I’m not sure why this is particularly newsworthy. 1 in 5 Americans also happen to fall into the lowest quintile of intelligence quotient (math-deniers will just have to trust me on that.)

Here are a few more things that “1 in 5″ Americans believe with all their blessed little hearts:

• 1. The moon landing in 1969 was all a big government hoax.
  2. The sun revolves around the earth.
  3. Ghosts are real.
  4. Global warming is not real.
  5. Dinosaurs and humans existed at the same time.
  6. Evolution? - totally debunked, discredited.
  7. They know someone who has been abducted by aliens.
  8. Christianity came before Judaism.
  9. America won its independence from a country other than Great Britain (many answer “China.”)
  10. George W. Bush was an excellent president.
  11. They found the WMD in Iraq.
  12. The bank bailouts were done in the early days of the Obama administration, not the late days of the Bush administration.
  13. Sarah Palin is qualified to be president of the United States.
  14. They identify themselves as Republicans.

In my opinion the greatest threat to our society in the 21st century is the way so many have turned away from reason and replaced it with rote ideology supported by little else but blind faith.  Al Gore wrote about it in “The Assault on Reason.”  Shortly after the 2004 election a senior Bush administration official derisively referred to rationalists as “the reality-based community,” bragging that when you’re the ones with the political power, you make your own reality.  It is either intellectual dishonesty or intellectual laziness, but one way or the other it is killing (or perhaps has already killed) all prospects for rational, civil discourse on the issues of the day, whether held in the halls of Congress or on the pages of Facebook.

So those in power continue to wallow in the mud and do nothing but calculate how to win the next election, and the rest of us relegate our social interactions to posting what we had for breakfast on our Facebook status.

Related reading: Building a Nation of Know-Nothings

..I see our country teetering on the edge of an abyss. At its bottom brews the simmering bile of deep, dark hatred. Hatred that is dividing our country. Politically. Racially. Geographically. In every way, whether it’s political vendettas, sports brawls, corporate takeovers, high school gangs and cliques. The American competitive ethic has changed from “let’s beat the other guy” to “let’s destroy the other guy.” Too many, too many are too willing to stigmatize and demonize others for political advantage, for money or for ratings. The vilification is savage…

I am asking all of us on both sides to take one step back from the edge. Then another step. And another. However many it takes to get back to that place where we are all Americans. Different, imperfect, diverse, but one nation, indivisible. This cycle of tragedy-driven hatred must stop. Because so much more connects us than that which divides us. And because tragedy has been and will always be with us. Somewhere right now evil people are planning evil things. All of us will do everything meaningful, everything we can do to prevent it. But each horrible act can’t become an axe for opportunists to cleave the very bill of rights that binds us.

– Charlton Heston, defending the NRA’s right to hold their annual convention in Denver shortly after the Columbine tragedy

How do you think the Catholics would react if there were serious proposals to outlaw the building of Catholic churches near childrens’ playgrounds? My guess, they would be deeply offended. Offended at a level comparable to how I imagine most Muslims feel in this recent hysteria whipped up by political opportunists looking for a wedge issue to divide Americans, in which Muslim Americans are so casually and so intentionally equated with terrorists.

The current crop of what passes for conservatives in this country are unprincipled, hypocritical demagogues who haven’t read the U. S. constitution since they were tested on it in the 7th grade. The hypocrisy is revealed in this clip.

Friday night at Poor David’s Pub to see the legendary J.D. Souther, and even though his music pretty much defined the southern-California country-rock sound of the 70’s that catapulted artists like the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt to super-stardom, J.D.’s from Texas so I can call his songs Texas music, by cracky.

Saturday night brought it back to true native Texas Music, with Tommy Alverson’s CD release party for his new record, Texas One More Time, at Fort Worth’s legendary Casa Manana.

And finally, Sunday night wrapped up the perfect weekend - the trifecta - with Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros at Joni Beard’s Clubhouse Concerts, in its new uber-cool venue, Mambo’s Tapas Bar in downtown Fort Worth.

A-list performers in intimate, great-sounding venues with friends, three nights in a row. It’s a cliche, but it’s true - it just doesn’t get any better than that.

I seem to say this a lot, but good golly, what a night! Tommy Alverson, his regular band members, and a few extra special friends threw one of the best CD release parties/concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending, last night at Casa Manana in Fort Worth. Tommy and his new record label, Blue Boots Records, also out of Fort Worth, is a perfect fit and last night that perfection was on display. The band (with several friends sitting in to take it to the next level) was perfect, the sound and overall venue (Casa Manana is kind of like Bass Hall, but without the stick up its —:) was perfect, and, most importantly for me, the stage lighting was perfect so I got some great shots!

Photo slideshow

Link to photo detail page

Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Well Dallas is a jewel, oh yeah, Dallas is a beautiful sight.
And Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a beautiful light.
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
– Joe Ely