Why Are People Like That? Explore Bonhoeffer’s “Theory of Stupidity”

 

I seriously wonder what is wrong with people. 

What motivates a woman with a young child to drive her SUV into law enforcement officers - only to be shot to death for her stupidity? Renee Good did no good, changed nothing, except leave behind a 6 year old orphan (his dad died in 2023).

 

What motivates a man to kick the back end of a law enforcement vehicle, breaking the tail light, sustain a injured rib, then return to the site of protests a week later and then insert himself into an altercation between law enforcement and a woman - have his concealed weapon discovered, and get shot to death for his stupidity? Alex Pretti's shooting is not pretty. Circumstances are still under investigation, but his persistent protest against ICE and against the rightful deportation of illegal aliens displays very poor decision making. And he is a nurse? 

 

WHY? While this has haunted my mind for weeks and months (long before Good and Pretti), I "coincidentally" ran across a Facebook reel that mentioned Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity and how it relates to evil. There is no such thing as coincidence. 

 

German Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theory defines stupidity not as a lack of intelligence but as a moral failing, a lack of independent thinking that makes people susceptible to evil, especially under totalitarianism, where they become tools for evil by embracing simplistic, self-serving narratives, losing their critical capacity, and abandoning responsibility, effectively becoming instruments of evil rather than simply unintelligent people. 

 

Eureka! For decades, I avoided calling a person "stupid." I might call an action or situation stupid, but I refrained from using that term against a person because I thought it was so demeaning. Until recently. Behavior has become so unhinged and illogical to me, I find myself characterizing people and politicians as "stupid" more and more. 

 

Turns out I am right. And there is a reason for it.  

 

An amazing answer penned in the 1940s (!) by Bonhoeffer as he observed behavior of people during his 18 months imprisoned in Nazi camps and in the years before, during the rise of the Nazi regime. He saw seemingly normal people become complicit in horrific acts through mental laziness and a desire to belong or get ahead.

 

It unquestionably explains everything going on today, regardless of party, although in my view at this time, it seems more virulent in leftist democrats. 

 

(Interesting point: I found the graphic below on a site of an anti-ICE minister, so he is apparently calling out right-wing conservatives as stupid. This is how the world spins right now.)  

 

Key Aspects of Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity:

• Not Innate Lack of Intellect:

  True stupidity, for Bonhoeffer, isn't about low IQ; it's a choice or condition where individuals stop thinking critically and become receptive to simplistic, often malicious, propaganda.
Moral, Not Intellectual:
It's a failure of will and character, a "stupidity of the soul" that makes people turn away from truth and responsibility.
Tool of Power:
In an age of mass movements and dictatorships (like Nazism), people willingly surrender their minds, becoming easily manipulated by those in power, making them "instruments of evil".
Loss of Critical Thinking:
Stupidity involves an abdication of personal judgment, allowing external forces (propaganda, ideology) to dictate thoughts and actions, as seen in the German populace during the Nazi era.
Contagious:
Like a disease, this form of stupidity spreads, making it harder for thoughtful individuals to resist.

In essence, Bonhoeffer saw stupidity as a dangerous force that enabled evil by creating passive, unthinking followers, making it a central concern in his ethics and resistance.

 

So, what is the solution to less stupidity? Before the next civil war starts would be nice! 

 

Here is another good article Bonhoeffer’s “theory of stupidity”: We have more to fear from stupid people than evil ones 

 

(source: Google searches and cross referencing sources) 

Democrats Need a Divorce. Right Now!

The Democrat Party is in need of an immediate divorce. We are not talking a scalpel - we're talking a samurai sword.

 

There are Democrats, and there are anti-Constitutional socialists who CALL themselves Democrats. They need to GO. Be exposed and expelled and repudiated. They are NOT Democrats and have no Democratic values. In fact, they have no values at all. 

 

That divorce needs to happen immediately, especially after Hogg's announcement that he will challenge incumbent Democrats to turn blue districts into socialist enclaves. He and his socialists rely on the power and "reputation" and (dark) money of Democrats (although founding the Ku Klux Klan, and resisting slavery and  Civil Rights Act are not much of a reputation to admire). They are a third party within a party. It's time they are exposed and expelled. 

 

#ExposeandExpelFakeDems #WalkAway

Systemic Racism: It's not about you and me, Baby.

 

 

I am not racist. Certainly no where near as racist as the left implies I am.

I know, I know. It's often the one who says she's not racist who IS. But I really do prefer to judge you by the content of your character. I admit I hold that bar high. That's because I value myself, my affection, and my time (advice I suggest you apply in your own life).

I also prefer to surround myself with people who don't hate me, no matter what color their skin may be. 

Defensively, I denied the vast - and stubbornly pervasive - accusation of "systemic racism."  That's just not me! 

But it is a great catchy phrase intended to shock you into guilt and shame - and silence.

Let's pick apart the words in the accusation, though. "Systemic racism" means racism in the system - not personal racism between people. No, that's what the leftist communists want you to believe - they expect you to accept YOU are the problem.

But what about some of the social systems politicians have put into place? Aah... now we catch a glimpse into the real examples of systemic racism. 

What do you think of the practice of forcing poor women to keep the fathers of their children OUT of the house to qualify for public assistance? If that is not THE most systemically exploitive and rotten thing to do to families, I do not know what else is. Let me speculate: It causes generational poverty, keeps men unmotivated and unaccountable to achieve anything, makes it easier to fall into bad company, bad habits, drug sales and addiction, and, if incarcerated, the revolving door of recidivism. Add gangs for a sense of family, loyalty, and community, which all humans need, but men seem to need even more... Am I way off? 

Government is not your friend, or a friend of American families. In fact, it is the opposite. Free money sounds good, but it's never enough money to raise a woman out of poverty, and it demoralizes and foments lack of responsibility in a man who may have made a mistake and was jailed, then prevents him from redeeming himself and living up to his obligation to family and to himself. While this policy affects any man, it appears Black men are hardest hit by this destructive cycle. (And there it is! Systemic racism - racism in the system.) 

I guess until this Trojan horse government practice of "public assistance" is reformed, it can be defined as solid proof of "systemic racism" everyone's complaining about. 

But never accept the lie that "systemic racism" is between you and me. 

Hansan, J.E. (2011). Origins of the state and federal public welfare programs (1932-1935). Social Welfare History Project. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/public-welfare/origins-of-the-state-federal-public-welfare-programs/

More Impulsive Bad Behavior from Dem. Sen. Josh Miller

Today, a story appeared in The Providence Journal reporting the arrest and arraignment of (STILL) Rhode Island State Senator Josh Miller for vandalism / malicious injury to property. Miller keyed a parked truck, bearing a "Biden sucks" sticker, in the parking lot of Garden City Center. 

The Democrat Miller, representing areas in Cranston and Providence, first lied and denied the incident. He later admitted he keyed the other vehicle "because he [the other driver] was daring me to, basically." 

Such exemplary behavior from a public servant. 

Arraigned by a justice of the peace and released on $1,000 personal recognizance, Miller's re-arraignment in District Court is scheduled for July 18. 

Surprise, surprise. The little big mouth declined media comment.

Maybe it had something to do with another time he opened his mouth to media. This arrogant slug's temper got the best of him in a public display of impulsive lack of self control that went viral. 

In 2014, Miller told a member of independent media who was covering a State House hearing on 2nd Amendment legislation to "Go fuck yourself." On camera. (I said Miller is impulsive; I never said he was smart.) GoLocalProv covered the original incident here. The video below is from the indie media reporter.

In fact, that incident so shocked and disgusted me, I wrote an opinion piece that was published in The Providence Journal on April 1, 2014. You will note it was not Miller's the profanity -- it was his arrogance that he did not have to account for his legislative actions.

PUBLISHED AS AN OPINION PIECE IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL ON APRIL 1, 2014

Rhode Island Sen. Joshua Miller of Cranston got it wrong. When Miller used profane language on March 18 against a member of the public, he displayed the arrogance of incumbency.

Miller’s reaction is never appropriate, no matter the provocation. But he was not caught off-guard at the grocery store or asked an offensive or personally insulting question. Miller was approached while in the People’s House, in his job as state senator, after an anti-gun press conference, and was challenged to support his anti-gun position, which contradicts his oath to uphold the Constitution. All relevant.

Instead of addressing the issue or scurrying behind a “no comment,” Miller fired the verbal shot heard ’round the world. Ironic, for an anti-gun guy. And doesn’t it show a special brand of foolishness to speak such trash to a man with a camera?

In his March 28 column Bob Kerr got it wrong, too, virtually excusing Miller and his pathetic apology because of Miller’s target; Kerr called him “a member of the make-believe news media.” Besides the irony of such a statement coming from one who is paid for his opinion and not for objective journalism, the fact remains it does not matter who approached Miller. Miller proved he is a make-believe statesman.

The contempt in which these pseudo statesmen and women generally hold the public is appalling. Yet it’s epidemic. Why do we put up with it?

November offers the opportunity for remedy, to seriously clean House — and in this case, Senate.

This POS is STILL in office 10 years later. SMH, Cranston.

 

State Sen. Joshua Miller is accused of damaging the truck on the left, which displays an anti-Biden sticker.
(Photo Credit: Cranston Police per The Providence Journal)

This edited video is owned by Dan Bidondi, TruthRadioShow.com.

Teach Your Children Well

In no way do I want to undermine the work being done by brave Rhode Island parents to prevent the government or its schools from cutting out parents from decisions that affect the children. 

But message to parents: initiate the tough conversations with your kids yourselves! 

Are you telling me your transconfused rebellious child or teen is leaving NO EVIDENCE for you? Do you really need the SCHOOL to tell you the different clothes, hairstyles, moodiness, language and deportment, and other in-your-face evidence are more than "just a phase" and signs of a serious treatable problem? 

Maybe it is just a phase! I understand that's what you hope. 

But in this environment of rampant transgender contagion where all of a sudden all kids wonder if they are queer and school libraries are dispensing how-to-queer manuals like candy at Halloween, do NOT let the schools take your power, and do NOT think the schools will give you an inch. Do it yourself without the schools. 

You already know this: the consequences for letting others be the ones listening to and advising your troubled kids and encouraging their delusions have never been higher and more dangerous. 

Take care of your kids, be grateful for good and caring teachers, but be vigilant and fight to lawfully remove the predators from schools. The predators (more and more of them) are there with wide, warm smiles, hoping you cannot see them in the crowd.

 

Postscript

Actively support your ethically- and morally-centered, common sense local, state, and national legislators who introduce bills to:

1. Move pornographic materials from school shelves to adult sections of public libraries. This is NOT book-banning, but responsible management of resources, assuring age-appropriate restriction and access. Related note: cartoon illustration DOES NOT mean material is appropriate for children.

2. Prevent chemical or surgical sexual alteration of minors. Prescribing cross-sex hormones, puberty blocking drugs, and / or performing life-altering disfiguring surgeries on minor children for cosmetic purposes causes irreversible harm. Mentally tilted adults advocate for such mutilation under the deceitful guise of compassion. Leave minor children alone and most will outgrow their confusion.

Thoughts on Storytelling and Journalism in Local Public Television

"Lots of 'storytelling' and little journalism."

The closing line of this article by GoLocalProv about Rhode Island's journalism crisis shows insight that resonates with me. It's what separates what Rhode Island PBS does and what some would like to convince us it does.

On staff at WSBE Rhode Island PBS are masterful storytellers. But few of them would call themselves journalists. In fact, one of the last events I attended before leaving the station a month ago was an off-site meeting that explored "who" the station is and "what" we (they) do. I got the sense the exercise was to convince producers and editors - and me, I guess - to stretch the definition of journalism to cover what we did every day.

Nope. They - we all - apply journalistic standards to our work, but except for a limited few on staff (whose names you would recognize as award-winning journalists), what we do is not journalism; it is exquisite, creative, moving, meaningful, and informative storytelling. It is some of the best content worth watching on television! And I was always so proud of the creators - and my own work.

However, even research and fact-checking, interviewing, and a coherent story line that introduces, peaks, and concludes - qualities shared by good journalism - cannot redefine "journalism" enough to apply to the current day-to-day work at the station.

None of that is to imply WSBE can't produce pure journalistic content. But that's where they head, not where they start. Those in charge cannot simply change established definitions at will and expect unquestioned acceptance. How very 'west coast liberal' of them.

In its own right, good storytelling is so important! It's how we effectively preserve and share with each other our history and culture, dreams and aspirations - and bequeath that rich legacy to the next generation.

Journalism, while different from storytelling, is an essential service to our community, to our civilization; the professionals who properly practice the art and science of journalism cannot be lost to profit. The loss of The Providence Journal is heartbreaking. 

Here is what the word experts have to say. (https://www.merriam-webster.com and dictionary.com)

 

JOURNALISM

Noun 

    1 a : the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media  

        b : the public press

        c : an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium

    2  a : writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine

        b : writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation

        c : writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest

 

JOURNALIST

    1a : a person engaged in journalism especially : a writer or editor for a news medium

      b : a writer who aims at a mass audience

    2   : a person who keeps a journal

 

STORY
Noun

1. a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.
2. a fictitious tale, shorter and less elaborate than a novel.
3. such narratives or tales as a branch of literature.
4. the plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc.
5. a narration of an incident or a series of events or an example of these that is or may be narrated, as an anecdote, joke, etc.
6. a narration of the events in the life of a person or the existence of a thing, or such events as a subject for narration.
7. a report or account of a matter; statement or allegation.
8. news story*.
9. a lie or fabrication.

         * news story
            noun

1. a news report of any length, usually presented in a straightforward style and without editorial comment.

STORYTELLER

Noun

    1. a teller of stories: such as

        a : a relater of anecdotes

        b : a reciter of tales (as in a children's library)

        c : liar, fibber

        d : a writer of stories

 

~*~*~*~*~

In a parallel issue, how tired are you of the burgeoning arrogance of people changing established definitions of words to obscure common understanding? There's a lot of that nonsense going on lately. If we continue to allow destruction of our common understanding of words and language, we destroy our civilization. Welcome to the Tower of Babel.  

 

 

#journalism #storytelling #DifferentiationMatters

I Have a Confession

 

I have a confession. I am a grammar and punctuation snob. Hell, I’m not even pretending anymore – wide open, full-fledged, out of the closet, and proud to say I will click away from your “savvy” blog or “edgy” article because your poor spelling and absent punctuation are just too distracting. Your message is not worth it.

How sad. But true. Your credibility is flushed down the toilet – and your message becomes meaningless – if I have to wade through the muck and mire of your lazy writing habits.

Hey, everyone makes a typo or drops the occasional apostrophe or comma, sure! But I refer to the habitual its for it’s or it’s for its – repeated several times in the same article.

That is not just a typo. That tells me you do not know any better. Worse, maybe you do know better but you do not care. In the first case, how can I trust your advice about anything? In the second case, why would I trust the advice of someone with such disrespectful contempt for his or her readers? Yeah, no.

You may hate my message, and you can judge me on what I say, but I promise not to distract you with how I say it. 

 

(c)2022 Lucie Raposo - All rights reserved