The Columns of Shauna Kelly

Ignorance

.....© by Shauna Kelley , 1999

Ignorance is bliss so they say. The truth in the statement is obvious, sometimes not knowing is simply better. I mean sure, while we are on the subject of clichés we can point out the knowledge is power, but sometimes we as people sleep better ignorant of certain things.

There are many types of ignorance. For the sake of clarity shall we classify them as voluntary and involuntary, and wrong. Involuntary ignorance is that in which a person is simply unaware of something through no fault of their own. In this sense most young children are ignorant. Voluntary ignorance is that in which a person is aware of something evil or hurtful and chooses to ignore it for the sake of their own sanity. I shall discuss wrong ignorance later.

So, with this in mind - is ignorance wrong? Certain knowledge is painful. Knowing that while you play with your children people starve in many parts of the world and many parts of our own country is not easy to deal with. Is it immoral to purposefully ignore the suffering of others in order to make our own lives more pleasant?

I am a big proponent of remaining idealistic as long as humanly possible, and yet I know that idealism truly is not a possibility for a person who is completely aware of the world around them. Outside of our borders we watch wars yielding thousands of casualties. Right beyond our border we see a people deprived of mankind's most potent asset- freedom. How much are we effected by this- a terse sigh while watching the news before we wash the thoughts away along with the dish water? A check to the cause of the month? Perhaps if your really enraged a letter to your congressman to express your discontent? So I return to the question is it wrong to go on with our lives while others suffer around us.

By this point many of you are screaming "yes, if you dwell on it you'll go crazy". For the most part I agree with you. There is no way to know of all the wrongs that occur in the world, to understand the true amount of human misery that is felt on a daily basis and to feel empathy for even a minute fraction of it without driving yourself crazy; however, this does not truly excuse victims of voluntary ignorance, which we all are. The difference comes in knowing and attempting to help. I know that one person can't fix everything, a hundred people can't fix everything, but we can be more aware. Awareness and the attempts to change come in simple ways- for one thing trying to become more informed.

For example, how many people are familiar with the Leonard Peltier case? Leonard is an American Indian serving a 23 year sentence for two murders he truly and honestly did not commit. Basically two FBI agents were killed and justice was demanded, but every ounce of evidence against this man is full of loopholes or blatantly false. And yet, he is still in jail. Why? Because people don't know, and those who do fail to take an active part in freeing him. Write letters! Call your congressmen! Email! Help with words rather then your checkbook. And please don't take this to mean I am shunning charitable donations, because I am in no way doing this. Money is a help, and it is usually a big help. But as far as seeking to lessen your voluntary ignorance, money is a Band-Aid.

Another important aspect of lessening our voluntary ignorance is by simply telling our children. But wait- aren't I the one always saying we should preserve our children's innocence as long as possible? Yes I am- I am saying not to tell our children of atrocity, of misery, or of suffering. Instead, tell your children simple things- to stand up for someone who is being teased, to write letters about something that is wrong, to question authority. Give them the tools to react to the wrongs in the world and have a positive influence.

The pertinent part of understanding voluntary ignorance comes in knowing that there is no cure. People suffer, people die and obsessing about it only leads to your own suffering. But recognizing and trying to help leads to your personal fulfillment. When you write a letter don't think of it as "I can't do enough, it will never stop", think of it as "I tried to help." Count on the responsibility of your fellow Americans to react and try to help and prompt them to do so by telling them about whatever you are taking a stand on.

This brings me to a touchy subject and something I consider to be one of the ultimate human failures- one that I have branded wrong ignorance. Perhaps many will consider me arrogant to so boldly label this that I speak of, but I honestly don't believe this label to be wrong. Wrong ignorance is ignoring something that is true. For instance- all men are created equal. This is true. Every person is born with the same inalienable rights and anyone who tries to deprive or insinuates that another person should be deprived of these rights based on anything other then their actions is wrong. Racism is wrong ignorance. Revisionists who suggest that the Holocaust never occurred are supporters of wrong ignorance. Americans who fail to recognize the genocide of the American Indians are supporters of wrong ignorance.

I know these are touchy issues and there are those who probably find folly in my reasoning, but I believe of all the problems in the world wrong ignorance is quite often the cause. So what to do about this? Be informed- know what is going on and seek the truth. And never fail to acknowledge that though one side may be wrong, their point may hold some points that are overall relevant and important. For instance, the revisionists have a point in explaining how the death of Christians and Homosexuals during the Holocaust is often ignored; however, their argument that the Holocaust of the Jews never occurred is still wrong.

And now I am done ranting- what is my point. Know what you know. Don't ignore pain but don't make it so personal that it leads to your own. And always stand by what you know to be true.

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