Instead of watching television, why not learn how to grow an herb garden? Not only is it an enjoyable pastime and visually appealing, it is healthy and saves money at the grocery store. I grow all of my own cooking herbs and plant them wherever I can. Instead of watching television, get a canvas and paint something. It might not be a Picasso, but while in a state of meditation you may come up with a great business idea. Who knows, you may discover a hidden talent. By being proactive rather than a non-participant in life, our economy and populace will flourish. Producing something aids you personally, as well as our country and ultimately the world. We may laugh at Homer Simpson but unfortunately he depicts the common man. An apathetic populace breeds continued failure.
The strength of a nation is not in its vast numbers, nor is its economy based merely on consumer buying power. Its strength rests in the quality of the people it generates. This is seen too in the art it composes. Unfortunately we have become extremely lackadaisical, and even worse, we govern ourselves accordingly. Fair warning America: the corporate moguls and political strategists love this.
Our nation was born to and given strength mostly by farmers and children with muskets and pitchforks staving off an armada. They contemplated and assimilated the world around them, which enabled them to export ideas, products, and an enviable culture. They produced a strong populace and an equally strong nation. Sadly, we are allowing our strengths to be usurped as we idly, apathetically recline, absorbing the dregs thrown our way.
Article comments
1 - Alan Kurtz
"We are now living in a world entirely comprised of typos," you write. I see you've pitched in with your share, to wit:
Huntley-Brinkey [Brinkley]
Newshour [Huntley-Brinkley Report;
its running time was first 15 minutes and later 30 minutes but never an hour]
Snideley [Snidely] Whiplash
droning [drowning] out the mindful thinking processes
Dr. Suess [Seuss]
2 - Summer Said
Oops. It wasn't the innocent,accidental,I can't see well typing errors I was referencing. Thank you for being so observant. I really did mean "droning" and not "drowning" though Mr. Kurtz.
Ewwww....
3 - Summer Said
Oh, I get it now. Muzzled...
4 - Alan Kurtz
Are you suggesting it is the reader's responsibility to somehow distinguish between what you call "innocent, accidental" typos and … what, typos that are guilty and deliberate?
Or perhaps I misunderstood. I thought you were bemoaning rather than extolling the notion that our world is "entirely comprised of typos."
And incidentally, your use of comprised is idiomatic. It would be more grammatical to say "entirely composed of typos."
Funny how you spend so much time boasting of your vast erudition acquired through TV avoidance, but then fail to actually demonstrate much in the way of basic literacy skills.
5 - Summer Said
Mr. Kurtz,
I wrote an opinion piece and although you are entitled to disagree with it and I suppose even rip it to shreds for accuracy and grammar, take note that this was written also in memory of my deceased father. Perhaps he was your professor at Yale or NYU or maybe you traveled with him when he saved Panama, Jakarta, Iraq and other areas from despots. However, have you ever considered the old adage, if you haven't anything nice to say then don't say anything? Perhaps you are the The Grand Inquisitor of editorial writing but it would behoove you to take a class in diplomacy and ethics. Please refrain from your insults. I do not intend to spar with you.
6 - Keren Hoy
Summer, I now don't feel so alone in my tireless efforts to get my son (7) to do other things than watch TV! I enjoyed your article - you obviously spent time and thought on it, choosing your words carefully and at times poetically. Yours in the fight against mindless drivel, Keren (first-time commentee, just dipping my toe in the blogging waters, as it were...)
7 - Summer Said
Thank you Keren. I'm dipping my toes as well. I'm glad you got the main gist of my article. Good job keeping your little boy away from TV as much as possible. It really is mind numbing. The map "thingy" really works! Although my daughter still curses me...