Exercising Stupidity: Memorial Day 2020

Memorial Day 2020 - Lake of the Ozarks

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

--Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Memorial Day 2020 marks the beginning of opening back up the country, with safety measures and good sense in place to ensure we protected as many people as possible from COVID-19.  The "chaos factor" for this little exercise would be the stupidity of the majority of humanity. Social distancing, wearing masks, limiting crowd sizes, all went out the window in favor of drinking alcohol, and having a good time.

I, for one, was disappointed in my fellow humans.  College graduates, who actually followed the rules to mitigate COVID-19, should be ecstatic.  The idiots of the world are going to die.  A lot of real estate properties will become available at reasonable rates.  A plethora of jobs will crop up and the wages will be good due to the lack of competition because the competition chose to die.  If we must have stupidity, at least the stupidity should benefit the stronger and smarter among us.  Unfortunately, the stupid will also be responsible for murdering most of the innocent.  Perhaps the courts should make an example of them.

I drove along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and saw more people on the beaches than I have ever seen.  Parking was at a premium.  Yet, with all these people, I saw the majority of them following the rules of distancing.  I laughed when the thought crossed my mind of how the South will rise again, as we will be the only people left alive.

In "A Christmas Carol" Charles Dicken wrote, “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”  It was a cold sentiment, as the story goes.  But, is just as cold a sentiment being voiced here?  The morons have been told the dangers, they've been told how to mitigate, the chose to ignore it all and put other people at risk of death.  I should be hesitant to pass judgment o  anyone.  It is not my place to judge.  I also believe in calling a spade a spade, and when I witness blatant stupidity, I have to call it out.

What good will come of this?  Death is never good.  Murder is never good either, however.  If we are to find any silver lining in this madness, it would be ridding the world of ignorance and stupidity.  

But, at what cost to innocence?

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.