Farrakhan and I

Posted by $ Abaco 8 years, 2 months ago to Culture
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So, I decided, in my odd hobby of listening to and reading all kinds of random stuff, to start picking my way through a recent interview of Louis Farrakhan. The very first segment I skipped to floored me. I've heard about 1/4 of the interview and am finding it interesting. But, it was that first segment that stopped me in my tracks.
I have come to realize that people are largely blind to cause and effect. And, people almost never seem to realize when they are getting hosed. My background in science, combined with my work experience, has forever cemented my consciousness in cause and effect. A few years ago I came to the conclusion that 85% of the people really are blind to basic facts, can’t follow the bouncing ball, and are easy marks for their “leaders”. I call a handful of my friends and I “the 15%-ers”. Well, in Farrakhan’s interview he mentions the same percentage, 85%, of the people are unable to see cause and effect. It’s interesting that we come up with the same number. His number came from Mohammed.


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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years, 2 months ago
    I have found, in my odd ways of integration and research, that there is always a bit of truth, a bit of value; in all things, good, bad or ugly... if only, to realize that which is not.

    Farrakhan's diatribe is mostly "Loone Tunes" misconceptions, all based upon...perhaps...this one bit of truth.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
    A number of people not only in the black community have used that principle to effect change to their own advantage. A few well chosen catch words and phrase. Million Man March. Balanced Budget With A Surplus and the willing stooges of the media to recite and 'what do facts have to do with anything?' Just like those who still think Jefferson politics are in vogue and vote Democrat when they should be studying Marx or worse make the same error with the Republicans. 85% easily fooled sounds low to me but offer an extra night of football or basketball with front row seats via the toob. Doesn't take much more than that. Educated these days does not mean Ability.
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    • Posted by $ 8 years, 2 months ago
      Just education alone isn't enough. One must be selective. I, frankly, out of dumb luck happened to go to one of the top engineering schools on the globe. I got in carrying the football, really was a rock head, and managed to learn how to study in the heat of battle once I got there. We were on a quarter system. Looking back on it recently I realized that I got a good 4 or 5 quarters of philosophy/ethics along with the engineering stuff. I got some heavy econ, biology...all kinds of things that planted seeds. Thinking on our own, on our feet was strongly encouraged there. Decades later the move to attend that school still pays dividends. I feel very fortunate. And, I've learned through others from other schools that I went to a great school. Thankful every day for that.

      Critical thinking must be taught in school, reinforced. It's not. Neither is finance. I no longer think that's an accident. I am looking to form a tutoring/math club program at my kids' school to counteract the damage that Common Core is doing. Don't teach kids how to feel about math. Show them how to apply it and watch the eyes light up. Common Core math has examples like, "How many tens of Jimmy's shoes tall is the horse?" I digress...good gawd...
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      • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
        In the early sixties we had two decent high school teachers and one exceptional instructor. One taught research as part of the library and study hall program. One taught speech, debate and related and journalism. The third taught sciences. The math teacher was a .....disaster.

        The exceptional teacher had American Problems and History He taught critical thinking, reasoning and logic, a bit of philosophy and how to spot BS versus sincerity. He was exceptionally fair. I was assigned a pop test speech for the next day on youth in asia or so he said. Received and A and then he spelled euthanasia on the blackboard and said..tomorrow, ten minutes. relate todays topic with this word. That's when I turned red faced and the class and instructor all laughed - with me. I had one good grade school teacher for English and anoher in First grade. From there the public schools went down hill.

        Teachers of that caliber are not to be found anymore.
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  • Posted by edweaver 8 years, 2 months ago
    15% sounds pretty accurate from my point of view. I've always observed what I thought to be 10-20% paying attention and there is likely a direct correlation between paying attention and the ability to pay attention.

    Do you have a link that I could listen to the interview?
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  • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 2 months ago
    the old 80-20 rule is now the 85-15 rule ... but this
    crazy electorate may make it the 90-10 rule, after
    the people who voted for BHO's hope and change
    line. . I wonder what percentages Rand would have
    cited -- 95-5??? -- j
    .
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 2 months ago
    One of the things which amazes me is that he has a following. His speeches are filled not only with gross irrationalities, but hatred and class warfare. And his are worse even than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton because he pushed militancy on top of that.
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