The past was supposed to be better than today. I’m a conservative, aren’t I?
Did you know that people in America used to memorize poems and read stuff longer than a blog post? Did you know there was a day when kids’ brains weren’t full of Hannah Montana—or Eminem, for that matter? I always assumed these factors would create a higher level of discourse in the nation. But, if anything, political ads in 1952 were worse than today. Click that link for a fascinating site.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasMy rating: 2 of 5 stars I couldn't enjoy this book once it became a sprawling set of vendettas—and that was about half the huge tome. I just kept thinking… You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason...
Faithlife’s brand new Bible Study Magazine podcast, hosted by yours truly, launches today. The first season of twelve episodes (four available today; one released per week after this) is focused on how to achieve and promote biblical literacy. In the first episode, I...
I’m in the midst of a short series answering objections to my viewpoint in Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible, objections that for various reasons didn’t make it into the book already. (Most objections I hear I already addressed.) Last Monday, we...
My Father Left Me Ireland: An American Son's Search for Home by Michael Brendan Dougherty My rating: 4 of 5 stars I picked up this book on the effusive recommendation of Alan Jacobs. At first I thought I might tire of it: though I felt sympathy for a fatherless boy, I...
Leave a comment.
Interesting post. However, I must disagree on your proposition here (I confess I didn’t watch *all* of the commercials).
What has improved is the level of technological/marketing expertise, neither of which comes from the general intelligence level of society.
What is missing now is what was present in those Eisenhower commercials – a personal appeal to vote for me and bandwagon to me, instead of a bashing campaign against the other side. On this point, I argue that you really were correct before – society has gotten worse in that we don’t make attempts to promote ourselves, but rather to insult the other guy (easier, and more mindless).
Anyway, that’s just my thoughts on the issue – and campaigning in general. To all politicians: tell me why you’re better, not why the other guy stinks.
-Eric
Good points, Eric.