Monday, May 9, 2011

Ignorance comes from silence.

“The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.” Confucius.

Ignorance, to me, is a state beyond a lack of knowledge when it comes to live in general. It is a steadfastness to the untruth. Being unwilling too even hear the truth, and once the truth is spoken, to deny it, or react in a a negative way towards it. You can be ignorant of a fact and that is fine as long as you are willing to learn, but to be "ignorant" an adjective describing your essence, is a bad thing.

I see "lack of knowledge" every day. We are here to learn and grow, so that is necessary. It is learning and growing that truly fulfill people, even though many don't like to do that in a formal setting. However, ignorance seems to be more and more prevalent. I don't know if it is a lack of common sense, denial, or pure meanness, but it is there, just the same.

There was a young man at Walmart the other morning. Matt and I were picking up items for a friend who is flooded out. We were putting all the items in to a box we bought. This young man and another friend arrived, and apparently there was another vehicle that went through the lot too fast for his liking. I didn't even notice that car, so he couldn't have been going THAT fast....but I did notice this low class, ignorant human, say something at the "speeding" car (quiet enough so they wouldn't hear mind you), and then once that driver was gone, shout to call him the "N" word. Class Act Boy then spit on the ground, and his buddy told him, "that will get your face smashed in", Class Act Boy's answer was, "I don't care". Actually I don't care if he gets his face smashed in either, but he serves this morning as an example of mean ignorance. His buddy then told him off, saving me the need to get into it with someone with the IQ of a rock.

The other thing that I shook my head at this weekend, is people saying things like, "we caught Bin Laden, pull back all the troops". Ah, if it were only so simple. This isn't a Fairy Tale where there is one troll or wicked witch. Bin Laden approved all that was done, but he wasn't the "general", the one coming up with plans and setting things in motion, that man, most likely just as dangerous if not more so than Bin Laden, is still out there. Bin Laden's death is a plus for us, but is far from the end. This is more like the "bliss ninny" thought process, or denial. If we dance around and sing "Ding Dong the With is Dead!" everything will be alright! Ommmmmmm.... Sorry, but it just isn't that simple. Think about it, your owner of your company dies. Does that mean that we close the business , tell everyone to go home, and stop making widgets? Of course not. People want total peace (something we will never have in this dimension), so badly, they are living in a dream world.

Lack of common sense, the other form of ignorance, was around me so much this weekend, I can't even begin to write about it. This is things like people living above their means; having affairs with married people; just plain rudeness.

Ignorance is all around us, and ignorance has an ally, silence. When people keep going through their lives in this manner, nothing good comes of it. Nothing. Silence is never the answer. Needless to say, I am not the silent type....Silence can do one of two things, show the right way or embarrass people like Class Act Boy so much that they keep their mouths closed, making a better world for everyone around him.

Never allow anyone to tell you to not speak your mind, to be silent, to leave without a word, or suffer in silence. They are the people who know that when the truth is spoken, it will take their unfair, untrue, and even evil, worlds down , piece by piece.

Only people who KNOW they are wrong, ask for silence. Don't ever be silent, and don't stay around people who tell you to be silent.Ignorance thrives in silence, silence comes out of fear. NEVER do anything out of fear.

Silence is never the answer. Never.

Do the right thing for the right reasons.




Peshaui Wequashimese






(c)2011 Dr. R M Reiter Wolf PhD, may not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.

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