{"id":5581,"date":"2010-08-07T19:59:17","date_gmt":"2010-08-08T03:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.godammit.com\/?p=5581"},"modified":"2010-08-07T19:59:17","modified_gmt":"2010-08-08T03:59:17","slug":"the-politics-of-stupidity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/godammit.com\/the-politics-of-stupidity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Politics of Stupidity"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Stupidity is the devil. Look in the eye of a chicken and you’ll know. It’s the most horrifying, cannibalistic, and nightmarish creature in this world.” \u00a0 ~<\/strong>Werner Herzog<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Many years ago, I was sitting in my car, waiting to make a right turn. A disheveled man on a bicycle came toward me, and I could see in the distance that he was yelling. As he rode past my car, I saw that he was literally foaming at the mouth. “I hate niggers!” he screamed, spitting some foam.<\/p>\n

I have never forgotten this incident. The image is embedded in my brain. It’s hard to describe how it made me feel. It shook me to the core. It was an encounter with fierce, virulent stupidity. It was like staring into the eye of a murderous chicken.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I was confronted again by that chicken, and it was horrifying. I thought we all agreed on basic laws of human decency. How could I forget that frothing bigot?<\/p>\n

I don’t believe in censorship but I am against “hate speech.” I love a rousing debate or an exchange of ideas, but I’m not a martyr. I don’t mind insults, even nasty ones, but I’m not here to soak up the free-floating rage of the mentally unhinged. Who would ever think that mocking a spoiled rich kid would invoke an avalanche of crazed taunts about my worthlessness as a human being?<\/p>\n

This reign of terror was launched on facebook by a self-avowed friend<\/a> of the Aldridge women. This friend can’t stop firing off comments along the lines of \u00a0 “You have sand in your cunt LOL LOL, come shop at my store any time!” Today, she’s still at it. Karen Aldridge has been firing off her own brand of histrionic garbage.<\/p>\n

I admit that these women scare me. I haven’t been exposed to this level of vindictiveness or indecency. \u00a0 It reminds me of prison stories where the inmates are reduced to throwing their own feces to express themselves. It’s not okay. I would like the good citizens of Texas to get back to whatever they were doing, and to let the Aldridge women fight their own war of words with me.<\/p>\n

I did say that Jane’s face is fat. However, it does not rate as an attack worthy of the ones I received last night, to the tune of: “I sucked your son’s cock in hell!” and “I’m glad your kid died.”<\/p>\n

Stupidity is a funny thing. At one level, it can be amusing. Max loved to watch Sean Hannity<\/a> on Fox News during the last presidential election. He chuckled each time Hannity pretended to be making a point. Personally, I love the New York Housewives for good basic stupidity.<\/p>\n

But the stupidity of these pro-Aldridge people is another matter. It is the devil. And I’m not letting the devil have his say here. I will publish any and all comments that respect my right not to be taunted about my private parts or the loss of my precious child.<\/p>\n

That shouldn’t be too hard, right, chickens? For those people complaining that it used to be more fun here, I can only say, No shit, Sherlock. \u00a0 But we’ll still have fun again. I will, anyway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"