get what I am saying..."

I assume these are the quotes you are referring to as "Americans are stupid."

Before we discuss this any further, maybe you would like to provide the complete context of both quotes -- the larger portion of the speech, letter, interview from which these few phrases and sentences were extracted. Also, please note the three periods in a row ... indicating that a portion of the quote was deliberately left out, which, of course, could change the context entirely. Not that anyone with an agenda would want to do that, right?

One wonders why Mr. Moore includes himself in the first quote, using the pronouns "we" and "our" instead of "those" and "their." He says "Our stupidity is embarrassing." With that, I tend to agree with him.

It's easy to extract a sound bite and distort it's meaning. It's harder to take the time to get to know what the entire context is, much less carefully read what the individual said with understanding.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by cardaway

I know he wasn't talking about me. I take it you feel differently.

I don't know you well enough to decide if he was talking about you or not.

I read a couple of the articles that were excerpted. What Moore was saying is pretty offensive in context, too.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by Jimbo
I read a couple of the articles that were excerpted. What Moore was saying is pretty offensive in context, too.

Maybe links to those articles could be posted so people can draw their own conclusions based on the complete context of the quotes.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I don't see any debate here. What I see is "my dog is better than your dog, my dog is better than yours..............etc., etc, etc."

No camp has the market cornered on lunk heads who cleverly weave a fabric of lies, half truths, and inuendo.

Truth, objectivity, and intellectual fairness are two things I find lacking in the major political parties and those that are the "true" believers in each party.

Lets not be deceived. The goal of these parties is primarily to gain and maintain power. Sure there are individuals who are genuine in their desire to serve the citizens of this country. Sure, there are disagreements over exactly how that should, could, and can be done. But, for the most part, most of them on the right and the left are interested in themselves.

I haven't always felt that way but increasingly I do. We are becoming more socialist in our view points. Both major parties find ways to take from some while giving to others. Frankly, I don't see any substantive difference between the right and the left. What differences there are, I believe are contrived and hollow.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Originally posted by Jimbo
.....I read a couple of the articles that were excerpted. What Moore was saying is pretty offensive in context, too.

I agree.

Michael Moore talks out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand he says, "We Americans are stupid." Then he states only a certain number of people will "get" his message. He certainly isn't speaking of himself as stupid in that case, nor is he refering to the people that will "get" it as being stupid.