IS MIKE ROWE AN ANTI-INTELLECTUAL WHITE NATIONALIST?

Chuck Atkins post on Mike Rowe’s Facebook page:

“One of the tenants of white nationalism is that college educated people are academic elitests. Comment? No? I’m not surprised. You never take a political stand because you don’t want to alienate anybody. Its bad for business. I get it. But there is a current of anti intellectualism in this country – promoted by Republicans. Those people love you, and they think your initiative is their initiative. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is kickin our ass academically.”

Mike Rowe’s response:

Hi Chuck

Since we’re being candid, allow me to say how much I dislike your post. Everything about it annoys me – your smug and snarky tone, your appalling grammar, your complete lack of evidence to support your claims, and of course, the overarching logical fallacy that informs your entire position. What really bugs me though, is the fact that you’re not entirely wrong. It’s true; I haven’t shared any political opinions this week, in part anyway, because doing so might very well be “bad for business.”

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What can I say? I work for half-a-dozen different companies, none of whom pay me to share my political opinions. I run a non-partisan foundation, I’m about to launch a new show on Facebook, and I’m very aware that celebrities pay a price for opening their big fat gobs. Gilbert Gottfried, Kathy Griffin, Colin Kaepernick, Milo Yiannopoulos…even that guy from Google who just got himself fired for mouthing off. There’s no getting around it – the first amendment does not guarantee the freedom to speak without consequences. And really, that’s fine by me.

So no – I’m not going to share my personal feelings about Charlottesville, President Trump, or the current effort to remove thousands of statues of long dead soldiers from the public square. Not just because it’s “bad for business,” but because it’s annoying. I can’t think of a single celebrity whose political opinion I value, and I’m not going to assume the country feels any differently about mine.

So, rather than blow myself up, or chime in with all the obvious observations about the cowardly scum in the pointy hats, I’m going to talk instead about my belief that comments like yours pose a far greater threat to the future of our country than the existence of a memorial to Thomas Jefferson, or a monument to George Washington. Ready? Let’s start with a closer look at your claims.

You say that White Nationalists believe that everyone who goes to college is an “academic elite.” You then say that Republicans promote “anti-intellectualism.” You offer no proof to support either claim, but it really doesn’t matter – your statements successfully connect two radically different organizations by alleging a shared belief. Thus, White Nationalists and The Republican Party suddenly have something in common – a contempt for higher education. Then, you make it personal. You say that Republicans “love” me because they believe that my initiative and “their” initiative are one and the same. But of course, “their” initiative is now the same initiative as White Nationalists.

Very clever. Without offering a shred of evidence, you’ve implied that Republicans who support mikeroweWORKS do so because they believe I share their disdain for all things “intellectual.” And poof – just like that, Republicans, White Nationalists, and mikeroweWORKS are suddenly conflated, and the next thing you know, I’m off on a press tour to disavow rumors of my troubling association with the Nazis!

Far-fetched? Far from it. That’s how logical fallacies work. A flaw in reasoning or a mistaken belief undermines the logic of a conclusion, often leading to real-world consequences. And right now, logical fallacies are not limited to the warped beliefs of morons with tiki torches, and other morons calling for “more dead cops.” Logical fallacies are everywhere.

As I type this, a Democrat on CNN is making an argument that says, “because Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, those Republicans now opposed to tearing down his memorial are “pro-slavery,” and therefore aligned with the modern day KKK.” That’s a logical fallacy.

Over on Fox, a Republican is arguing that “any Democrat who has not yet condemned the Senator from Missouri for publicly wishing that Donald Trump be assassinated, is guilty of wishing for the exact same thing.” That’s a logical fallacy.

Yesterday, on The Science Channel, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, a noted astronomer, tweeted that the ability of scientists to accurately predict the solar eclipse, was proof that predictions of global warming were also accurate. That’s a logical fallacy.

Want to hear another one? Imagine something like this, unfolding over on MSNBC.

“Good Evening, America, our top story tonight… Chuck Atkins is a racist! Why? Because he can’t spell. Just look at his grammar! In a recent post on Mike Rowe’s Facebook page, Mr. Atkins, while bemoaning America’s global academic standing, not only misspelled “elitist,” he used “tenants” when he meant “tenets.” He neglected to use a hyphen in “anti-intellectual,” and he misplaced several commas and apostrophes! But why is he a racist, you ask? Simple. Because everyone knows racists are ignorant. Chuck Atkins is clearly a poor speller. Poor spelling and grammar are signs of ignorance. Ergo – Chuck Atkins is a racist! Boom! The matter is settled!”

There’s not much we can do about the news, but here on Facebook, I think we can do better. This isn’t Twitter. We’re not limited to a few inflammatory sentences and a flurry of emojis. Take a moment, Chuck. Think. Make a rational argument. Otherwise, just link us to a cat video. People love those, and they’re almost never “bad for business.” (Unless of course, the cat gets hurt. People hate that.) Just don’t assume that people will care about your beliefs, if you’re not willing to back them up with some relevant facts and a rational conclusion. Here, for instance, are a few facts that matter to me, with respect to my foundation and the recurring charge of “fostering anti-intellectualism.”

mikeroweWORKS is a PR campaign for the skilled trades. For the last nine years, we’ve partnered with numerous trade schools, raised millions of dollars for work-ethic scholarships, and called attention to millions of jobs that don’t require a four-year degree. But that doesn’t mean we’re “anti-intellectual.” We’re not even “anti-college.” We simply reject the popular notion that a four-year degree is the best path for the most people. And we’re hardly alone.

Millions of reasonable people – Republicans and Democrats alike – are worried that our universities are doing a poor job of preparing students for the real world. They’re worried about activist professors, safe spaces, the rising cost of tuition, a growing contempt for history, and a simmering disregard of the first amendment. These people are concerned that our universities – once beacons of free speech – now pander to a relatively small percentage of students who can’t tolerate any political opinion that challenges their own. And they’re concerned – deeply concerned – that millions of good jobs are currently vacant that don’t require a four-year degree, or any of the catastrophic debt that comes with it.

Again – these are not the concerns of “anti-intellectuals.” They are the concerns of people who care about the future of the country. I don’t know how many of these people are Republicans, but I can assure you that no one who actually supports my initiative is remotely confused about my feelings on education, because I’ve been crystal clear on that topic from the very beginning. To quote Thomas Jefferson, (while I still can,) “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free and live in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” On this point, my foundation does not equivocate.

In other words, Chuck, I have no idea what The White Nationalists think about my efforts, or the Republicans, the Democrats, the elitists, the Italians, the Presbyterians, the unions, or the self-proclaimed anti-intellectuals. And really, I couldn’t care less. My question is, why do you?

Mike

PS. Ok, I’ve just re-read this, (in a desperate search for typos,) and I want to apologize for pointing out that you’re a lousy speller. This is probably not the time to trot out The Grammar Nazi, but your tenor and tone pissed me off, and I responded in my own snarky way. Sorry.

PPS Maybe this is how political correctness begins? Maybe we start by correcting each other’s grammar, and then move on to the business of correcting everything else? Today a missing hyphen, tomorrow a missing monument. Or, maybe not.

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Iska Waran
Iska Waran

I think I’m glad I don’t know who either of these guys are.

kokoda - AZEK (Deck Boards) doesn't stand behind its product
kokoda - AZEK (Deck Boards) doesn't stand behind its product

Mike Rowe is a good guy.
Chuck Atkins is a POS.

starfcker
starfcker

Wal-Mart Mike? Throw him back. Remember the good old days when the good guys had jobs? That was before free money. Now those guys have been bought off, and they have ‘foundations’. Ask yourself, where does the money come from for all of these foundations? Scum

Jake
Jake

What an outstanding response to a trolling shithead. Mike Rowe is impressive.

Not Sure

Mr. Rowe has a history of impressiveness. He is able to speak his mind in a way that respects his critics, yet unmercifully hammers his point home that leaves no room for doubt concerning his
point. His rebuttals are always well thought out and will consider both sides of the argument, before giving his reasoned reply. He pops up from time to time and has been consistent in his conservative beliefs. His comments are a breath of fresh air in a room full of Jooos run everything and blacks are the reason for the destruction of civilization as we know it. Yes, there are some truths here, but to lump all races or religious beliefs together as one great enemy, is to lose the argument due to oversimplification of the facts.

Hollow man
Hollow man

Just became a fan of Mike Rowe.

suzanna
suzanna

Mike Rowe has a quick mind, a sense of humor,
and a way with words. His opinion about the need for
basic education, skills and trades are well reasoned as well.
I am glad someone is working on restoring common sense.
If any of the meager taxes I now pay happen to support the
man’s foundation, then I am glad for it.

Realestatepup
Realestatepup

One of the reasons I like Mike Rowe is his continuing support for “the trades”. As of right now, we don’t have robots that can fix your plumbing or wiring, or build your house. So if no one is going to school to learn these things, how in the blue hell does anyone expect them to get done? Magic?
I went to a trade school. As a machinist. My class, of 1990, was the first to graduate women. I was top of my class, not bragging rights but because I worked hard and participated. Showed up with my god damn pencil. Cared. Studied. Read. Holy crap, it’s not rocket science. Literally.
Now I practice real estate. And that’s ok. I did go to college, but felt that I was not willing to invest massive amount of debt unless I was going to be a doctor, which I wasn’t.
I make very good money doing what I do. I think that the college myth in this country is misguided, and kids need to be presented with other, viable alternatives that can give them good careers without being saddled with massive debt. But even though I work in “sales”, it’s not about that. It’s still about a work ethic, learning everything there is to know about what you do and being the best at doing it. I always tell people, I don’t sell houses. And I really don’t. I guide people. If you come to me as a home buyer, your first time or 20th time, I will guide you. I will tell you the hard truth. I will position you to be the best buyer out there. I will tell you don’t buy that house. If that’s what you need to hear. I can do that because I am not desperate. I actually believe that I work FOR THE CLIENT. Not to line my pockets, but because it’s the right thing to do. I owe a FIDUCIARY DUTY to my client, be it buyer or seller. Ask the next agent you meet what that means, see what they say. It means I tell them the truth, based on my vast experience, so that they are not harmed financially, even if it means they don’t buy (or sell) that house. That’s why agents will probably never be eliminated. The good ones offer a real, neutral view of the transaction that most buyers and sellers will never have.
The point of this? My point is it’s not whether you are a car mechanic, a lawyer, a doctor, a plumber, or a ditch digger. The point is that it’s true what our grandparents used to say. Be the best _______ you can be. Take pride in your work. Have a fucking conscience. Own your shit. Stand up tall.
If you respect yourself, have your own beliefs, a sense of community, then you will succeed. And yes, in the end, money isn’t everything. It’s something. But it’s not everything.

Llpoh
Llpoh

If you tell a buyer not to buy your seller’s house, you are apt to get sued, and are seriously in breach of your fiduciary duties. Or were you referring to acting as a buyer’s agent?

starfcker
starfcker

Buyer’s agent, not sellers. You misunderestimated her point.

Llpoh
Llpoh

You may be right.

TC
TC

Wow, in multiple decades, I’ve never once heard a real estate agent say “don’t buy that house.” Never. Guess the exception does exist out there.

Card802
Card802

I had a GM car salesman once tell me not to buy a Chevy Diesel truck and to buy a Ford Diesel.
This was years ago when GM didn’t have a good Diesel.

I had bought three work trucks from him before, I asked him why he would say such a thing, he replied he could not in good conscience sell me a truck I would not be happy with.

Robert (QSLV)
Robert (QSLV)

I went to look at a house with a friend who is a Re-Max agent. We went up to the second floor and he stopped midway across the room, did a little bounce on the floorboards and the whole house swayed a little. Let’s get the hell out of here, he said. When we got outside he explained he had also been a fireman for many years, and had some close calls in buildings which collapsed. Also told me not to buy the house. The exception proves the rule.

Robert (QSLV)

WIP
WIP

I’m pretty sure Realtors do not have a fiduciary duty. Maybe it’s a state rule/regulation/law though.

I also am involved with the real estate industry and the things I’ve heard and seen are right up there with the crooks on wall street.

A good honest Realtor is worth every penny.

Anon
Anon

The response wasn’t only good in content: The level of writing was godly.

Stucky

What exactly is “godly writing”? Seriously.

Perhaps I can learn a thing or two and incorporate the same in my own beleaguered posts. Would I get more thumbs up??

Blessings.
(Was that godly?)

Stucky

Fox News is racist.
Mike Rowe appears on Fox News.
Therefore, Mike Rowe is racist.

Flawless logic there, folks!

Card802
Card802

Mike Rowe is a thinker, he doesn’t get caught up in the mass hysteria that so many seem to get caught up in. He can tear apart a critic with intelligence, humor, wit and facts.
I’m a big fan of Mike Rowe and I follow him on facebook, along with Colion Noir.

hardscrabble farmer

If you are White and male and you do not expressly disavow that then yes, you are in fact a White Nationalist.

Your definition of yourself is no defense against their description of you.

HTH

TJF
TJF

Mike Rowe has been saying things that make sense for years now.

anonymous
anonymous

“cowardly scum in the pointy hats”

“warped beliefs of morons with tiki torches”

“other morons calling for ‘more dead cops'”

I think it’s pretty safe to say he thinks BOTH sides are losers. Just like the majority of Americans.

A. R. Wasem
A. R. Wasem

If you’re white, male and over 30 you’re automatically the “enemy” – so be prepared, or else the angrier or most aggressive of the libtards will surely take advantage of any opportunity that arises to personally attack you.

Boat Guy
Boat Guy

Mike , thanks for the breath of fresh air regarding the opinion mill circiling like sharks waiting for one comment that can be taken out of context and for ever pounded into our heads as a factual statement . Meanwhile the accused backpedals to no avail . There is blood in the water and all will feed !
Got my hands dirty as a marine electrical and air conditioning and refrigeration “Boat Guy” making my money . Got looked down upon by some but lived on the pay as I go plan .
My mother in law God rest her soul : house wife budgeted on a GM assembly workers salary and put 3 kids thru catholic school , took them to Florida on a family vacation 3 times 2 of which included Disney World 3 day full passes then bought a trailer which the family still enjoys today sitting in a little seasonal rental park at the beach . She quit school at 16 to work in a bakery married at 19 . What she lacked in education and dollars and cents she made up for with a keen helping of common sense , something severely lacking today .

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