Stephen Fry - Hay Sessions 2009 5/6

Part 5 of 6

Stephen Fry talks to Peter Florence at the Hay Festival (in Hay-On-Wye) in May 2009 about life, politics, America and culture.

The discussion about politics in America is continued from part 4.

Fry talks about how British and americans differ in their discussion of politics, which leads to Fry's argument about socialised medicine and arts versus a socilaised army.

Questions aree then opened to the audience.

1st question:

'You talked about the Americans not being sophisticated and that shouldn't be judged, yet isn't ignorance dangerous?' (don't think the questioner understood what SF was saying earlier)


2nd question:

'Obama was really popular in America mostly because his rhetoric and his message was able to go across part lines. But do you think that abroad, if he'd been the same guy with the same rhetoric would his message have not have been as well received had his politics been different, if Obama had been Republican do you think international perception would have been different?'

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[tet43]

As an American, it's strange watching an interview where you are discussed as some curious creature,and Stephen Fry is the intrepid explorer explaining how we behave in our natural

habitat.(lol) It's funny and disturbing at the same time.

[Dionysos37]

Gee, I wish America was allowed to see discussions like this. Too bad PBS has been destroyed (and of course the rest of the dial is useless)....

[RCTPatriot75]

@HTHAMMACK1

"Report: Poor science education impairs U.S. economy" USA today, Sep. 23, 2010

"U.S. Falls In World Education Rankings, Rated 'Average" Huffington Post Dec. 9, 2010

"In ranking, U.S. students trail global leaders" USA Today Dec. 7, 2010

"U.S. slipping in education rankings"  UPI.com Nov. 19, 2008

"U.S. schools humbled in world rankings" The Washington Post Sep. 9, 2010

Never said there weren't intelligent people. It is an irrefutable fact that our schools are performing worse.

[RCTPatriot75]

@moviefreak91

Churchill saw the inherent problems with socialism.

[tko1984]

The questioner – "you say we shouldn't judge American for being unsophisticated, but isn't ignorance dangerous."

Jesus, and people say American's don't get irony! What an idiot.

[allpeeps4me]

Lima, Peru

[wander099]

@HTHAMMACK1, can you blame an elementary school kid for wanting to play instead of sit at a desk all day? No. It is not the child's fault. And while the parents have some responsibility, they are not trained to teach. Teachers are supposedly qualified and they get the kids from as early as age 3 now. Are you telling me that they have none of the responsibility if the kids are as dumb as posts? Of course they do. Part of being a teacher is motivating students and teaching effectively.

[HTHAMMACK1]

@wander099 Crappy teachers? I'm sorry, but again, the greatest teacher could never teach a kid that doesn't want to learn. Education is about parents taking an interest, and children be influenced to learn. It has nothing to do with teachers. Teachers are capable.

[wander099]

@mossfitz, that is true. And the sad thing is that if most people took the time and energy to actually learn about things instead of just dismissing them because they have been told that they are bad or that they ought not to be interested in that, such ploys would not work in our world today. But most people will never do that. They will just sit quietly until told to shout about something in anger.

[mossfitz]

@wander099 The principal reason that the American people think socialism is bad is that they have been subjected to the most sustained and ever more virulent propaganda campaign for at least 60 years. They are simply brainwashed by the power-hungry owners of "Public opinion". It is sad that this takes place in a country where people take real pride in ideas of freedom.

[wander099]

@HTHAMMACK1, rankings have fallen in Canada and in the US. Perhaps not terrible yet, but will be if changes are not made. Is the cause government run education? No. The cause is crappy teachers and a culture that believes everyone has the same academic potential and should all go to university/college. Teach to the lower-middle and mediocrity will follow. Of course everyone still appears to be educated and intelligent because standards are lowered on national assessments and admissions.