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Too Many Mad Kings

Ignorance and arrogance can be an annoying combination in anyone’s personality. However, when it is mixed with power, it becomes a poisonous mixture of lethal proportions.

Ignorance itself is not a defect. We can all be ignorant of something. It is not humanly possible to know everything, not even in these days of instant search and A.I. Transitory as our existence is, we learn to accept that often times we don’t have answers for most questions, we need to be educated about specific matters, and most importantly we have to allow those who do know about a given subject to speak and have a say. The problem arises when someone speaks about something without actually knowing about the subject. The uncontrolled impulse, if driven by insecurities or delusions, can become addictive and intolerable.

Arrogance can be annoying, but if backed up with talent or expertise and leadership it can be tolerated, even admired and emulated (take Michael Jordan or Larry Bird, for instance). However, arrogance tends to be used as a defense mechanism to hide ignorance. Some people find it easier to make up stories or personalities and even insult others than to just say, “I don’t know. I have to look into it.” Arrogance can be very damaging for the arrogant and those victims of their impulses. That being said, an arrogant nobody does not hurt anyone but themselves or those who allow them to bully them.

That changes when power enters the equation. Powerful people should be knowledgeable and have a clear sense of leadership. However, often times, an ignorant arrogant gains (inherits?) power and all hell breaks loose. Nothing more dangerous than a resentful powerful sociopath and of those, unfortunately, we have too many these days.

Most of them would rather die or destroy everything and anyone around them than lose that which they covet the most, which is power. They despise knowledge and those who appeal to knowledge and reason before making any decision. Those who question injustices and lies, who appeal to moderation and the rule of law are their natural enemies. By punishing the innocent, they cause fear and fear can be very contagious. Fear also begets silence and deafness.

History speaks only to those willing to listen. The evidence is out there for anyone to see. Centuries of calamities appear insufficient for peoples to stop encouraging those who have drunk from the poisonous mixture.

The humble educated common folk pays the highest price.

Thanks for your reading

This was my entry to @mariannewest and @felt.buzz’s 5-Minute Daily Freewrite: Thursday Prompt: poisonous mixture. You can see the details here

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