The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. 

Collective stupidity appears to be well on track to become the next great pandemic which will bring life as we knew it for most of our lives to a traumatically abrupt halt.

At this point, please don’t become easily or prematurely offended to think that this broad brush with which I have painted my introductory remark might somehow cover you, too. No, of course, not! It is simply a very subjective and generalised observation I have made as I looked around recently.

Looking abroad to the north, as well as around our picturesque archipelago, who can deny that collective stupidity seems to be out there, building up much like an impending category five hurricane? With forces in these populations lined up much like the proverbial domino pieces, all it takes is but one push by that leading piece/card, and the whole deck can go crumbling or crashing down.

Over so, a tariff debacle, along with bold new xenophobic onslaughts might be used as issues of mass destruction.

In this neck of the woods (without consideration of realistically addressing forest fires), Bahamians will likely swing themselves once more by resigning to that “minnie, minnie, miney moe” election process.

Does it really matter who is doing the lashing?

Until and unless I am convinced to the contrary, my assertion will continue to be that “the wrongest thing one could ever do is to know a lie and think it true!”.

Glancing again briefly at the growing craziness across the sea, there are many on that side of the waters (and here, for that matter) who may very well drown in their tears, having to now admit that a certain narcissistic psychopath is driving that bus at break-neck speed, approaching a curve with a deep precipice below. Some on that fateful bus might regret having gotten on board, but with the rest of the passengers still gleefully cheering on the driver, is there any chance of the bus sensibly slowing down as it enters that bend?

Meanwhile, our own hand-me-down system of musical chairs legislative process is about to start playing again. Will it be Peter this time, or will it be Paul, who gets to sit when the music stops? Those of us who can see what we lookin’ at, and admit that there’s no difference between Peter and Paul need not waste our breath praising one or criticising the other, when clearly the game itself needs to be changed.

Only those who were around to witness the clickers in every hand euphoria of a fledgling political party who distributed those devices, as women finally received the vote in 1962, will recall that emancipation from mental slavery is not an easy thing to achieve. Those who are around now, and feel some disgust or frustration with the same ol’ same ol’, plus a desperate need for change, cannot embrace a new updated version of the same ol’ collective stupidity.

Anyone can promise anything. When a new sharp hook is baited with some juicy, say, $100,000 payout without having to work for it, there is bound to be a few hungry or greedy preys-to-be eager to chump down on such a deceitful prize. Same game, different players, looks like a new swing is coming to a constituency near you very soon.

Collective stupidity allows certain masses to follow someone who will lead and teach where and what he/she does not go nor know. When you get right down to it, individually or collectively, stupidity is still stupidity.

Ignorance is one thing. We are all ignorant of certain things. Stupidity is something else! It ain’t long now until you get to stand for something, or fall yet again for anything; stupid, stupider, stupidest ... or something new and different.

MB

April 8, 2025.