@ Jorge
That's fine... in primary school. But it should not be forced on you when you are going to college when you are going to study a profession or skill. I didn't hate it in highschool. There is a difference... or rather, there should be a difference. I think most of the things I learn in highschool is definitely useful. Not all, of course, but it's rare when it's everything would be useful. But there is no reason why a electrical engineer needs to know what time and date that Hitler attacked Austria. I'm not against a general knowledge course that covers some of this and some of that, but it should not be concentrated and then forced upon you.
When it's enforced, it's not enrichment, it's cramming. I don't even cram for these tests for the most part but I know pretty much everyone else does. Everything that was shoved in your face does not enrich you because they are something you are learning for that one time period and then you forget. If you don't believe me, youtube "stop women suffrage." I'm almost certain everyone asked has been "enriched" in the way you are suggesting.
And why I say that it's fine when you are in primary school, secondary, high school is because often in those times you have not decided or have not had enough knowledge to decide for yourself truly what you want to do. But when you're in college you often have a goal already in mind, and when you don't you will take classes to see if they are somethign you are interested in.
@ Freddy
I'm not talking about it in a conspiratorial sense that it's a not a democracy. It's just the truth, what we have is a democratic republic, the republic part of it is the bigger part. Sure, citizens vote, but they vote people into republic offices as their representatives, who then votes on laws on their behalf.
As for what you said for rights being taken for granted. I completely agree. But the way you said it before sounded like that sort of manipulation that happens in media and government. Also, it seems like our representatives in offices are probably thinking just that.
I don't know about that racist thing though I do agree with you for the most part. I think most racism happens when people are offended unnecessarily or if they are influenced by others, mainly their communities. I don't have any statistics to really back that up, but that is what it seems like to me.
I personally say racist stuff all the time, to friends, because for the most part they know I don't have any racial intentions behind them. But I think most blacks are taught of their enslavement and they take it to heart even though we should be past that and they get a sense of entitlement. Many of them, in turn say racist things to other people. One example was this one guy on my school bus back in high school who called me a chink, if I had retaliated in a racial manner, people would get on my ass but not his. I'm not trying to say all blacks are like this, but it does seem to be the majority of them ones I've met.
Now on to ignorance. Like I've said I have nothing about learning about general knowledge... but it should be general, not how these general education classes I've taken. We should learn how wars started, and why it's bad and how it ended, things like that. Or why this book or that book is considered good. But the classes I've taken teaches the Eiffel tower was built in this year, and Hitler committed suicide on this day at this second after this happen of this year. No one will remember that, unless they were REALLY interested. I admit that I was somewhat interested and I did look into these things, but not to the details that was taught, because I know it's not some I need to know.
Finally, I agree that people shouldn't be ignorant because it's bad. But when you do not intend to step into that field, you are alright. Politics is definitely not my field, but I am somewhat interested, which is why I do look things up. I don't try bring up things I have no clue about, it may happen (I'm not perfect), but I tend to try to stay away from things that doesn't interest me or I have no knowledge about.
I might've missed some things, feel free to point them out.
@ Flame
I agree... but I do like talking about politics every now and then, regardless of how it turns out. Much like video game arguments... I just don't like it when people say one thing then another and when pointed out they ignore it and still press on because then... they are just trolling. I also tend not to get too frustrated about these things, or so I try.