Who Is An Am Ha-aretz?

A "modern" rabbi once said something that was very hashkafically problematic. Rav Soloveitchik was very displeased with his stance. Someone said "He is no Am Ha-aretz". Rav Soloveitchik fired back [in Yiddish] that someone can know the entire shas but still be an Am Ha-aretz if he lacks the hashkafos and feelings of Chazal.

[See Brachos 47 that someone is considered an Am Ha-aretz even if they are learned as long as they have not been "משמש" talmidei chachomim].

Beis Yitzchok [29 page 225]

That goes for certain people in our midst as well. However, most of the people spouting silliness [on blogs, newpapers and the like] are just plain old-fashioned Amei Ha-aretz. Please learn only from those who are worthy of teaching - i.e. they both have yiras shomayim AND know what they are talking about....:-).