A recent BBC poll recently put America as the number three country that is viewed poorly around the world behind Iran and Israel. This poll suggests a great deal about the world, the BBC, the media, the general intelligence level, and America not so much because America's foreign policy is flawed, but because few Americans exhibit the strength to stand against such attacks--or any attacks for that matter the battle in Iraq notwithstanding. No country, like no individual is perfect. While Hatred for America is not new, the extent to which American born natives seem malcontent with their "Fatherland" does seem to be unique to these times.
It is even more shocking how few people know much about America or the amazing but extremely well-conceived political experiment America was back in 1776. This is not some pitiful lament for bygone times, but strong praise for principles that empower the individual, and for an individual that is a beautiful thing. It does no good to recycle the past, but it is instructive to understand it most particularly when one considers that until America, most of the world understood human and political relations in terms of monarchy, feudalism, or some other type of collectivism. America was the nation to put into practice principles that advanced the idea that a Man is an individual and that he has certain rights that are not granted, allowed, tolerated, or restricted by anyone else including--and in the case of the founders particularly including--government. So, what we have now instead of a tyranny of the law is a tyranny of the mind, and it is a most insidious tyranny. It is not a tyranny that necessarily advocates a cause like the "Fatherland" or the "Proletariat." It is a tyranny that advocates nothing more than blind stupidity and holds ignorance and superficiality as things to which to aspire.
One cannot help but to look around at the kinds of people that have begun to populate America and not feel terribly alone. Aside from the usual homeless and mentally disturbed, the unkempt individuals, or the immigrants who have no pride or loyalty toward American principles, there seems to be a particularly low level of intellect on the part of a great many people. They speak in grunts and groans. They never look up. Their laughter is subdued and disingenuous. Just about the only thing that people express with any sort of passion is anger and malice. It is no wonder that a case like "bong hits for Jesus" then would now be before the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the land. Let us pause for a moment to repeat that: The Supreme Court of the United States of America. This is the supreme court of the land--hence the word 'supreme.' It decides the irrefutable--unless it overturns itself. There is no further appeal. Quite apart from the fact that the separation of powers was a positively brilliant creation and works towards its end extremely well, the Supreme Court of the United States like the President and the Congress have a certain awe attached with them: the history, the nation that stands behind them, the power, all make for quite spectacular concepts. It is unfortunate that they do not carry the luster that perhaps they should given the concepts behind their creation, but does that mean they should be belittled or defiled? Well, when a nation is populated with people, many of whom are immigrants with questionable loyalties, who have trouble reading, writing, spelling, and adding, it is not too difficult to see why even hallowed institutions lose their meaning. These words are not borne of hatred, but of sadness really because when one feels pride for American principles or rational principles in general, one often stands alone, and this fact speaks to the importance of the combat mentality, a mentality that is capable of defending itself and its ideals.
One of the cases currently before the Supreme Court of the United States of America concerns an individual who attempted to put up a sign that read "Bong hits for Jesus." And, now the country is abuzz with the case. However, what does it say about an individual, and even more so about a school system and a nation that students, who should be learning how to read and write, have time to put up meaningless signs? Furthermore, what does it say about a family, a "community," and a nation that such an act would be permitted to bleed valuable resources including time, money, and energy to debate childishness? People find it perfectly acceptable to argue, not about issues that affect the nature of existence, but over irrationality. Why?
Irrational arguments have been elevated to the level of legitimate debate and since the intellect of many people seems to be quite low, very few people seem to have the capacity to say "no, that is stupid," and simply leave it at that. The case of "bong hits for Jesus" had to be pushed through the court systems and argued every the step of the way. One wonders who is paying for all of this folly? It would not be terribly surprising to learn that it is YOU Mr. dumb taxpayer that is paying, or at least that is the implication: Americans are so stupid that they do not even realize when they are embroiled in an irrational and meaningless debate. That is the demeaning malcontentment that seems to be the undercurrent of so many conversations. The tone that many people use seems to suggest: I think that you are stupid. But, what if that is not true? How does one deal with the insult while maintaining some semblance of dignity? What is the truly intelligent person supposed to do in this case? How is he or she supposed to react? Why are so few people apt to stand against stupidity and loudly pronounce: "the emperor has no clothes!" Interestingly enough the answers to these questions are revealed in cases like "Bong Hits for Jesus." The student that brought this case to court, what do we know about him? Apparently instead of staying in his classroom and earnestly learning something that could benefit Mankind in some way the "student" was unrolling a banner and no doubt rolling a joint. One of the causalities of this incessant attack on intelligence and logic is that people rarely ask pertinent questions. People rarely seek substantial knowledge about things in order to enhance one's understanding. However, the fact that truth and reality are not popular does not change them. For, people like the "Bong Hits for Jesus" sign-waver become the FBI agents charged with finding spies, terrorists, and other criminals. They become the doctors, the lawyers, the scientists, the journalists, the writers, the actors, the politicians. In other words, the people like that boy who cried wolf with the sign become the nation. And, if they are nothing more than unkempt, hulking brutes that only know how to pursue urges not happiness and could never possibly tell the difference between the two, it not only bodes poorly for America, it makes the lives of the dedicated, hard-working, intelligent, goal-oriented people that much more difficult. Very little is said about this fact. But, that does not make profundity and those that seek it any less relevant. It just means that they must get aggressive about seeking it and protecting it for themselves. For, very few people are inclined to think in terms of fundamentals or to think at all. Instead, the nation is blinded with arguments about nonsensical things. It is the logical consequence of the obliteration of standards. The ability to differentiate diamonds from dung is an important human faculty. It is what allows humans to survive successfully. When all but a few people are willing to make distinctions and even more importantly to understand those distinctions then it is easy to see how so many people can equate "Bong Hits for Jesus" with freedom of speech, illness with health, crime with merit, irrationality with reason, the Iranian nation with the American nation and so on. This affliction of folly is not unique to America. The BBC poll mentioned above shows it. That so many people in the world could be so shallow as to categorize America with countries like Iran is not so much a reflection of American foreign policy as it is a reflection of just how superficial people are content to be.
How does one combat this? Or better still, is it even worth it to ask such questions? Often I ask myself these questions because if one has any honesty at all and is not content to simply smile and nod at things, these questions are inescapable. At the same time, no one seems to ask such questions or even care not only in the mainstream media, but in every day life. I have only met one person in my life, my martial arts teacher, who was ever concerned at all about big issues let alone wanted to discuss them to any degree. I have always known that people do ask important questions about reality and life, Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, Socrates, Isaac Newton, there are many others. But, in every day life one rarely meets such intellectual giants for that much needed spiritual and intellectual inspiration, the inspiration that allows one to keep on despite mountains of discouragement. There is only so much negativity that one can take before one just wants to give up on the world. What is the point of it all? What is the point in asking for reasons when people look at you as if the word reason is foreign and incomprehensible? What is the point in trying to find a better way to do things only to be confronted with people who just want to go shopping, watch sports, or drink beer? What is the point in giving a damn when no one else seems to? To appeal to ridiculously lofty ideals about "humanity" and "being a better man" or "rising above the fray" is just a lot of bullshit. One would have to be as stupid as a rock to blindly push forward and ask questions, attempt to understand, to show compassion while others are blowing bubbles up one's nose--or worse. The level of general discussion never strays far from the latest gossip or fad and if anyone is ever caught dead talking about something meaningful, it is generally oriented toward hostility of some kind. Why does kindness have to be phony and anger have to be real? Does it say something about the so-called human animal that people are better at expressing anger than any other emotion except perhaps orgasms? There is nothing inherently wrong with either one, but what does an intelligent bloke do who wants intellectual stimulation when all others seem to want is genital stimulation? How many times can one bang his head against a disparate cultural wall? It seems that the philosophy of combat oriented toward self-preservation and enhancement is the only logical choice for rational people. In other words as Winston Churchill said, "Fight On, if necessary for years; if necessary, alone."
This is not borne of negativity, but from a love rational principles and truth. It is the bastard offspring from the unlikely union of a desire to understand the world and the intense and frustration felt from encountering so many others who could care less.
