And that is, as all aficionados of The Princess Bride movie know, is to never get in a land war in Asia.
But the next dumbest thing in the world anyone can do is OVER EXAGGERATE .
Of course as you have undoubtedly surmised I may have just overstated my point.
This is not to say by my hyperbolicity that exaggerating, let alone OVER EXAGGERATING, is a good thing. It might, however, be that perhaps buying something based on a stranger’s over exaggeration of its value is dumber still. In fact, whether or not something is the dumbest or second dumbest thing someone can do cannot be scientifically measured. It’s nonsense dressed up as being incredibly, even earth-shatteringly, significant.
So what’s my point?
There is a lot to be said for speaking and writing accurately. This comes, I believe, when we finally decide to ourselves that we would rather live honestly than ever gain advantage through exaggeration — which is deception by another word.
Now to my deeper and more disturbing personal observation, so take it or leave it.
Daily, even hourly, we are being fed, in the most polite terms I can write, exaggerations and false rabbit trails intended to entice us to accept the absurd. Boys are not girls. Not even close. The reverse is of course also true that girls are not boys. Christians are not terrorists. Standing apart from others doesn’t stop the spread of epidemics and wearing masks shows no valid scientific evidence as well. Staying home when sick, washing hands and disinfecting surfaces even with soap and water do a great deal, so we aren’t completely helpless, completely in need of Big Brother or Big Sister.
There is sound wisdom in wearing a mask and avoiding crowds when someone is immune compromised.
In other words, one-size-fits-all rules are exaggerations that have been shown to cause more harm and provoke more unnecessary fear than is necessary or helpful.
Fortunately, I believe the majority of adults completely understand this.
What really helps people live better lives is when each of us takes responsibility for ourselves and our underage immature children, and we resist as peacefully as possible others who seek to control us for their own hidden and disingenuous reasons.
If you haven’t seen The Sound of Freedom yet, I hope you do. That small act I believe is critical to bringing the awareness necessary to turn the tide of an unimaginable evil. One bent on harming the next couple of upcoming generations. I don’t believe I am exaggerating when I state this. Push back if you disagree.
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.