It's All Greek To Us

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: Stuff We Like

(CBS/AP)

Anyone who spends much time reading blogs, watching cable television or listening to talk radio can tell you, there's a political divide in this country. Heck, who are we kidding, anybody with their noses stuck in architectural digests can tell you that. We've been wrestling with this for some time now, paying attention to the debates over bias in the media and whether true objectivity is even possible. Conservative columnist Peggy Noonan weighs in on this today with a look at the Chris Wallace-Bill Clinton flap and what it says about the state of discourse in America:

We are talking past each other, the left and right in America. I suppose we always did, but I'm noticing it more. We have different intellectual styles (rather too emotive, arguably too linear), start with different assumptions, and recognize different data. We could be speaking different languages.

Noonan points out the benefits of the new media – more outlets, more points of view, more voices. But will they ever speak the same language again? Read it all, but Noonan ends:

I spoke with a network producer a few weeks ago, an old warhorse who was trying to explain his frustration at the current ratings race. He wrestled around the subject, and I cut with rude words to what I thought he was saying. "You mean it's gone from the dictatorship of a liberal elite to the dictatorship of the retarded."

Yes, he said. And it's not progress.

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by joycewest October 2, 2006 12:51 PM EDT: The word "retarded" as we all know has taken on a pejorative meaning and is no longer used by discerning adults who wish to participate in elevated discourse with like-minded souls. Euphemisms for "retarded" are used precisely because misuse by the uninformed and unkind and by children has reduced the word to an ugly schoolyard taunt. For parents of developmentally disabled children, the use of the word "retarded" as an insult brings up feelings of grief over what has been lost, fear over how others will treat their child, and anger over the staring and exclusion. I would be deeply ashamed to use that word the way Noonan did.; Reply to this comment


by omicronthree October 2, 2006 11:51 AM EDT: Wow! These people are retarded!; Reply to this comment


by curious43 September 30, 2006 2:07 PM EDT: I would think that an educated writer could use the English language better. It appears you are using right-wing talking points and not thinking much. To my knowledge, the word %u201Cretarded%u201D is applied to those with brain damage, including vets with head injuries. You now use the term in a derogatory way and present them as lower than you. So all liberals are now categorized with this problem. As a writer I would hope that you would write to help people better understand what each side is saying rather than berate and label groups. Sad.; Reply to this comment


by joycewest September 29, 2006 6:54 PM EDT: "The dictatorship of the retarded"? Is this the Peggy Noonan who wrote about a kinder, gentler nation and the thousand points of light? I'm sorry, but acknowledging that those are rude words doesn't excuse writing them up in a column in what can't be her best effort at making a point. She is worried about losing standards, yet those words epitomize her point. The mentally disabled do not choose to have lesser cognitive capacities. It's an insult to the disabled to use the word "retarded" to describe those who, despite the advantages of education and intellect, choose to produce "Jackass" and other cultural garbage. Yes, much discourse today is so vile that it's understandable a writer would want to make the point with a word that will sting. But this word also stings, for different reasons, those with children and relatives who have been, in fact, labeled retarded. Is the problem we don't speak the same language, or do we simply lack empathy?; Reply to this comment


by wirro-2009 September 29, 2006 6:31 PM EDT: Peggy Noonan conveniently ignores the fact that Republicans found out that at least temporarily, there are more political gains to be made by dividing Americans than bringing them together. They talk only to their base as long as they can get to 50% +1 vote. That's why creating a separate reality has become the new News Industry. The reality of the people who watch Fox, is not the same as that of those who watch CBS. But at some point facts do matter. That was the point Clinton was fighting against.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller September 29, 2006 4:50 PM EDT: I just can't get around the fact that if there is some non-partisan force or retardation responsible for the media disparity, it would occasionally work to the Democrat's benefit. Every typo, misreported story, or attempt at balance somehow ends up helping those in power. Hurt those same people with facts, and heads roll. Thus, CBS has stations refuse to air an accurate 9/11 documentary while ABC's rewriting of history is broadcast.

Noonan says we look at different data, but the issue in the Clinton interview is that one of the three major networks fabricated history to imply things that never happened, and claimed it was based on an already partisan report that said the exact opposite.

Cynical people exploit this factual relativism by purposely promoting falshoods through your outlets to create doubt where there is none.

Do most biologists accept evolution? Do most climate scientists say the Earth is warming? Has everything about Abramoff suggested he is a partisan Republican? Were bullets shot at Kerry? Did Clinton refuse to allow the CIA to take out Bin Laden?

You can't pretend theories are hypotheses, or balance history, but if "fairness" requires you play dumb, at least give reality equal time.

It's time to break up this monopoly, and bring back some competition to the free market of ideas.; Reply to this comment

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