It’s apparent that many Americans are not critical thinkers. If they were there would be no support for Harris/Waltz. Just analyze the failed leadership of Biden /Harris in the last 3+ years. One example is the massive illegal immigration that went unchecked by the “border czar”. It has decimated many communities that didn’t have the infrastructure to support. Violent crimes by illegals has soared.
Mainstream media spews false information daily and non critical thinkers don’t question what they hear or read and just regurgitate unchecked info. So I agree with John’s consensus on critical thinking and could write much more to support his analysis.
Colleen: I think you get it! That's why the Left is so focused on seeing that K-12 children are taught the opposite of Critical Thinking — because they eventually become voting citizens...
One basic premise of critical thinking is having evidence to support "facts" you may think are true. If you don't have evidence to support it, then you are subject to the fact that all humans are thinking machines that each believes is 100% correct when those thoughts are derived. Yet, we know we can't be correct all the time, and esp. if we have other people around to point it out, we know we have been wrong in the past, but may be right about our current understanding.
Yet, in this article, you surround an unsupported claim with all kinds of talk about how to think critically. Namely, you claim that "The Number One fear of anti-Americans on the Left is to have Critically Thinking citizens." And you do not support this claim in any way. Therefore, to think critically, we should not believe this until we have evidence.
This statement exposes several things.
a) You believe that you are a critical thinker
b) making such a claim in the middle of an article about critical thinking is appropriate
c) You believe you are not anti-American.
d) You are not on the Left, and you think most of your readers are also not on the Left
e) you believe that people on the left are all or mostly Anti-American, or that there is a segment of the left that you can call the "Anti-American Left" which may be a subset of the left.
f) you believe people on the left "fear" critical thinking.
Well, most of these are beliefs and are not part of critical thinking. I would instead postulate that:
1. There are many people on the Left that are not "Anti-American" and are critical thinkers.
2. There are some people on the left and right that could be regarded as anti-American by others.
3. Most people don't think critically, and this is one example of a person, yourself who is basing your conclusions on beliefs that have not be critically examined.
At this point, doubt you can tell if you are thinking critically and I would not trust anything that you write without extreme review and caution. I hope that you will start to learn to think critically, and not base a key aspect of your article in unfounded beliefs.
The natural desire for truth is being thwarted within the conscience of progressives rendering them permanently discontent. We should couch our message of truth achieved by critical thinking as a balm to soothe their discontent.
Einstein also said in his forward to Lorentz’s book on relativity that the age old definition of common sense (Complex but orderly) had been scientifically proven by special relativity. Common sense was used by the Scottish Enlightenment to show that there was no evidence for magic or supernatural phenomena. When I went to school the political parties of the civilized world had all accepted rational reasoning as the most effective method of thinking. My old physics teacher explained the requirement for graduation of understanding rational thought was that the alternatives were fanaticism or idiocy.
I'm sure we can all think of some present-day examples of relentless messaging that have been remarkably successful over recent years, and I am equally certain that a significant number of our ingrained beliefs are still to be exposed as without foundation, and absolutely not in our best interests.
So what to do?
It has been well said that people go mad in herds, but recover their senses individually.
Recovery from propaganda is a long haul, but absolutely necessary. Critical thinking on the part of the individual is the prerequisite.
It’s apparent that many Americans are not critical thinkers. If they were there would be no support for Harris/Waltz. Just analyze the failed leadership of Biden /Harris in the last 3+ years. One example is the massive illegal immigration that went unchecked by the “border czar”. It has decimated many communities that didn’t have the infrastructure to support. Violent crimes by illegals has soared.
Mainstream media spews false information daily and non critical thinkers don’t question what they hear or read and just regurgitate unchecked info. So I agree with John’s consensus on critical thinking and could write much more to support his analysis.
Colleen: I think you get it! That's why the Left is so focused on seeing that K-12 children are taught the opposite of Critical Thinking — because they eventually become voting citizens...
One basic premise of critical thinking is having evidence to support "facts" you may think are true. If you don't have evidence to support it, then you are subject to the fact that all humans are thinking machines that each believes is 100% correct when those thoughts are derived. Yet, we know we can't be correct all the time, and esp. if we have other people around to point it out, we know we have been wrong in the past, but may be right about our current understanding.
Yet, in this article, you surround an unsupported claim with all kinds of talk about how to think critically. Namely, you claim that "The Number One fear of anti-Americans on the Left is to have Critically Thinking citizens." And you do not support this claim in any way. Therefore, to think critically, we should not believe this until we have evidence.
This statement exposes several things.
a) You believe that you are a critical thinker
b) making such a claim in the middle of an article about critical thinking is appropriate
c) You believe you are not anti-American.
d) You are not on the Left, and you think most of your readers are also not on the Left
e) you believe that people on the left are all or mostly Anti-American, or that there is a segment of the left that you can call the "Anti-American Left" which may be a subset of the left.
f) you believe people on the left "fear" critical thinking.
Well, most of these are beliefs and are not part of critical thinking. I would instead postulate that:
1. There are many people on the Left that are not "Anti-American" and are critical thinkers.
2. There are some people on the left and right that could be regarded as anti-American by others.
3. Most people don't think critically, and this is one example of a person, yourself who is basing your conclusions on beliefs that have not be critically examined.
At this point, doubt you can tell if you are thinking critically and I would not trust anything that you write without extreme review and caution. I hope that you will start to learn to think critically, and not base a key aspect of your article in unfounded beliefs.
The natural desire for truth is being thwarted within the conscience of progressives rendering them permanently discontent. We should couch our message of truth achieved by critical thinking as a balm to soothe their discontent.
John: Well said!
Einstein also said in his forward to Lorentz’s book on relativity that the age old definition of common sense (Complex but orderly) had been scientifically proven by special relativity. Common sense was used by the Scottish Enlightenment to show that there was no evidence for magic or supernatural phenomena. When I went to school the political parties of the civilized world had all accepted rational reasoning as the most effective method of thinking. My old physics teacher explained the requirement for graduation of understanding rational thought was that the alternatives were fanaticism or idiocy.
Henry: Yes, common sense and critical thinking are two peas in the same pod.
I'm sure we can all think of some present-day examples of relentless messaging that have been remarkably successful over recent years, and I am equally certain that a significant number of our ingrained beliefs are still to be exposed as without foundation, and absolutely not in our best interests.
So what to do?
It has been well said that people go mad in herds, but recover their senses individually.
Recovery from propaganda is a long haul, but absolutely necessary. Critical thinking on the part of the individual is the prerequisite.
Is it time for a mental "spring clean"?
Yes, being forced to become part of “the collective” is maddening! Kick the so-called “community organizers” down the road. Vote!
Jim: Spring cleaning is a good way to look at it.