Monday, September 19, 2011

Ignorance Message Quilts

You can be sincere and still be stupid.  --Charles F. Kettering

It all began with the radio this morning. My husband loves oldies music and has found one radio station in all of the world that plays it the way he likes it. So we awaken to this station every morning. The problem is that there is this DJ who fashions himself an expert on politics. He is not. HE IS NOT!

Today, this disk spinner decided to take on President Obama's proposal for taxes on the wealthy and corporations. Now, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the President, you can appreciate at least -- at the VERY least -- getting the facts straight. But our beloved little fascist DJ had no clue what he was talking about. But he said his say fast. He voiced it loud and with much hysteria and emotion. Therefore some ninny is going to think, because of the ardent delivery, he must be right.

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. --William G. McAdoo
Such ignorance and misuse of public airways makes me livid. We all encounter such skewed facts and half truths and innuendo on a daily basis. Doesn't it make your hair stand on end?

So what better way to convey my feelings than in cloth? An Ignorance quilt seemed the proper vehicle. One I could hang in my office and stare at whenever I heard one more skewing, spinning, misusing, misrepresenting facts or out and out lying. Maybe one I could continue to add to with my trusty Sharpie as I find more and more examples or rebuttals.

Before we work on artificial intelligence why don't we do something about natural stupidity?  --Steve Polyak

But what is the symbol for ignorance? I thought of the Universal circle with the line across it for 'Do Not' or 'No' as in no right turn, no children, no smoking.... But what to put in the middle as the symbol of ignorance. Although that symbol is a bit cliche and overused....

Who better to turn to for help with this cloth dilemma than my fellow Subversive Stitchers!?

You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry.  Most people do.  --Norman Juster

So I ask for your input -- help me make an ignorance quilt. Or maybe make one of your own and send me a photo -- we can post them here and have a celebration of sorts or commiseration on the fact that it seems to reproduce so quickly.

9 comments:

Y-Knot said...

what a great idea. Here's one my old boss used to say:
"Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity."
Some background can be found here:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1114.html

liniecat said...

Er...how about Latin..this sparnag to mind..no offence intended !
Sempa in
excretia sol
profundum
variat...

Always in the
the sh~#
only the depth
varies...

Dawn said...

My Latin teacher would be so proud to see me using his favorite language. :) And the visuals that could go with such a quote.... :)

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Dave and I have been quoting Ron White..."you can't fix stupid". Napoleon said, "never attribute to conspiracy what can be attributed to stupidity.
I still like "you can't fix stupid."

Dawn said...

I like these quotes! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

A kindred spirit! I especially like the "swim in the sea of knowledge" one.

Kathleen Loomis said...

a brain with an X-out slash over it

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

What a great idea! Unfortunately ignorance is world wide, gender neutral and has no age limit.

buy starwars account said...

WoW! such a wonderful idea.