“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
ESSENTIALLY, the mammal human being is blessed with a tabula rasa (blank slate) mind at birth, according to dubious western belief. The awakened East knows better.
Blank slate is quite contrary to the Vedantic principles of stored memory that accompanies rebirth. Many Vedantic principles are endorsed in Judaism, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sufism, Sikhism, Jainism and Taoism.
It is a fact that human beings are born with a mind that has not yet been bombarded by new thoughts. Meaningless and negative thoughts are unpreventable as a child grows ad develops.
It’s exactly this effort in creating meaningless thoughts that human beings battle between self-inflicted ignorance and self-imposed confusion that produces constant bouts of stupor.
Our esteemed readers will certainly remove the full stop, or period, after St. and then attach it to the Upid to appreciate and understand the problem we face in sociopolitical regimes and realities.
“Stupidity permeates our perception and practice of politics. We frequently accuse politicians, bureaucrats, journalists, voters, elites, and the masses for their stupidities. In fact, it is not only populist politicians, sensational journalism, and uneducated voters who are accused of stupidity.”
This essential truth was voiced by Nobutaka Otobe. Devotees of St. Upid are constantly at its altar burning candles, placing food offerings, and other accoutrements to satisfy and appease the deity.
The central question and core issue pivots upon why voters fail to demand evaluation of the mental capacity of our elected leaders mandated in Article 48(1)(a) Federal Constitution.
Voters are motivated by the herd mentality and not the heard mentality. If ten million people say a stupid thing, it is still a stupid thing. Yet, we never learn, or unlearn.
So, which altar are you praying at, or which altar is preying upon you? Devotees of St.Upid are the innocent victims of a rotten education regime.
Parents and NGOs in Malaysia must be emboldened to destroy and demolish the altars erected for the devotees of St. Upid. These altars are not made of sand, cement or concrete.
The government of the day is the most ardent, fervent and dedicated devotee of St. Upid. The only time they abandon the altar is to cull citizens’ votes. They succeed. Voters accede.
Malaysian voters and discerning citizens are aware of their helplessness while facing an unhelpful regime of selfish leaders with character flaws.
Charlie Kirk, an American conservative 31-year old activist was assassinated for awakening the corps of St.Upid devotees who were ready to abandon the false altars.
I too became a victim of a different genre of assassination when I was invited to a recent podcast to discuss the Federal Constitution in a lively show.
This promising young, unfortunate, immature and misled podcaster removed the YouTube segment after some St. Upid devotees convinced him that he should not abandon its altar by endorsing me.
Another well-meaning and mature podcaster advised me to shun this dedicated St.Upid devotee who never gave me an audi alteram partem opportunity. He decided to believe a one-sided claim.
Anti-stupidity legislation will not help. Policing stupidity is another exercise in futility. Being aware of the physical and moral hazards of stupidity is a strong start.
The Malaysian education modalities promote student intellectual mortality rates at alarming and worrisome levels. The government continues with this mission obviously to keep everyone misinformed and uninformed.
Political roadshows to gauge public perception is selective. It does not include the separation of powers of the AG and PP, but for anti-bullying and other issues.
Painless stupidity creeps up as a gaffe. Barack H Obama during a 9 May 2008 campaign said, “I have been in 57 states, and I think one left to go.”
Ronald Reagan in a 1988 Republican National Convention misquoted John Adams by saying, “facts are stupid things.” John Adams had said that “facts are stubborn things.”
The best is still Bill Clinton who admitted to trying marijuana once or twice in England. He also admitted he never really liked it. He sealed the fact by claiming he never inhaled.
In Malaysia, some intrepid gaffe-gatherers have amassed a huge compendium of strange remarks made by our politicians that pushes the frontiers of stupidity and ignorance.
We survived one MP who didn’t blink an eyelid when he claimed that “English is not an intellectual language.” He hit a home run with “English speakers have never created global civilizations.”
Another diatribe resulted in one MP accusing another of having an IQ of a carrot. But nothing can come close to a state legislator who lamented: “Many shops sell condoms as well. Would you have sex in those shops?”
But back on a serious note. Section 3 of the Sedition Act is a perfect law that celebrates truth telling about a bad law or a bad government policy with the aim of correcting it in the interests of justice.
The public needs to become autodidact in its effort to outshine the people in power who have failed to blaze new trails in policy making to make Malaysia a great country to live in.
Consumerism, bad diets, ridiculous government policies, willingness to go astray, crime, punishment, unnecessary lawsuits, greed, cronyism, corruption, pride and arrogance sustain millions at St.Upid’s altar.
It is the responsibility of the public in proving that stupidity is a hideous handicap that can be effortlessly overcome.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at ChiefJudge@secamtektektribe.org.
