“I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.” — H. L. Mencken

One would think that the above statement is self-evident. This is not to say that Mr. Mencken is stating the obvious, but rather that the concepts he shares are clearly true, and leave little or no room for disagreement. Every religion, every culture, every person on the planet would see these, and find it nearly impossible to denigrate any of them, or argue that they are not personal values that all of us are taught to respect from the time when we were small. They are ideas that are intrinsic to a free society, and their absence in everyday interactions between society members leads to controversy, every time. Every person, politician, and corporation, news outlet, hell, everybody you speak to would have you believe that they are true to these principles, and make them a part of their modus operandi. What they don’t add is that they have their fingers crossed behind their backs when they look you in the eye and tell you it is true.

Isaac Asimov is a scientist and writer of great renown, having published well over 200 science fiction novels and collections of short stories, as well as nearly the same number of hard science text and reference books. He had an interesting comment on this subject, to wit: “There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is as good as your knowledge.” — Isaac Asimov. Newsweek, January 21, 1980  I like this because it states its premise clearly, succinctly, and powerfully, making itself the perfect example of the type of intellectual statement that would be completely ignored, or possibly vilified, if related to a political aspirant. In this country, if you want to get elected, you can’t afford to say or do anything that might indicate agreement with this observation; there are too many voters who are lifetime members of the cult. This is why they say such dumb things when they are campaigning for office; it keeps their name up in front of the Stupids, and they know their assertions will be bought at face value, no matter how outrageously untruthful or anti-intellect it may be. There are times, and of late they are legion, when I get really disgusted with the sad state of affairs in this country, and for that matter, the world. Just seems like there’s not enough of us shouting out the truth, and those who are not invested in truth don’t hear it anyway…….

Behold the child, by Nature’s kindly law,
Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw;
Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight,
A little louder, but as empty quite;
Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage,
And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age.
Pleased with this bauble still, as that before,
Till tired he sleeps, and life’s poor play is o’er.
— Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
— Essay on Man, Epistle ii, Line 274

It’s just a personal quirk, I guess, but when I find a piece of poetry such as this, I get a tingly sliver of sheer pleasure that shoots up my spine, and hits my consciousness with a sharp jolt of joy. Look at it! It even sits there attractively, balanced and lovely, shining slightly with a glow of insight, and profound understanding. Eight lines. Two quatrains of everyday words, put together so cleverly, an entire lifetime is celebrated between the first and last lines. Not only the life, but the experience of life, comes through as clearly and powerfully as if whispered directly into your ear. Mssr. Pope gives us an image, a picture painted on the mind’s canvas, and shows with deft strokes how each of life’s stages flows from one age to the next, until at last it progresses to the final curtain. Poetry like this is one of life’s grandest surprises, an unexpected gift of joy. Gotta love them poets…..

“Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you’ll understand what little chance you have of trying to change others.” — Jacob M. Braude

If one is in the habit of following the ebb and flow of current events, as am I, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the signs of impending global disaster. Pollution of the air, land, and sea; global climate changes melting the polar ice; an ever-widening financial gap between segments of society; divisiveness and religious controversy amongst all nations and cultures; increasing evidence of the effects of over-population. All of these, and more, are clear indicators of the breakdown of society at large, and of the need for far-reaching changes to stop and reverse our progress down the path to extinction. And unfortunately for all of us, human nature is such that the statement above is absolute truth. Each of us is solely responsible for our actions; no one can make us do what we won’t, unless we allow it. And this is the root of the whole problem….

Too many people abrogate their responsibility to Life. It’s too hard to think, or consider deep philosophical concepts, and there is too much to do in order to stay even with life’s demands. So people tend to let others think for them. Even though they have the power to make their own decisions, they let others tell them how to behave, when to eat, what to buy, what to believe. They react with anger and violence when challenged about their beliefs, even though they cannot express what those beliefs are, other than to repeat what they’ve been told. Talking heads come on TV and the most aggravatingly insane drivel that comes out of their mouths is held as gospel truth. Politicians make up incredible lies and make promises that appeal to the most extreme segments of the populace, fanning the fire of their ignorant fear of anything different, just to get elected. When in office, those promises are ignored in favor of whatever new policies will guarantee the continuing process of lining their pockets with public funding.

People are lazy. It’s a fact, and is actually one of our most important survival characteristics. Our minds are armed with the power of imagination, and it is always willing to focus that talent in order to make life easier and more comfortable. This is why we invent stuff; to make life easier. Not because we want to improve ourselves or our environment, but because we are too lazy to work hard to achieve our desires. If we can think up a way to perform simple, tedious tasks with less effort, we will do so. It’s a natural ability, and it is an integral part of our nature. And used in this sense, it is a valuable tool. But most folks end up taking their lackadaisical tendencies too far, which allows the less moral among us to increase their influence over our lives. My fear is that society at large has waited too long, and become too rigidly committed to the behaviors which will eventually lead to extinction to be able slow, or stop our progress toward the abyss…..and I don’t want to die yet!……

Y’all take care out there…..