Logsdon Speech Final

America has changed. It has evolved from essentially a raw material producing agricultural economy to the leader of the industrial manufacturing economy to a pioneer in what those who are so inclined call a knowledge economy. Basically, this means that those will replace the titans of industry are the programmers, physicists, chemists, engineers, and so on and so forth. It will no longer be sufficient to gain just any college degree, the leaders of tomorrow will need to possess a real, substantive degree. As such, the educational system will have to evolve to meet these needs . We see this today, schools are pushing students toward more rigorous, college level courses. Some have risen to success under this evolving set of circumstances, yet a significant portion of the population have been relegated to a cycle of mediocrity. This is not a result of fundamental difference between people, their brains are no different than anyone elses. Rather, this is a product of the environment in which they live, an environment that does not prioritize education.

I would like to take a moment to realize just how extraordinary we are. We being both students of Henry Clay High School and students of the Liberal Arts Academy. As strange as it may seem when we walk through the halls, we attend a good high school. Our average ACT score is a 22, superior to the state mark of 20. We offer a number of advanced placement courses and our students perform above average on those as well .

And the Academy is a different animal all together. Many of us would rather lose a limb than receive a C and are brought to the verge of tears at the thought of a 29 on the ACT. Certainly we are of above average intelligence , but much of this can be attributed to our environment. Most, if not all, of us have been in accelerated courses as soon as we were out of diapers. Most of us could be considered relatively stable financially, certainly not impoverished. We grew up in an environment that facilitated our education, prioritized it. This environment instilled in us a desire, no a need to learn, to excel. This is extraordinarily rare.

In Floyd County, Kentucky, where I was born, this is not the case. The people do not view education in the way that we have been exposed to it. In many families, it isn't prioritized or even truly acknowledged. They view education with a stigma, perhaps with innate suspicion around it. Primarily, this can be attributed to the isolation in many of these areas, some of which still only have one way in and out and are nestled so far back into the mountains, that it is hard to imagine of how they ever got there in the first place. Whatever it's origin, the fact is that this animosity toward education restricts the potential of the people who live there.

Prestonsburg High School, the county's largest high school, possess statistics that could only be called appalling. The average student scored a 19 on the ACT, six of the eleven thousand AP test taken in Kentucky in 2009 came from Prestonsburg High School. None of the six scored a 3 or above, forty six percent of students had developmental needs in at least one subject, forty seven students entered college, 22 of which entered a public 4 year university. And in nearby Hi Hat, Kentucky, at South Floyd High School, students perform even worse, far below even Prestonsburg.

What then must be done? Our educational reforms targeted at these areas have proven ineffective. In an audit of South Floyd High School, state observers stated, and I quote, " The staff demonstrates flexibility to new ideas and desire to improve quality of education. However, there is a lack of evidence to support any consistent effort to improve." That is basically the teachers saying, " Hey there is only so much we can do". To truly change this society, we must not target those who currently in the system ( though that must to be improved). We must target those who have not yet been affected, those who might not even be born.

Here is a story to illustrate my point. My grandfather was a life long teacher, a man who placed a very high value on education and who perhaps is responsible for this speech. His sister in law, who placed very little value on education had two children. The first child was primarily raised by his mother, very little contact with other adults until he was older. As a result, he didn't care about school, he didn't graduate high school, and he still lives with his mother collecting disability checks. My grandfather tried to educate him, but by that time he was all ready too deep into that anti - education mindset. As a result, my grandfather started educating the younger child from the beginning. He taught her to respect her mind and the doors it could open for her. She graduated high school, received a degree, and is working and raising her two children.

Just as my grandfather provided his niece the opportunity to make something of herself, we must provide the future generations the means to succeed. This endeavor requires a united front. We must change this society from one that views knowledge with suspicion and apprehension to a community that prioritizes and facilitates education for all people. When that happens, perhaps America will once again rise to the forefront of this new era has we have in the past.

yum yum potassium

Have you ever had that weird feeling where you're aching to eat something, but you don't know what it is? Could it be a juicy burger, served on a fluffy, warm egg bun, soft like the bosom of an angel, served with crisp lettuce leaf from the freshest head from God's seed, with a slice of the finest cheese from a pampered bovine, and adorned with a perfectly seasoned patty, crisp on the outside, yet chewy and savory on the inside? Or is it sweet, like the creamy decadence of a tiramisu, satisfying your sweet tooth with its thick, creamy mascarpone cheese, and the hit from the coffee the cake has been soaked in? Well, eating is not just satisfying your mortal desires anymore. It's more than just gaining nourishment to live. It has become a fine art that anyone could understand, the friend that we are seeking when we're depressed, and the solace we've desired to free ourselves from the outside world. So what's the problem here? Could there be any downside to food? Well, how would you feel if a company was ruining that blissful feeling you get when you bite into something special? When they industrialize your favorite meal, it instantly loses its greatness.

Unfortunately, too much of a good thing usually leads to disaster. Just think, what if you had your favorite meal every day for the rest of your life? Yes, you'd say it was awesome at first. But trust me, that delicious food you're begging mom to make will lose its specialness if you have it too much. However, eating the right amounts at the right moments will make you feel like a king receiving the finest gift in the land, whether it is a perfectly aged, roasted prime rib or pasta served with Grandma's secret sauce. While I hate to admit it to those who see me as the type of prick that likes fancy food, I love a good burger. Nothing pleasures me more than juicy meat being crammed into my mouth repeatedly, bite after bite. But when the fast food 「restaurants」 out there defile the name of burgers, things become personal. These franchises are not only ruining the colons of fat kids everywhere; they are also ruining the dignity of food. Instead of appreciating the gifts that food gives us, fast food restaurants have shown through quick service and low prices that it's just an inconvenience we must deal with.

Eric Schlosser is the man who wrote Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. He examines the influence fast food has had on us, not only on our bodies but also our dignity as humans. Fast food corporations have spread their influence everywhere, taking advantage of the naïve and trusting nature of children. Advertisements are everywhere, targeting a wide age range. Toys that come with certain meals appeal to children, while the low prices and deals appeal to adults. This indicates the loss of respect we've had for food.

When people are in a hurry and need a bite to eat, fast food restaurants come up with the idea to look good and provide a convenient and fast way of filling stomachs up. Behind their 「good guy」 persona for always being there to provide 「nourishment」 lays the evil schemes companies have come up with. During the recession, people did not go out to eat much, in order to save money. However, fast food restaurants became the last resort for many; such cheap food appealed at the time, giving the industry financial security while others suffered. As such, many view food as a human inconvenience; they have to eat in order to survive.

Now I admit, I do eat fast food sometimes, probably because I have cravings for certain things that the home cannot provide. I am usually horribly ashamed, not thinking of the hypocritical act that I had just committed. After I finish my low quality meal, I reflect on what I just did, and immediately start sweating from the shame, similar to when I make contact with a female. I remember when McDonald's Happy Meals were the coolest things ever, and collecting all the toys in a series was a goal that one kept. This unforgivable childish behavior is the result of fast food corporations' ingenious business tactics. Kids' television shows also feature fast food commercials, in order to entice the little ones to eat their food. The financial power is just too much, as Mr. Schlosser had pointed out in his book.

The power these franchises possess is immense; even having a finger in the chili couldn't bring down Wendy's. This shows that we've become too dependent on quick and easy food; fast food has become essential to American life. We would rather give up the dignity of food in order to save a buck. Such a phenomenon has spread worldwide, changing the eating habits of people everywhere. Now, we would even settle for a tasteless burger from McDonald's, instead of making one ourselves.

What has become of our once venerable cuisine? The influence of fast food has caused the world to see American cuisine as cheap crap that anyone can buy, and not delicious, comforting food that reminds one of home. So yes, fast food restaurants are to blame for losing our civilized demeanor. They may provide a quick bite at a small price, but at the cost of our dignities. While I am not saying we should boycott McDonald's or Wendy's, we should all understand what food is. Next time, think of the beauty of your meal, and think of the respect it deserves.

Schlosser, Eric. BBC Collective Interview by Leigh Singer. 26 Apr 2007. BBC. Web. 7 Aug 2011. .

Corwin, Tom. "Food Ads Still Bombard Kids." (GA) Augusta Chronicle Aug 2 2011, Print.

"Google Finance." Google. McDonald's Corporation, 07 Aug 2011. Web. 7 Aug 2011. .

Spain, William. "Fast-food chains 'holding up' in bad economy." SFGate 17 Jan 2010: n. pag. Web. 7 Aug 2011. .

Spurlock, Morgan, Dir. Supersize Me. Dir. Morgan Spurlock." Perf. Morgan , Spurlock. Samuel Goldwyn Films, Roadside Attractions: 2004, Film.

Social Media

Everyone in this room has probably heard the song “It’s a Small World” that Disney has used many times and they even has a creepy ride in Disney World based on it. However being released in 1964 this song was a little before its time. Back then the world was anything but a small place for most people. Fifty years later our world is indeed a small place and its all because of something known as social media. Sites such as Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, all of them are revolutionizing how the world communicates with itself. For the first time a person living in another country doesn't seem so far away anymore; all you need is a Facebook. In a span of about ten years it has taken over our society and improved it in ways that were never thought possible. News can be spread across an entire nation in a matter of minutes, all it takes is one tweet. We are closer to, and know more about, our politicians, celebrities, and even our friends and families. And one person can make a difference or even save a life, with todays social media all it takes is initiative.

One of the most amazing aspects of Social Media is how quickly it can spread information or news. When the Tsunami hit Japan over the summer I knew about it in my third hour class of the same day. Within the span of a couple hours the news had traveled all the way across the globe. People were taking real time videos of the tsunami and posting them on Twitter and Facebook. We were getting a first hand view of the devastation all the way in America. The news spread like wild fire across all forms of social media and within a day donation site were set up to help raise money for the relief effort. All of this was possible because of social media and its capabilities. On a more local level social media has just as much of an impact. If we look at Lexington for example one place we see its impact is in the school system and how information is sent out. Last year when we had tons of snow that caused all kinds of problems in the city. However there was one common way of trying to get information to the people of Lexington and that was through Social Media. Snow days were announced through Facebook, and accidents and power outages were announced through Twitter. This news spreading ability has become irreplaceable and without it society would be left in the dark.

Politicians and celebrities have always had a type of aw around them. As if they don’t live on the same planet as us. Social media however has changed that. Politicians no longer have a curtain to hide behind. In society today if a politician wants to win an election that have to be as involved and open as possible with the public. And social media is the perfect outlet for this. Elections can be one and lost based on how a candidate handles this medium. Are they open and free with the public? Or do they refuse to use it and consider it detrimental? This single outlet can sway an election. During the campaign of Obama, for example, they created a website that allowed the public to be up to date on where he stands, and even gives them a medium to express their opinions.

Celebrities, like politicians, are now a lot closer and more accessible to the public. Never before could we know exactly what a celebrity was doing at ever hour of the day. Twitter has given us that. We can even talk to them if we get lucky. I, a 16 year old high schooler in Lexington, Ky, could have a conversation with Lebron James, or tell him I hate him and know that he saw it. Either way it has taken the bigger then life celebrity and shown us that they really aren’t much different.

Its not just politicians and celebrities that have been made more accessible, but our own friends and families. We all have that grandparent that friends you on Facebook and then proceeds to spam you with farmville requests. You can even reconnect with distant family members. That cousin that you haven’t seen since that one thanksgiving when you were a child is now only a click away. Social media is bringing friends and families back together and providing them with a means to reconnect.

The openness is not only one of its greatest strengths, but one of its biggest weaknesses. Theres an anonymity that comes with social media simply because it is from behind a computer. Everyone has the same abilities on these sites and everyone has access to anyone so cases such as cyber bullying can occur. However steps can be taken to prevent this such as the videos that we watch every year. Also we see the overall lack of privacy by people who choose to participate in these sites. People can be exposed and once a piece of information, or a picture hits one of these sites it spreads. The ability to spread information, that is so unique to social media, is suddenly the enemy, and anyone is free to give their opinion on the subject. This risk however is greatly outweighed by the reward that comes with it.

For the first time ever we know see that ordinary people have the ability to make a difference in the world, and that is exactly what some people have done. Social media provides everyone with a level playing field. Nobodies cause is greater then someone else's and this is one of the beauties of social media. The story of a Whale named Mr. Splashy Pants is the perfect example of this. There is a group called Greenpeace, an environmental group that wanted to stop the japanese government and their whaling expedition. They way they wanted to do this was by putting a tracker into one of the whales and then naming it to make it more people friendly. In order to get the public involved they set up an internet poll asking people to vote on their favorite name. Three of the names were symbolic meanings, while the fourth was Mr. Splashy Pants. The poll ended up getting promoted by Reddit, a social news site, and they proceeded to back the name Mr. Splashy Pants, even changing the logo for a day to be a whale. By the end of the day Mr. Splashy Pants went from having 5% of the votes, to having 70% of the votes. Other social sites then began really backing this idea and soon groups on Facebook were being created, and Mr. Splashy Pants was all over the internet. Greenpeace seized the opportunity and clothing lines were created, you could even send someone an animated splashy. Not only had Mr. Splashy Pants taken over social sites within a week, but the Japanese Government ended up calling off their whale hunting expedition. Perfectly exemplifying how powerful social media can be. It took something that a small environmental group had created and made it an internet sensation. Not only that but actually helped them to accomplish their goal and end the whaling expedition.

Social Media has proven that it can be considered one of the greatest inventions of our generation and I think that its only just beginning. It has already brought together all kinds of people, from celebrities to family members and has showed us the power that the internet can have. It is part of our life, whether we like or not. Ordinary people are changing the world and we are witnessing a revolution in how society relates with itself. It truly has become a small world that we live in, and people who once seemed so far away, are now impacting our lives, and I look forward to seeing whats next in the vast world of social media.

Alcoholism

I’d like everyone to take a moment and imagine with me. Close your eyes if you’d like. Picture that it’s a regular day: a tiring and boring school day full of worksheets and tests. You’d like to go home and relax for a little while. You walk in the door to your house. Your dad is home from work. You go to tell him that you got an A on your Physics test. Unfortunately, you walk into the kitchen to find him stumbling across the room. You ask him why he’s doing this again, but he’s drunk to even form the words to give you an answer.

A month ago I went to that 4-hour driving class we have to take to get our licenses. This is when the magnitude of this problem really struck me. Of course alcohol came into the conversation when we were discussing drunk driving. Our instructor asked us to raise our hand if we knew an alcoholic. I expected maybe 5 out of the 20 of us to raise our hands, but as I looked around the room, I saw about 15 hands in the air, mine included. I actually know two alcoholics; while one is quite alive, and the other drank himself to death a few years ago. Alcoholism is a very dangerous and very real societal concern.

The situation I described earlier was not just a story I made up. About 6.6 million kids under 18 years old live with an alcoholic parent; that’s 6.6 million people just like us that come home to the nightmare that is their life. That is because there are 14 million alcoholics in America, including 3 million teenagers, 3 million seniors, and 500,000 9-12 year olds.

While alcoholism may or may not be a disease, it is a disabling condition. Alcoholics rely on alcohol to actually help them function. But as you know, the alcohol does more harm than good. Of course, overuse or misuse of alcohol can lead to other medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, malabsorption, chronic pancreatitis, liver disease, heart disease, cancer, disruption of brain cell production, and strokes. This list could go on and on because alcohol can damage any part of your body that is vulnerable.

Not only is alcoholism a danger to the alcoholics themselves, but to everyone around them. One addict will affect the lives of around 5 people; that’s 70 million people affected. Because alcohol impairs your judgment, your likelihood to commit a crime increases. One third of all fatal accidents were caused by an intoxicated driver, two-thirds of all domestic violence cases involved alcohol, and 40% of all state prisoners convicted of a violent crime were drunk at the time of their offense. Of course, I’m not saying that alcohol will make you commit a crime, nor am I saying that all alcoholics are this dangerous, but I am saying that alcohol can change you in ways that make you a danger to yourself and others.Now, all these risks and consequences are, of course, important to know so that you know why alcoholism is a horrible danger. But these are all facts that most people are already aware of. What I want to get across to you even more so is a deeper understanding of the addiction itself.

The first thing to know is who is more likely to develop alcoholism. It’s is most common among men ages 18-29. Alcoholism is also hereditary; this accounts for 40% of alcoholism cases, and sons of alcoholic fathers have a 5 times greater risk of developing it. Alcoholism is also related to other issues like PTSD; up to 75% of victims of violence or abuse trauma and up to 30% of victims of accidental, illness, or disaster trauma report problems with alcohol. Other risk factors include people who suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, low-self esteem, stress, peer pressure, or people who intentionally drink excessive amounts on a regular basis.

The second thing you need to know is how to recognize an alcoholic. Some symptoms are drinking alone, violence when drunk, inability to control drinking, missing work or school or other activities to drink, neglecting normal eating habits, hiding alcohol use, and signs of alcohol withdrawal when they don’t drink. You should never ignore any of these signs if you notice them occurring in another person. Even if you notice a person with one of these symptoms who is not yet an alcoholic, it is very possible that they are susceptible to becoming one.

So what can you do about it? Well, alcoholism is treatable. But going cold turkey on one’s own is dangerous because one out of every five alcoholics who stop drinking without medical assistance die from withdrawal. This is why there are many addictions counselors and programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, who are out there to help not only the addict, but their family as well. Curing an addiction is never easy, but you’ll never get anywhere if you let it be. I urge you to seek help as an addict or family member of an addict. I want to end the suffering of those 70 million people affected. So please, join me in ending alcoholism. Thank you.

Second to post, not bad

Here, you have a young man. He tries his best at school and is nice to everyone he meets. Yet he constantly gets harassed, bullied, and even threatened by his peers. He does his best to tune out the constant persecution he receives; but eventually, he can’t take it anymore and ends his own life. He was gay.

Countless stories like this have been reported over and over again throughout the nation, where entire communities rejected people due to their sexuality – homosexuals are possessed by demons, because the bible said so. The words “gay” and “homo” have degraded to the point of being used as insults. I have caught myself using them as such many a times.

I inquire, how is this any different than how the blacks were treated during the civil rights era, when they were persecuted because of the color of their skin? How is this any different than how the Jews were treated during World War II, when they were persecuted because of their religious beliefs? There is absolutely no reason for this kind of discrimination in this time and age, in a society as advanced and sophisticated as ours. I implore the people to look past their prejudices, and accept gays as members of this diverse society.

Homosexuality is not a choice. A person does not wake up in the morning and think to himself, “You know what, I feel like being gay today”. In the same way that straights are attracted to people of the opposite sex, gays are attracted to people of the same sex; there is no conscious decision involved. As studies have proven, homosexuality results from a mixture of biological and environmental factors. Yet still, they’re being attacked, physically and mentally, for something that they have no control over, something that they didn’t choose. But do you know what is a choice? Being homophobic. Being afraid that someone else is different than you. Being prejudiced by choice against a group of people over something that the group has no choice over. That is a choice, and a poor one at that.

Homosexuality is not a crime. We have grown past the age where we believe in magic and monsters. Yet still, the friendly neighborhood Fundamentalist insists that gays are possessed by unholy demons and are agents of the very devil himself. To condemn a group by accusing them of being satanic creatures is unfounded and absurd. They are people just like you and me, just like the millions of other people in this nation, not some diabolical creature out of a silly book. The only difference is that they value different things, surely something that does not make a group “evil” by definition?

Homosexuality does not ruin lives. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Studies have again and again shown states that ban gay marriages have higher divorce rates. Marriage is between two people who love each other, regardless of factors like race or social status. So why should gender matter? Why should two people who truly love each other not be allowed to wed? If gay marriage is legalized, families would not be destroyed, the sanctity of marriages would not be defiled, a third World War would not break out. A little more equality would just be created.

I’m not ashamed to say that I won’t be voting for Rick Perry, but you don’t need to watch the news every night to know that there’s something wrong in this country when politicians can openly spew homophobic, bigoted rhetoric and still gain support.

This country established itself on the principal of equal treatment of all. The path towards that dream has already been paved; many states have already legalized gay marriage. Yet on the same hand, many still refuse to. People still view gays as some sort of inhumane creature. In the same way that other minority groups have won equal rights in the past, it is now the homosexual community’s turn to receive their proper treatment. It is long overdue to correct this injustice.

Bibliography

"Divorce Rates Lower in States with Same-Sex Marriage - US News and World Report." US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and More. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .

For the Bible Tells Me So. Dir. Daniel G. Karslake. First Run Features, 2007. Film.

"N.Y. Students Suspended after Gay Teen's Suicide - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .

Speech

We as a race strive to collect as many resources as possible. The Spanish readily committed genocide for gold. The richest men in history gathered their wealth from the processing and sale of high demand resources. Even today, we are no different. While we sit in this room, there are recycling centers devoted to salvaging every ounce of aluminum from an old can, or every bit of silicon from a hard drive no longer in use. We must ask ourselves, though, what do these materials give us? Plastic? Fuel? Jewelry? Computers? Surely we cannot live without these things, for that we need them. They are as necessary as the air we breath, the water we drink. Our hearts would stop and we would fall to the ground if we didn’t find enough of the resources we depend on.

This isn’t true. If the gold industry came to a halt, we’d all have fewer things made of gold, but we’d live. The same goes even for gas or coal. Even if our power went out or our cars stopped getting fuel, we’d continue to live.

But what if our last kidney stopped working, or our liver quit? Would we be as fortunate? We covet and conserve these resources we would like to own or think are helpful, but throw away those things that actually make us tick. How many cans are recycled to ensure we still have cans? If you need a can of soda, there’s a store full of them to go and buy from. What if I need a kidney? Is there a kidney aisle in that store?Despite the fact that everyone can donate not just one, but twice the amount of kidneys that I would need when they die, I would go on a waiting list behind scores of kidneyless people and there’s a good chance I’d die before I placed high enough on the list to get help. Those in need might be women, or children, people with full lives and plans they won’t get to fulfill. Sure, we can’t just take any kidney and stick it in there and have a healthy person again, but if we had even a fraction of the people who die giving organs, we could live in a world where the waiting lists don’t last months and more people get help.

What if we took one person Maybe that person was going to find a great career, or find love. He might have lived to be an old man with grandchildren, or the woman who cured the common cold. There is no resource greater than life, and even if choosing to be an organ donor is very different than pushing a recycle bin out to the street, the reward you could give to one or even multiple otherwise dead human beings outpaces any inconvenience or personal fears we would have.

This brings the question, if we can take life out of dead people and put it in dying people, why are we not all donating what we have when we’re done using it? The truth is, there are a lot of scary things about being a donor. Some think that by being a donor, you are no longer a patient but a commodity to doctors, and if you are able to give life they will not work as hard to keep you alive. This is the silliest of all the misconceptions, for that it is based on the weakest logic, and in reality doctors don’t even check to see if you’re a donor until you are officially declared dead. Some fear that they might be declared dead while still alive due to the rush of trying to transplant an organ. In reality, donors are given more tests to ensure they are dead.

Some also feel that in the case of open casket funerals, organ donation would not be an option for obvious reasons. However, for skin transplants (which are used to treat burn victims, etc.) tissue is taken from the back, and after bone transplants metal rods are put in place to keep the body looking normal. In any case of donations, no one would be able to tell you are missing anything. Meanwhile, a person somewhere will get one or more of those parts and hopefully live with them for years to come.

Organs are also removed at no cost to the donor’s family, and the procedure is done quickly and most likely would not interfere with funeral arrangements. No one is too old to donate and few medical conditions disqualify donors.

The idea of being “harvested” may allow our imaginations to run wild, but in reality it is a quick, clean procedure that would probably allow one if not many to survive. In fact, mathematically 50 people could receive treatments from one deceased human being. So this brings the question, what’s stopping you? What’s stopping anyone from providing a second chance to someone after you’re life comes to a close? It’s recycling the world’s most valuable resource and saving a life, so why not?

Anti-intellectualism

To quench the thirst of knowledge must surely quantify the purpose of the human race. To describe us is to describe the only entity in the history of existence that has actively attempted to understand – life, the universe, and everything. Without our knowledge, we stand for nothing, idly resting as mere imbeciles. It must be a crime on humanity to refuse knowledge, and yet it happens all the time. Martin Luther King Jr, a man whose reputation speaks for itself, justifiably declared that “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” War, disease, hatred, earthly hazard, discrimination, inequality, stupidity, ignorance, premature death and practically all other conflicts in our domain have a common derivative amongst their others; if these effects are the flames of the fire evil, then anti-intellectualism is the fuel by which that fire burns.

Those with the intent to unmake knowledge – the anti-intellectuals – have plagued us throughout history. For instance, the burning of the library at Alexandria and the censorship of truth by the medieval church lead to the dark ages. And indeed, the problem existed long before the librarian Hypatia's death and long after the crusades became nothing more than a blemish in European history. In 1963, Richard Hofstadter published the book Anti-intellectualism in American life. The book is 50 years old, and considered by some to be dated, but most, if not all, of its allegations are still relevant today. The contention is raised that America, and western society as a whole is handicapped in the area of scientific acceptance. He fears that as intellectualism declines, so too does the state of living. Though much has changed for the better since his time, Hofstadter examines many of the troubles that still provoke modern society. The Vietnam war and the war in Iraq both seemed to follow the logic that thrives in American politics as pointed out by Hofstadter years before. The reluctance of schools to accept evolution, which Hofstadter specifically warns about, is still a major hindrance 80 years after it was first debated in 1925. The thesis he presents is still as true as it is unnerving even in modern times. The wisdom of science and reason is frustratingly still condemned by the public.

In his 2011 film Science Under Attack, Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse hits the nail on the head when he says that the people of the 21st century don't trust science enough. Interviews with climatologists, HIV/AIDS specialists, and genetic researchers present the contention that science is becoming under-appreciated and isn't trusted enough. When Nurse interviews radicals who don't believe in climate change or evolution and even deny the existence of the HIV retrovirus, an obvious showcasing of buffoonery, it becomes clear that emotions have often clouded over reason in the public view. Ignorance continues to permeate through society in a grand array of forms.

One of the best examples of intentional anti-intellectualism is the rejection of evolutionary theory. 1859 saw the introduction of evolutionary thought by the researcher Charles Darwin in his book The Origin of Species. By 1925, the novel had transformed into a commonly accepted scientific field in the same vein as physics and chemistry worthy of public school classrooms. However, the American congress almost neglected to accept in in the national curriculum. Fueled by the republican party and an extremely religious public, opposition to the acceptance of evolution lead to one of the largest cultural debates in history. It was eventually won by the intellectuals, but after such a rocky start, it remained a problem even into modern times. In an interview with Laura Sheahen, respected biologist Richard Dawkins explains how evolution has been rejected by the great creationist masses. He explains that not only can evolution coexist with religion, but the level to which it is rejected by the religious population is ludicrous. He at least insinuates that science isn't trusted by the public at the level it should be, and he justifiably describes the arguments of skeptics as “propaganda,” pointing to their, “staggering ignorance of what evolutionary science is about.”

Anti-intellectualism isn't just a harm to the abstract progression of knowledge however. Climate change, a shockingly real and tangible issue all over the world, is directly fueled by ignorance. Because so many don't believe it is an effect of our own doing, our fate has been sealed. The only way to try and fix the environment is through active participation in its repair, an outcome that can only occur after knowledge of the problem has created passion. Sadly, it doesn't look like that's the path we've taken. According to an edition of the Sunday Times, a respectable museum in London now reflects public opposition to climate science in a very real way. To accommodate those who don't trust climatologists, the museum has actually changed the name of one of its exhibits from “Climate Change Gallery” to “Climate Science Gallery.” The Discovery channel almost refused to air an episode of a BBC documentary Frozen Planet series that supports climatologists. Even the words of former vice president Al Gore don't seem to have swayed the public substantially. We are all doomed to a forever ravaged planet and the sad death of many forms of life – possibly even ourselves – and the blame is almost entirely ascribable to anti-intellectualism, the mother of all curses to humanity.

Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly or it vanishes into thin air like a fire with no fuel of its own. We cannot be such a foolish people as to not value it over all things, and yet we still allow ignorance into our lives. To deny evolution is absurd; to deny climate change is foolhardy. We must no longer kid ourselves. We must continue our journey in the pursuit of knowledge, for with out it, all is lost. Anti-intellectualism is an obstacle in our journey's path, but nothing more. With the help of proper education and activism, we shall end its tyranny and thus we shall begin our lives at long last enlightened by science and reason.