With Apologies to Greta Christina

 

Whenever I can, I love attending atheist conventions. The several that I have attended have been over 2-3 days and have had some really wonderful speakers, events, and vendors. The first atheist convention that my husband and I ever attended was about 2012 or so, I think, at an event called Skepticon.

My husband and I had been chomping at the bit to spend time with others of like mind. We'd watched and listened to other conventions on purchased CDs and DVDs during the naughts with excitement. So we clearly remember the first convention that we were finally able to attend. 

Atheists like myself who now enjoy being open will recognize some of the speakers: Rebecca Watson, David Fitzgerald, Richard Carrier, PZ Myers, JT Eberhardt, Joe Nickell, David Silverman. And Greta Christina. Jerry and I felt amazed! The openness, the goodness, it was like taking a drink after being in a desert. Finally, human beings who were openly discussing issues that are so often glossed over in the world.

Greta Christina is a woman who has written a couple of "atheist books" and who is a regular speaker on the atheist convention circuit. I'm delighted that I've had time to speak with she and her partner over several meals shared at the conventions. (though I seriously doubt she remembers me at all. ) Her book Why Are You Atheists So Angry?: 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless is a book that I've read several times and have, even, plagiarized the idea of here on my blog.

This morning a video of her doing the talk came across my FB feed through two friend of mine, Pam and Scott. Listening to this talk again today brought up some other reasons why I, a totally kind and nice and positive atheist, am pissed off at religion. Strap yourself in.

• Today, a cousin of mine posted THIS DRIVEL; and she means it:

This crap is religious rhetoric that is ACTIVELY keeping us all trapped in our homes for fear of continued outbreaks and infection of this hideous virus. Over THREE HUNDRED days after our general and public knowledge of it!

• Now, speaking as a therapist working with human beings who are wounded, traumatized, pained, and shamed by their varied religious upbringings:
  
  
• SHAME. Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, all thanks to the absolute nonsense taught to them with the expressed goal of making them unable to doubt, question, think clearly, leave their parents' religious community.
  
  
• SEXUAL ABUSE. Again, good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad from having been used and abused as children for the sexual gratification of some grotesque adult who was unable to get their sexual needs met in a healthy relationship with a consenting adult. Not to mention the protection that the church has and IS affording the offenders, while shaming, wounding, and not choosing to support the actual victims: the children.
  
  
• SELF DOUBT. Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, ADULTS who struggle with those long-ago messages that good exists within this tiny box of what is acceptable, necessary, worthy of love.  ⃞
  
  
• SUICIDAL. Good, kind, decent, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, unworthy of this life because their brain's unlikely ability to break through the brainwashing is allowing for questions, reason, exploration of concepts outside of the box. And the brainwashing tells them that free thought is sinful, unworthy, and not worthy of life.
  
  
• TRAPPED. Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad if they question or attempt to live outside of the male-dominated, white-dominated lists of what is OK.
  From domestic abuse to racial disparity and white superiority to male-dominated roles in life, these good hearts, in addition to struggling to change life-long behavior patterns, also have to deal with the negative self talk that they've inherited from their parents, their community, their culture, THEIR GOVERNMENT and their religions.

DAILY, I am working with beautiful human beings who are tortured by the brainwashing and upbringing within religions. Grown men and women who sob, cry, scream themselves into exhaustion for the struggle of the hideous, ugly, bullshit brainwashing...


Pissed off?
OH, YOU BET I AM.
Me too, Greta.

 

P.S. Greta, if you're ever here, PLEASE leave a comment!  😉

Special Books by Special Kids

Let me introduce you to Chris Ulmer.
Chris is a guy who, after graduating from college with a communications degree, ended up accidentally creating a Youtube channel that, in my opinion, probably transcends anything he ever conceived it to be. The channel is called Special Books by Special Kids.

In the beginning Chris was hoping to create books. The support for that did not come as he had hoped, but his secondary efforts, creating videos, took off. Here's what his content consists of, and why.

After graduating, Chris took a job as a special education coach, and then teacher in Kentucky. Though some might think he had taken a job outside of his field, Chris thrived. He fell in love with the work and with the students in his classes. After awhile he wanted to share these kids with others; he wanted others to love the kids as he had grown to love them.

So he created, by process, Special Books by Special Kids.

* 
This is Chris
and his family

My first video by Chris was an interview he did with Daniel, a young man who lives with schizoaffective disorder, as well as several other disorders. Daniel was a wonderful subject for this interview because he is very honest and earnest. Daniel explained both his experiences on a daily basis with having a mental illness that causes hallucinations and delusions as well as his longer term struggles and hopes. He also told us some of his very favorite things, some simple and obvious ways to interact with him in order to learn more or to befriend him, and he expressed his difficulties and pleasures in a regular day for him.

I learned so much about Daniel, about what his experience with schizoaffecive disorder is, and about what a unique and good person he is. I think that is what Chris has in mind for his hundreds of video friends. He wants us to learn from their courage that these people are...people. Each person has normal wants and desires. Each person is living a life that is, in fact, normal for them. Each of us learns to live within our own lives, right. None of us wants or needs pity. We all simply need love.

*

Yes, that's it. If I were to break down everything I've learned to far, it is that we all need love. Simple as that. And friends.
If I mean well, then all will be well.

I know that the last thing that Chris would want me to take away from his work is what an amazing human he is, or anything else about him; but he is. I do take that away. I take this away because he's done something remarkable in my life, in my heart. He's used this platform of Special Books for Special Kids to teach me to be far more open and willing and interested in being friends with more people of a variety of abilities. I plan on going out into the world and making that happen. And I thank him for that. But don't worry, Chris, I'm taking so much more away too.

*

I've also learned how to approach someone who looks different from me, who is differently-able than I am. I've learned that most people are open and willing to make connections...though some people aren't. You know, like real people. Some people are open and willing and some would prefer their solitude. I can dig that.

Some of Chris's friends have genetic disorders or chromosomal disorders, mental illnesses, birth disorders, major injuries from experiences in their lives, so many other challenges, and some of Chris's friends live with situations and challenges that are completely unique to them**. Some of his friends are verbal, some non verbal. Some are infants, some are children, some are teens, some are adults. I have, now, watched about thirty videos with Chris interviewing his friends and, bar none, I have felt love and affection and sincere respect for each person in each video. From the friends and their families and Chris, I feel very...fulfilled. Enlarged. Informed. Motivated. Connected to the wide world of humans.

And, since I just watched a video with Michelle about five minutes ago, I must say, I laughed so much and felt touched by her wonderful personality, humor, and spirit...but not her sass. Nope. 💜


Youtube, in its WEIRD and unexplainable policies, has turned off all comments on nearly all of the videos on Chris Ulmer's channel. And that is too bad. So I'm writing this HERE and hoping that Chris and his friends from his videos find their way here and know that I appreciate their courage, their kind and loving hearts, and their sincere effort to share with us. With we humans out here who are, in our own ways, also handicapped, disabled, disadvantaged, wounded, ...healing. And human beings simply looking for love and friends.

Thank you, Chris.
Thank you, Chris's friends.

* I sincerely hope the public images here are OK with those in the images.
** When I came back to this post to add links, I rewatched some of the videos and just fell in love with so many of these kids again!  💜🤟😀 So check them out!

I need to include this link: 

The SBSK Guide to Inclusion and Mindful Teaching
(A Must See for Parents and Educators)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Imposter Syndrome

Labels

Let's begin with this, despite your inner narrative,  You are real and you deserve your successes.
I don't know why most of the human condition is the way that it is. I don't get it why we have to suffer and struggle with painful emotional issues and psychological disorders. It doesn't make sense that our own thoughts would fight us, work against us, undermine us. 

Intellectual fraud, that's what imposter syndrome is, what it feels like. It's the sinking suspicion that you don't deserve your success, that others can see what a phony you are. It's the fundamental inability to accept your accomplishments.

So why am I talking about this?

I remember the day that I realized that I felt like an utter fake.
I was in my late twenties and I was in a position of authority at work. I had an amazing reputation, a reputation that I had earned. But still I felt like a phony. It was weird. What I remember about those years, thirty years ago, is that I was working hard. Staying late. Doing more. Always learning. No one gave it to me; I earned it. So why did I feel so unworthy? It was weird.

And, know what? It's not uncommon.
You might have experienced it before.
Many successful, hard working people experience it at some point in their life.


What To Do About It?

Remember this one thing: Thoughts and feelings aren't facts.
First, realize that the script in your head needs rewriting. So start out by riding the fear and doubt and by continuing to do your thing. Then, start saying nice things to yourself, possibly including reminding yourself of your successes, your accomplishments, your best qualities. Notice the positive feedback others are giving you without discounting that feedback.

Feeling like a fraud is an unfair attack on yourself. Our brains are bizarre things. Let's acknowledge that, remember that. Because our thoughts and feelings aren't facts, yet we are responding to them as though they are. They are merely events happening in our brains. Powerful, yet not real. While success and accomplishment happen in the world, outside of our brains.

Another thing to do to for yourself, ask your trusted friends or co workers to help you figure out your positive qualities. Ask them to help you bust the fraud idea with reality. Get some help enumerating your steps to success. Figure out what you mean by success. What would make you a real success? Figure out those points.

And then, create successes for yourself. Engage in activities that bring you small successes, that remind you that you are a worthy and accomplished human being. Take some time to look for evidence of your quality or success. Go out and make achievements your bitch. You're not fake; in fact, you're trying hard. You're not just charming; in fact, you're actually qualified. You're not lucky; in fact, you've earned your place. And the odds are totally against chance. 

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Things Happen for a Reason

OK, a less facetious answer might be in order.

I have to admit that this particular statement is a pet peeve of mine, so I'll try to keep that issue out of this post. If possible.

If you go out there on the interwebs and search for the phrase Everything Happens for a Reason, you will find thousands and thousands and thousands of bullshit sites (OOPS, there is is)  that offer comfort, wisdom, or woo promises to people that the world, the universe is out there with intention. That there are powers and magic in the universe that know your specific life issues and that have a mapped-out plan for you. Legit.

Genuine adult people can go out there online and get the brilliant wisdom that, not only is your life mapped out, but the universe has such control of your life that you don't have to worry a bit. Nope. People come and go into and out of your life for a reason. Bad things happen for a reason. Crises come along for a reason. We are put through the nightmares of life in order to teach us a lesson. All of the ups and downs happen to us because there is a reason for it. The pain has meaning.

Who can buy this?
Even most Christian and non-Christian reasons hold to the idea of Free Will over predetermination. Most religions and other belief philosophies buy big into personal growth and self-empowerment. How are thinking people supposed to figure out the tangling of thoughts that include this particular trope: everything happens for a reason? This phrase, too, is just an inch away from There are no Coincidences. The truth is, it's all coincidence. Things happen. Weird connections happen sometimes. Nature happens. It seems to me that that this statement would add negativity, confusion, even anger to the mix.

What negativity?
Maybe questions like How is this pain supposed to have a purpose? What sort of purpose can some devastating losses possible have? How can a person accept the purpose that terrible illness or terrible violence can possibly offer? What lesson am I missing from this pain? What sort of power would deliberately add overwhelming and repeating pain and loss to our lives for any possible reason? What sort of power is so malicious or cold that their only means of teaching lessons is by wounding or torturing us with heartbreak, chaos, or grief?

My thoughts is, if you are seeking meaning in your life, comfort from something painful or challenging, looking for growth in your life, looking for closure, looking for personal life lessons, or looking to make sense of your life, I guarantee that you can find a better mantra than Everything Happens for a Reason.

For example, try these:

• I can handle this.
• I'm a warrior!
• Tomorrow is another day.
• Word harder. Work smarter.
• I give myself permission to rest.
• I'm not going to give up!
• Show up for yourself.
• Know who's on your side.
• I am on my own side. 
• Do no harm but take no shit.
• Be the courage you need.
• I am enough.
• I believe in myself.
• I can ask for the help I need.
• One day at a time.
• Just for today...
• Be the change...
• What can I do today?
• Everything I need I have within me.
• A positive mind brings about positivity.
• I am present now, here.
• Feel the fear. Do it anyway.
• I can and I will.
• Be fully yourself.
• Feelings are not facts.
• Find the beauty in today.
• Wake up every day and live it.
• I trust in me.
• Sometimes you need to ride the wave.
• Don't make permanent decisions for temporary feelings.
• Sometimes you need to put yourself first.
• I can only control myself.
• Life doesn't get better by chance, but by choice.
• Try again tomorrow.
• Be bold!

If you find comfort is Everything Happens for a Reason, as some people do, think to yourself, could you, or any third grader, think of a better way for an event to happen? Could you conceive of a better way to learn strength or resilience or self control? Is there any other way to learn self-reliance, bits of wisdom, or how to make time for loved ones? If you can conceive of any kinder, gentler way to learn your lessons, couldn't the wise universe or other power do so too? 

So, if you need a personal mantra, borrow one or more of mine...until you get one of your own.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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I'm Offended

On the social media sites, nearly everybody loves that moment when someone pipes up and says
That Offends Me!,
because now we all get to all gleefully call that person BUTTHURT or some other expletive. 

We all now get to laugh at the brave person who said NO MORE. 

For nearly all of history the quiet, the nice, the introverted, the timid, the trampled on, the sensitive, the wounded, the abused, the neglected, the disenfranchised, people have silently accepted and allowed all words to pass them by...no confrontations.

No confrontations, no rebuttal, no contradictions, no self-defense, no assertively saying NO, no audacity, no guts, no challenge, no friction. No comment. And those who seem to not notice their abusive ways could safely and smugly ignore the wounded human being who became collateral damage to the wit, the sarcasm, the venting, the anger, the aggression, the narcissism, the self-aggrandized bloviating.


But something is happening and I, for one, am DELIGHTED.
For it is happening to me as well.
The silent have begun to stand up for themselves, for their sensitivities, for their rights. This silent underbelly has begun to stand up and say NO, that is inappropriate and you have injured me or others with that statement. And I'm going to take it anymore.

This is NOT the same as saying Hey I disagree with you, nor is it Your opinion is different from mine nor is it I need you to think the same way that I do, though that is the accusation leveled at the assertions belatedly- and bravely-spoken, accusations made by the person who is unwilling or unable to self-reflect.


Allow me to let a few memes speak for themselves:

Now allow me to speak for myself:

I miss the good old days when I could actually have an opinion without offending someone.
GUESS WHAT: you DID offend someone. They simply kept it to themselves and took the hit. 
You never noticed.
You get to have any opinion you want. But you now are being called on the carpet for your boorishness. Rather than learning from the brave person who stood up to your brashness, you have decided to deprecate and belittle the speaker, to ignore their brave message, and to feel offended yourself.
IRONIC. And manipulative.

What you actually miss, is the days when you could spew your anger, your disdain, your negativity without anybody having the nerve to tell you that you are being rude and hurtful...a world without consequence and culpability.

It's called a joke. We used to tell them before people became offended by everything.
 GUESS WHAT: some so-called jokes are very thinly-veiled criticism or verbal abuse hidden as humor. This isn't funny, nor are we buying it anymore. This "take down" culture has gotten out of hand and has created an entire generation of people who actually think that sarcasm suggests some kind of intelligence.

Your racist, genderist, ableist, abusive "jokes" are being called out for what they actually are: simple-minded ignorance from someone who believes that they are clever. I see, again, that you are missing this opportunity to become woke. It's very difficult confronting someone with little to no self-awareness. And, from the number of times I see you posting memes such as this, I see that you are missing the point. What you miss is the days when you weren't called out on your acerbity.

I'm not being rude, I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking.
GUESS WHAT: you are being rude. Incredible that this has to be explained to you. Again, and this is becoming tiresome for me as well, you are missing this chance to learn appropriateness, courtesy, kindness, consideration, gentleness, respect, manners, decorum, honor, civility, class, politeness, etiquette, moderation, humanity, decency, forbearance, affability, stop me when you get it...

Before you get all butthurt and offended, ask yourself why it bothers you so much. Maybe the problem is you, not it. Only the weak are constantly offended by things that have nothing to do with them.
GUESS WHAT: This sounds exactly like  a narcissist telling me how wrong I am to be offended by rudeness, ridicule or sarcasm. Even in the meme itself is an attack.

Maybe you are weak: OR, maybe I'm strong and you aren't used to it.
Well get used to it, because we're going to keep getting stronger, wiser, braver!

If I say that what you are saying is offensive, you don't get to say that I'm wrong about your words being offensive. That is totally my call to make. You can call me butt hurt, but, again, that is simply name-calling, no better than a child, and missing the chance to freaking LISTEN and improve our relationship or improve your argument. OR, you can minimize my claims, ignore me, consider it my problem, and never ever learn to be a better person.

Welcome to the era of over-sensitive, easily offended whiners.
GUESS WHAT: Welcome to the era of those of us who have had it and are saying NO MORE. Welcome to the era of people expecting you to face the consequences of your words and actions. Welcome to the era of people refusing to silently accepting your crass, rude abuse sitting down. Welcome to the era of learning clear and healthy communication. Welcome to the era of being empowered to no longer accept toxicity.

Standing up and telling you that your words are offensive is not whiny, it's strong and it's bad ass AF.
.
.
Being constantly offended doesn't mean you're right. It just means you're too narcissistic to tolerate opinions different than yours.
GUESS WHAT: "Being constantly offended" probably means that I'm living with a toxic, obtuse narcissist. Feel free to use the word narcissist, but do so with the knowledge of what it means...and you're using it incorrectly here. If someone is suggesting to you that they are constantly offended when they are around you I honestly think it's time you take an honest look at your behavior. Getting angry that I'm angry with you shows a clear lack of self-awareness as well as an unlikely opportunity to learn to take a moment and think about the people around you, rather than yourself, first.

Take the chance to learn how to be assertive rather than aggressive. Learn some self-awareness. You do these smalls bit of self-improvement and no one will, ever again, tell you that you've offended them.


More and more people are learning to no longer tolerate negativity and toxicity in their lives and, sometimes, this means that they are standing up to and calling out the people who criticize, insult, and put them down in condescending manners.

And that takes courage!
It takes practice!
It takes an amazing quantity of self-awareness!
It takes utter maturity to respond to abuse with assertiveness.

SO, when you see the memes about how ridiculous I am for being BUTT HURT, KNOW that I am looking back at you and wondering when you are ever  going to get it...

...because I know the truth.
Some of us are learning to stand up for ourselves and others and some of us are continuing to ignore those around them. They won't change, but WE WILL.

SERIOUSLY
What do you think?

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There are Hateful People out There

I know.
It's true.
There are truly unpleasant human beings out there in the world. The angry, the racist, the selfish, the intolerant, the lout. They're there and they're generally loud. My Facebook feed can overwhelm me at times when I see the hateful things that people post, that people find humorous, or that some people spout. I think that we see these people only because they are loud and in places easy to see.

But the truth is, there are more wonderfully loving people out there. The people who follow their passions and who enjoy their lives to the fullest. The people who take pictures of the blue, blue sky. People who give their lives to the care of their loved ones. People who always make a point to look you in the eye when they greet you, right in the eye so you know that you are being seen. People who lay out pennies for the luck seekers.

There are  humans who dance to their own tunes. People walk our sidewalks with goodness in their hearts and with coins jingling in their pockets, paying the parking meter of strangers. People who pay it behind at the drive through. People who research and built and create. People who speak up for the pets in need of love and family. People whose very jobs , their very livelihoods are taking care of the neediest among us. There are people who speak the truth with trembling hands and voices, yet they speak it. There are people who look under bridges for those in need.


There are people who greet you with a kiss, people who sing on the bus, people who leave a larger than necessary tip, people who notice your mood, people who look to the stars and learn their names. Our world has people who hide a little for their own protection but who also show tremendous courage when seeking connection. There are people who exhibit extraordinary courage by their very brave actions and revolutionary hearts. 

There are people who are frightened beyond belief but who still stand up and say the truth. There are people who will stop and step over the earthworm on a rain soaked sidewalk. There are people brave enough to forgive someone who is not apologetic. There are people who are brave enough to say I'm sorry. People who have the bravery and integrity to go the extra mile whether anyone else notices or not. People who do the right thing because it is the right thing. People who seek truth and justice. People who pay for the guy behind them in line.

There are people who ignore your errors, who don't correct your pronunciation of words you've only read. Or who DO because they appreciate your efforts. People who stop to notice the beauty of the trees or the clouds. People who sing at the top of their lungs in their cars. People who stand in front of the bully. People who wear purple. People who tat up for the fun of it. People who leave sunshine where there is rain. People who find ways to share their freshness. People who pick up ugliness left by others. People who care. People who smile in spite of it all. 

There are people who, when you ask How are you?  will tell you and people who, when you ask What are you up to?  will tell you about their passions. There are people who bravely present themselves to the world. And people who hide certain parts of themselves until they are certain someone will love them. And some people show love, love in the face of all. More and more love.

Be one of these people.  Be the reason that some people can again believe in the goodness of humanity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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I'm Going to be Brutally Honest

I'm going to put it down, right here and right now. It's got to be said, even if I upset people. It's my right to be honest even it it doesn't make me popular, though I'm sure my friends will understand. Because I'm going to be totally honest, I can't help if the truth hurts.

I'm sorry to be so blunt:

People have the power to make a difference.
It is within our ability to inform ourselves and to vote intelligently. We have the capacity to drain the swamp, to create the country that we can be proud of, to vote people into the highest offices of our country who represent our real values.

Love really and truly means something.
In a world that is indifferent or difficult, having love in one's life is the only thing that makes survival a thing worth fighting for.

Things and ideas are not valuable above human beings.
We can war, both literally and online, about who is right or wrong, about what is better or worse, about what has value and what does not. But you are in need, I will help you regardless of your posessions or ideas.

If you can be satisfied with what you have then you will be happier. If you cannot, work to make things better for yourself. 
When possible, help others up as well.
Beyond the basics, wanting more stuff seems to only create an unhappy envy. Recognizing that happiness and joy come from within will change absolutely everything for you. And hard work and determination for long stretches of time are essential to pull oneself up to a place where one can, finally share what they have. At least it worked for me.

Admitting when you are wrong is a wonderful learning experience.
Not only is it admirable and courageous to admit to being wrong, admitting to what is incorrect is always an opportunity to learn something. From new information to what the people in your life are like, admitting error and working to correct that error is a real character builder. Be open to the questions that arise from new information.

You see what you look for.
Some people see this as a golden, opportunity-filled planet with so much potential. Some people see the planet as a shithole.
Same planet.
Be aware of how your thinking contributes to the quality of your life. For most people, ones thinking patterns and habits determine 90% of one's happiness and joy.

You are valuable.
Each one of us is, yes, like every other. But each of us is also completely unique. When you meet someone else, someone from a different race, religion, nation, culture, take some time and get to know them. Your world will expand more and more. The person that you are will expand and become even more valuable with each new experience you have and with each new perspective you visit.

There, I've done it. 
Sorry for the bluntness but sometimes a girl's gotta let it all hang out.

Anti-Intellectualism, Racism, Complacency

• Some people deny the scientifically-proven, human-created climate change.
• Some people refuse to get their children vaccinated.
• Some people are fearful of non-white humans.
• Some people are proud of having faith over knowledge.
• Some people think our planet is flat.
• Some people prefer faith over knowledge.
• Some people consider science a dubious enterprise. 
• Some people prefer guns rights over personal rights.
• Some people eschew medical treatment for prayer.
• Some people are fearful of people who have beliefs different from themselves.
• Some people support the glorification of the emotional and irrational to the logical and rational.
• Some people think that there ever was a better America when we had institutional racism, sexism, genderism, and many other forms of inequality and injustice.
• Some people prefer tradition and mythology over reason and logic.
• Some people embrace homeopathy and other alternative treatment forms to proven medical knowledge.
• Some people actually conceal their intellectual ability in order to not offend those around them.
• Some people accept the word of their leader implicitly and without question.
• Some people listen to words and ignore action.
• Some people prefer easy over right.
• Some people prefer the cloak of patriotism over what is right and, further, paint many forms of behavior with a broad patriotism brush.
• Some people actually believe that lands of poverty or violence, and those who flee that land, are to be blamed for problems in our own nation.
• Some people in the USA fear those who flee before war and tyranny.
• Some people are willing to listen to the fearmongering of our leadership with regard to other countries and minority religions even there is no evidence to support that fear.
• Some people are willing to replace ignorance with blame, rather than with knowledge.
• Some people are willing to overlook misinformation for security in not knowing.
• Some people prefer sensationalism, out-of-touch storytelling, and drama to hard truth.
• So many people can be emotionally manipulated to political sway by fear and misinformation.
• Some people pass along conspiracy theory rather than informing themselves.
• Some people fear the global market and prefer an isolationist agenda with regards to our economy.
• Some people consider the terms intellectual and egghead to be insults.
• Some people doubt the evolution of species in spite of the overwhelming evidence and prefer creation stories from various religions.
• Some people accept propaganda about GMOs and other tabloid news without looking for reputable news and information sources.
• Some people are unaware of the social media bias for news, how news sources located by one's own search algorithms will always reflect one's own personal paradigm, rather than a neutral and reputable news source.
• Some people can't understand that making money is not preferable to protecting our planet.
• Some people approach the polls without truly educating themselves about the issues or the candidates.
• Some people insecurely think that, because they don't understand something, that they can't understand it.
• Some people think that their ignorance can be equal to my knowledge.
• Some people, maybe schools, consider performing well on a test to indicate true knowledge.
• Some people don't seem to recognize how this anti-intellectual bent in the USA affects public policy, has social costs, and is reflected even in our economy.

I'm not attempting to create a provocative post. I'm merely mourning, feeling overwhelmed with sadness, and expressing my consternation with the norms in my beloved country.

I see the anti-intellectualism so clearly in many public places and forums and I wonder why are we so complacent about this? How did this country get this far along this road? How many of our elected officials are a part of this anti-intellectualism? How deluded can our country be to ignore all of these facts? Do many people recognize that the uninformed are seldom politically active? How can the general populace not see that the wealthy-without-integrity are benefiting from this lack of curiosity by failing to support human-focused values? I find it alarming.

What can be done?

It takes effort to forgo our human emotional foundations for reasonable thought. I fear that much of the easy anti-intellectual activity we see is supported by and encouraged by various religions as well as by other public systems. (I could be wrong in this.) It aggrieves me to see how pervasive it is in this country, this disdain for science and general knowledge. How many of our leaders are actually Young Earthers or creationists?

The lack of knowledge and, further, the disdain for knowledge shows itself in so many ways in our country. From the current white house administration to the shameful racial biases in our criminal justice system to our illiterate graduates to the questionable and dangerous health practices to our nationally disgraceful expressions of WOO to our inability to get consensus on climate change and global environmental issues, anti-intellectualism is the culprit.

What is the solution?
JOIN ME in embracing REASON and in spreading Love of Learning.


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