Intelligent Ignoramuses?
Are we becoming a nation of intelligent ignoramuses? Sounds like an oxymoron but maybe it isn’t.
The dictionary gives a definition of intelligent as: to have the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. It also gives definitions of ignorant as:unaware, unenlightened, uninformed, or oblivious. Based on these definitions it seems possible to be intelligent and ignorant at the same time.
Exercising the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge only from sources that agree with our preconceived notions is also exercising the choice to remain unaware and uninformed. Filtering out information that is contrary to what we believe, ignoring information that goes against our chosen mindset, or simply dismissing without consideration whatever those who believe differently have to say, produces ignorance regardless of our intelligence.
The latest catch phrase on news shows is The War of Words and there is a lot of that going around these days with the entire political spectrum fully engaged. Liberal politicians rant and rave about conservatives, ignoring whatever good they do and making much of anything they can call wrong. The conservative politicians insult and condemn liberals as if nothing they think or do could possibly have merit. Both sides indulge in name calling. With vitriolic puffery they accuse and blame. They all seem to see themselves as taking the righteous high road when in reality the road they are on is paved with hypocrisy. Then there is “we the people.� We seem to choose up sides and echo this divisive rhetoric in Op-Ed columns, letters to the editor, call-ins to talk shows, and internet blogs.
I started to wonder what, if anything, we are accomplishing with this type of communication, or rather, lack of communication. Our world seems filled with monologues and sadly lacking in dialogues. These musings caused me to ask myself some questions. When was the last time I was persuaded to change or even modify my point of view? Have I stopped looking at both sides of a question? Do I engage in civil discourse? Honest debate? Do I actually consider what is being said instead of just counting the seconds until I get to fire back? I wasn’t happy with some of my answers and I wondered, how did I get here? And more importantly, how do I get out of here?
I thought about it and then taped a sign on my mirror that says, IGNORAMUS? Now I see it every morning as I prepare for the day and hopefully it will remind me to keep an open mind, to listen to other points of view, and to actually consider that they might have some validity. It’s a start.