Thought for Today
Many things scare me–notably Beanie Babies, scrambled eggs, and my inexplicable fascination with Lawrence Welk. But nothing–I mean nothing–scares me quite as much as middle America’s anti-intellectual streak.
Case in point: when Southern Baptists et al. decide that the bible isn’t open to any sort of interpretation whatsoever, that’s pretty friggin’ creepy–not to mention blatantly ignorant of the fact that the bible’s been translated squillions of times from one language to another. I mean, that’s an indisputable fact, right? So which one deserves the literal interpretation?
When I ask my mom questions like that, and she gets flabbergasted, doesn’t know what to say. Blind faith, that’s her motto. On the other hand, my father–whom I’d written off for so long as an alien from another planet–is pretty laid-back and relativistic about it.
I used to think the reluctance to exert–even distrust of–mental muscle was just part-and-parcel of conservatism. But you know what? It’s not. Hasidic Jews, for example, are pretty damn conservative, but they also have a long history of intellectual engagement with the Torah….
Of course, that’s not to say that I’m an intellectual myself; personally, I think I’m a little too ADD to wear that particular hat…. But I worry when the opinions, or even questions, of bona fide thinkin’ folks are attacked.
This “Thought for Today” has been brought to you by the letter “S” (for stupid) and “D” (for dumbass) and the leadership of the Republican Party.
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