Equivocation

The problem with the current lack of judgment in American pop culture is its inability to discriminate between genius and outright lunacy. The "anything goes" mindset, polarized against Bible-thumping Puritanism, sometimes within the dysfunctional brains of single individuals, is symptomatic of mental illness. The evidence of this in the media is stunning.

This morning, I listened to a National Public Radio piece, somberly delivered, about Revolution Muslim, a fringe jihadist group in New York, founded by a (former) Jew, who did orthodox rabbinical studies in Israel. The punch line of the piece was, to paraphrase, "It's just a phase people go through." What? In other words, we all join murderous, religious-fundamentalist groups at some point in our lives? I don't think so.

What is the matter with America? How have our minds been so numbed? What happened to the American passion for common sense and frank speech? How has our intelligent public conversation become such equivocal drivel? Is their any wonder why some flock to the banner of exploiters like Glenn Beck and humorists like Stephen Colbert out of pure frustration with the general tone of news media in America?

There are some who would defend this new political correctness and narcotized blandness as nonviolent communication, enlightened conversation, above the fray of emotions. I think there may be some merit to this view in some circumstances. However, equivocation of criminal propaganda with religious freedom or passing phases is simply stupid. And, the lack of critical analysis in media reportage of such issues is symptomatic of a society which is simply afraid to be smart.