Another epidemic that must be stemmed

[thatcrazycajun]

Almost as bad as the epidemic of obesity mentioned in the last post is the stupidity epidemic; unfortunately, this one is much, much harder to whip.

Exhibit A: The sad case of Idiot Eliot Spitzer, within three days to be ex-governor of New York state through his own foolish cupidity. Most of you have already read far more than you want to about this once-promising young Democratic comer's comeuppance, so I won't bother linking.

Exhibit B: According to this BBC News report, the Catholic Bishop of a Scottish town called Motherwell alleges that gay and lesbian activists are "aligning themselves with minority groups, including Holocaust survivors, to make it appear they are under persecution" and "conspiring against Christian traditions." (Thanks to wolfette for the link.)

Exhibit C: Focus on the Family's Big Jim Dobson worries out loud that the next generation of religious conservatives won't see a threat to the institution of marriage, the fabric of society and life as we know it under every pro-choicer's or gay couple's bedpost. (Thanks to supergee for this one.)

It's even spreading to supposedly whip-smart people, as witness Exhibit D: the entire Presidential nomination campaign so far of Sen. Hillary Clinton, up to and including the latest imbroglio involving the inflammatory remarks of the last woman to ride near the top of a Democratic presidential ticket, Geraldine Ferraro.

But then hope comes in the form of the embodiment of Dobson's worry: an 18-year-old son of one of the victims of 1995's Oklahoma City atrocity definitively rebukes one of his state's Congressional representatives, one Sally Kern (Republican—you can't possibly be surprised, can you?), who is guilty of Exhibit E in her own recent idiotic statements likening homosexuals to terrorists. I think we can all agree this kid is in a unique position to know whereof he speaks, unlike Rep, Kern.

"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin; the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and the execution is carried out automatically and without pity." —Robert A. Heinlein, from The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

Comments

[katrinb.livejournal.com]

"the Catholic Bishop of a Scottish town called Motherwell alleges that gay and lesbian activists are "aligning themselves with minority groups, including Holocaust survivors, to make it appear they are under persecution"

Now that's ironic, given how many Christians I hear wailing and whining about how persecuted THEY are because they can't make us all follow their rules. (Not all Christians, or even most, it should go without saying. But the obnoxious ones.)

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

She can say what she wants, or do what she wants.
In the end, for me, it all comes down to two words:
"Cluster bombs".

[harmonyheifer.livejournal.com]

Keith Olbermann did a special comment on Clinton's campaign the other night. He hit the nail on the head and he did it respectfully and incredulously. I am thrilled to have someone else echo my deep and growing concerns about the Clinton campaign. I don't think there is anything to be done at this late point in time. The damage is done. It is so sad to watch. I am really embarrassed for her. Blind ambition can be a really ugly thing. I am praying that Obama wins the nomination, because right now I think she has no business in the oval office. None. And there was a time when I would have voted for her with not a second thought. Has she really changed that much, or am I that much more aware now? I wonder.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]