Mysteries of the Pineapple

OK. I admit at the beginning that I am one who hasn't done any "blogging" in a long time. But, I seem to be in the majority in that. Blogging takes time, and sentences, and paragraphs. I can "twitter" or facebook something in one sentence and be done. It's like the difference between a manual typewriter with carbon paper and a computer wordprocessing program. Is it really worth it to go back and do all that work? We don't have enough time in the day as it is. How can we find more time to compose intelligent thought and put it in print?

Quite frankly, I am a USA TODAY type of person. Give it to me in the headline and first paragraph. That's all I really want to know about most of what you are writing. But are we really satisfied with a headline/summary world? Have we actually gone beyond Cliff notes to expect everything to be reduced to a 40 word statement (or whatever the limit is)?

Think of the social repercussions of this way of thinking - admittedly my way of thinking. Is it any surprise that in the political realm, whether we are on the left or the right, that everything is reduced to slogans and/or soundbites? Many are content to allow a party or party leadership to determine what they should themselves believe. When was the last time a major issue in Congress did not follow strick party lines? Do we really believe that each congressman is considering what is best for the people they represent and not simply following their party leadership?

Perhaps a worse reflection of this is in the religious realm where so many people are willing to give up their right/ability to think for themselves and accept: 1. The religion of their parents; 2. The religion of a charismatic leader; or 3. The religion that is socially expedient either in their location or their career field.

But aren't we missing out on the whole picture? We give our opinions up for a few writers/broadcasters who can say things in a way that pleases us and reinforces our preconceived opinions. To prove that statement, when was the last time you actually listened to someone you truly disagreed with? We have an opinion and we tend to listen to only those who have that same opinion. How do we really move forward and learn with that viewpoint? It's like there is no real progress, we just find a way to defend the past viewpoints. What would it take for YOU to truly change your belief? The terrorists believe that you will only think differently if violence is involved. Is that true? Do YOU only believe that all the correct thinking came in the past and you have to believe what you have been taught?

So, back to the beginning, is there really a reason to think and take the time to write about it? Does anyone really care about something besides humorous stories or evocative pictures? Are we really the entertainment oriented culture that Huxley wrote about? So, ignoring the sentence ending in a preposition, can a redneck from Alabama ask intelligent questions?