America Loves Stupid

I’ve been wondering when this country decided it loved stupid so much. If you think about it, it’s true. At some point, and I don’t know exactly when, we started mocking college education, promoting characters in television and movies that were portrayed as dumb, and even subscribing to stupid ass ideology that no reasonable person would believe, we have science deniers and conspiracy fliers. People complain that men have been portrayed as stupid on television, but if we are honest with ourselves, that’s what the people want to see, it’s entertaining to them, and most can relate. That’s a separate issue though, aside from the bigger one. That issue is, we love stupid because it makes us feel superior, or so I believe. It should be no surprise that our recent infatuation with stupid, has created a dumbed down society. Politically speaking, those on far sides of the left and right both are dumber, far dumber, than I can ever remember. Much like COVID, the virus of stupidity does not care about your race or religion, your gender or your sexuality, and especially your political leanings. What the virus of stupidity does recognize though, is weakness. Those on the fringes of the right and left, are the weakest among us, there is no doubt about that. It doesn’t take a great deal of strength and fortitude to fall in line with your “side” and promote every ridiculous whim they come up with. I often find myself an outsider and being accused of speaking out of both sides of my mouth, because I see the stupidity on both sides and won’t toe the line or fly right for either. Things should just be what they are, if it’s stupid we should say so, regardless of which side it comes from. We have gotten so committed to winning or being on a side, we have abandoned our values and common sense, it’s time we get that back, especially if you are truly concerned about our country, and not just concerned about your team.