<p>about the 9/11 commission..whoops..you are right. I didn't mean that you should accept the report as factual, but it is an interesting read. I didn't explain myself clearly about that, and I apologize. You can disagree with me if you wish, but every single documentary has some hidden agenda behind it. I think the only documentary I've watched that didn't have an agenda was Capturing the Friedmans because you are forced to draw your own conclusions. (I can't explain it, you just have to watch it for yourself). </p>
<p>Thanks for the links and I will read them when I get the time, I promise. :) </p>
<p>The intelligence thing...I don't think that intelligence has an absolute definition. People tell me that I'm intelligent and I ask them why because what is intelligence? What defines me being intelligent? Is it because I do research and memorize facts, is it because I have a desire to learn, is it because I can study five minutes before a test and know the information? </p>
<p>I'm not articulate (if you were to meet me, I'd probably be very shy and say stupid things due to my nervousness)...so does that mean I lack intelligence? I cannot judge Bush's intelligence because of his stumblings at press conferences because I never had a conversation with the man to know if this is something he does normally. I would love to talk to him, to know what makes him tick. </p>
<p>I think my psychology professor is kind of the same way. He has to lecture in front of 600+ students and yes, he stumbles sometimes, he says "um" a lot and he repeats himself when explaining things and tends to quote the textbook. But I've found out from having an actual conversation with him that he is extremely knowledgeable in his discipline, he knows so many studies that were done and could talk about it hours on end, and I have so much respect for him. So I cannot say that he's unintelligent because he fidgets during lecture and sometimes gets flustered and tends to say "does that make sense" after every explanation. A lot of people think he's a horrible prof because of this, but they never took the time to actually have a conversation with him and listen to what information he has to offer (because he's disciplined in the area of cognitive psychology and general psychology and because of the experiments he's conducted.) </p>
<p>So I should clarify my earlier post by saying that I do not have an actual definition of intelligence because I do not know what intelligence is. It varies. My friend was in special education classes and he would talk to me on the bus about black holes and the quantum mechanics and he would teach it to me. A lot of people would assume that because he's in special education classes that he's "slow" but if you met him, you would be amazed. </p>
<p>I believe that the movie you're referring to is The Constant Gardener?? If that's the movie, I'm going to watch it because it sounds interesting..(I think you gave away the ending though)</p>
<p>I like having this conversation with you without the mud-slinging. If you want to talk about this further (just in case if the thread becomes a flame-fest, then feel free to IM me on AIM..it's the same as my CCname) :D</p>