Ignorance is Bliss...I Hope.

Ignorance is bliss. I used to think this was a stupid saying because I guess I didn’t understand exactly what it meant. Then, when I discovered the same idea in Ecclesiastes 1:18 I started giving it some serious thought. It turns out that the idea of blissful ignorance is not only true, sometimes it may even be beneficial to be stupid about some things.

Think about it. Aren’t there things in your life you would love to have never known or experienced? Maybe it’s something you’ve learned about a friend that you can’t quite forget, even though you should. Perhaps you’ve had a disturbing dream that you keep dwelling on even though you wish you could just flush it out of your head. Maybe you saw a picture of Michael Moore on the beach in a Speedo. OK, so some things may require a sharp object to the frontal lobe to lessen the psychological damage.

One thing that I’m starting to nudge into this group is politics. I’ve always been interested in political events. I read Rush Limbaugh’s books in high school and was a staunch conservative throughout college. Often, I was the only voice of reason in my liberal classes at the University of Toledo. Just recently (since about 6 months before the last election) I’ve really increased the amount of attention I’ve given to politics. I’ve read more political books in the past year than I have in all my previous years. If I’m alone in my car, I’m listening to Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, or just Fox News. I keep the Drudge Report open on my computer all day so that I can keep updated on Obama’s latest excursions into socialism.

And now I’m beginning to wonder why I’m doing it. I find myself worrying about things that are important, but which I can do nothing about. Monetizing the debt. Inflation. Blatant media bias. Culturally encouraged racism. The welfare state. The list goes on and on. I notice my friends and acquaintances who are blissfully ignorant of all of these issues and they seem so happy. I wonder how they can feel that way when our once great country is literally falling apart.

So starting today, I’m beginning a one-week fast. A political fast. No Beck. No Levin. No Fox News. No Drudge. During the time I usually spend listening to the news or reading a political book, I’m going to listen to Christian music, read good books, or just sit and enjoy life.

One week from now, I’ll either be feening for Drudge Report and Glenn Beck, or I’ll be just like your average American, completely ignorant but happy as a Hindu cow.

I’m hoping eventually I can find a happy medium.