"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and

conscientious stupidity.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was reading a court memorandum and the attorney quoted this phrase; He chose this quote because, in a case in which he was the prosecutor, letters started pouring into the courthouse from parishioners in support of a Pastor who had used his position of power to sexually abuse a young girl.  

The quote really jumped out at me.  I mean, I have heard the phrase "Ignorance is Bliss" - and in some cases I tend to agree with that; However, for someone to so boldly, and dare I say blindly, stand behind someone who committed such heinous acts without fully comprehending the details is ridiculous.   

I pray that my eyes remain opened so that I can make clear, well-informed decisions.  Everything around us caters itself to allowing us to be "sincerely ignorant".  We are groomed by the government and the media to choose specific political leaders.  We are taught that it is acceptable for everyone to get a break, financially or otherwise, except for the regular honest, hard-working common citizen.  Our nation has become so politically correct that it creates the opposite effect: an even greater division among the races.  As a white woman, I am judged for the color of my skin and gender just as much as anyone else. Why can't race, gender, politics just be put aside?  

The way these two, seemingly different, topics (a pastor abusing his power and leaders over a people) coincide for me is that as a nation we have always allowed a small group to speak on behalf of the whole, which is a great system when the whole is benefited; but, as the years have progressed -at least since I've been alive - that small group, that is supposed to represent everyone, uses that power to make promises to the whole, yet in the end, only helps themselves.  We, as the whole, have been "sincerely ignorant" & "conscientiously stupid".  We know that, while our taxes are increasing and our country delves deeper into debt, we cannot, and will not, do a thing about it - so we sit by and watch as the small, powerful group lives "fat and happy" on our dime, doing nothing for the people who are barely surviving, who can't feel safe walking down the street, for the people in Chicago where there is gang wars raging all around and innocent people dying everyday.  

I don't want a socialist government, I believe that there can be a powerful nation with the different classes.  I love America and am extremely proud to be an American.  I just think it's important that the people who live in the country should be allowed to really have their voices heard.  I believe our nation has strong, capable leadership - and there has been, and still is, a lot of good that has come from our leadership and this system. I just hope that in the days to come, we can all veer away from doing and saying what "looks good" and start doing what we know is "right".

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' "

I share that dream with you, Martin.

Justifiably Julie
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