In Mark Bauerlein's opening chapter, he begins with a small anecdote about Jay Leno and the Tonight Show's "JayWalking" portion. While Leno and the audience laugh at the average person on the street who does not know anything about the President or government, America still continues to be America.
In siding with Bauerlein, I believe that American values are being thrown to the side for the sake of entertainment and inactivity. In essence, Bauerlein's arguement about the title of his book is important. He claims that the idea of the "dumbest generation" is a paradox, in that, we as Americans have plenty of resources when it comes to technology, education, and commerce that we do not even try to fully engage with because of our passive nature. Bauerlein points out in today's age, the value of education, especially in the math, science, and technology sectors, is in high demand. Not only are we competing within our nation, but also internationally with studies around the world who would gladly come to America and have the job that we were to, for lack of a better word, lazy to go after.
My point here is that Bauerlein's opening chapter is a call to arms. Americans need to start engage in their civic duties if our country is to maintain excellence. Finally, where does our apathy stop as the future generation of America? Do we need a harsher wake up call in these tough economic times to open our eyes to our pattern of behavior? I am hoping not.