I tend to meet people that I "know" very casually, while attending high school events -- usually sporting events, though some of the public does come to our school board meetings. And some of them are, in my opinion, decent and caring people. But the are ignorant in terms of what is going on around them. They are mentally handcuffed by fears and anxieties. And they seem almost unwilling, or incapable, of really thinking for themselves.
In discussions about social-economic-political issues, their oral contributions parrot what they last heard on Fox News or the like. If it was said on television -- on a channel they "trust" -- well, by golly, it must be true.
One of the most pathetic things I heard today (at my youngest daughter's soccer game) was a couple of parents talking about teachers unions, and how much they are invested in President Obama's campaign. This leads to their "opinion" that teachers unions are all about teachers, and not students.
I put the word "opinion" in quotes, because while they are quite sure they have an actual opinion. They do not. An opinion has to be based upon one's interpretation of facts. They have no facts, only rumors, lies, and misinformation -- hence, they have a "bias," not an opinion. (One need only to consider the courtroom concept of "expert opinion" to illustrate the very real distinction between opinion and bias.)
In weeks past, I have engaged in rather pleasant, though remarkably shallow, conversations with the two, about their concerns about the erosion of democracy in our nation. I'm sure they would agree that family systems are an important building block for a healthy, democratic society. But that good public school systems are an essential part of that foundation is surely a concept they haven't explored. And thus, they lack the ability to identify those forces that benefit from keeping them ignorant, and capitalize on the biases.
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