The Associated Press today featured an article by Adam Gorlick; "Americans Seek Integrity; Words looked up more than any other on dictionary web site". While it was seemingly a "fluff-piece", an interesting bit of trivia; it speaks volumes about the illiteracy of America. The "Top Ten" words sought on the Merriamwebster.com web site are: #1..Integrity, #2....Refugee..... #3... Contempt, #4... Fillibuster, #5...Insipid, #6... Tsunami, #7... Pandemic, #8... Conclave...#9...Levee, #10.... Inept. It is "mind-boggling" to appreciate that SO MANY "literate" Americans don't know the meaning of these words!! "Integrity".... was #1, because our "elected" officials seem to HAVE SO LITTLE OF IT! "Insipid and Inept"(often, again refering to our government-officials) are defined as: " Insipid: Lacking in qualitiies that interest, stimulate , or challenge; dull, flat....(as in George W. Bush)..... and ""Inept: Generally incompetent, bungling"; (again... as in George W. Bush) The word "Conclave" ( A private meeting or assembly) appears from Dick Cheney's "Energy Policy Meetings", and the various nefarious meetings to invade Iraq. (ALL held in secret, and not privy to public scrutiny) "Contempt" is defined as: "Willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body.".... (REMIND YOU OF ANYONE??? "Pandemic" is the latest "red-herring" to come from the White House... We MUST do whatever the pharmaceutical companies want.... or MILLIONS WILL DIE!!! (The administration that DENIES "evolution" wants us to fear a virus which "may someday evovle" into one that can be passed from human-to-human!) The "Inept" response to hurricane Katrina brought us to the words: "Levee", "Refugee", and "Tsunami". ... "Levee" those artificial flood-barriers, which have been built by tax-dollars.. built to inadequate standards, and are now destroying the natural wetlands which prevent coastal-erosion. Experts have predicted that, if New Orleans is re-built, coastal-erosion from the levee-system will place it about 3 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico in 80 years.... I'll bet money that Halliburton gets the contracts to re-build!!! (without bids) Last, but not least, the word "Tsunami"appeared on the list because Americans "saw it the T.V." for weeks, and at-first thought that it was something on a SUSHI menu!!....It is truly sad, how "Insipid" vast numbers of Americans have become; a fact that has allowed corrupt, devious and radical Right-Wing fanatics to gain control of OUR democracy!! The "Neo-Cons" rely on an un-informed, illiterate, and easily-manipulated electorate.... people who mindlessly react to "bullet-points" and "Talking-points", endlessly droned by their "spin-doctors" and media-puppets..(recent examples have surfaced of White House fabrications, and selective press-releases PAID by the Bush administration, as well as carefully-orchestrated "photo-ops", and "press-conferences") They CANNOT defend "serious" issues or policies without them; choosing rather to pander to emotion with such things as: "Guns, God, & Gays" KNOWLEDGE IS POWER", and The "Right-wing" would rather keep us all STUPID!!.......(I probably can't expect to "change anyone's mind" with this dissertation; it has too many "Big-words") I do, however, encourage anyone who reads this to "forward" it to as many people as you can...... The internet can be a powerful weapon against despotism (another big-word), and stupidity..............dave
- posted by Dave @ 8:01 PM