Is ignorance really bliss?

They say that ignorance is bliss but considering the state of the world today I must disagree.

It seems that instead “ignorance “ is a tool used to ignore the truth and replace it with lies.

A friend recently said: “these days common sense is not so common.”

It is baffling to me, but this goes beyond. The feigned ignorance is a tool to unify the world in hatred, while they are not even aware that they are being manipulated.

But why choose – ignorance? Are they confused? Are they unhappy? Do they lack purpose?

October 7th, 2023: a deeply painful and shocking day

October 8th , 2023: the denial and lies began.

Are the founders and creators of this propaganda truly ignorant? Maybe in their lack of education, perhaps in all of their brainwashing…maybe.

Israel first, West is next and already; selective? Willful?

Israel, a tiny country yet enormous in knowledge, strength, and achievements. The west; a great Ally. They want this all destroyed.

Is that ignorance?

We see students and so many others choosing the ignorance tool. Well if they don’t open their eyes soon they will have a very rude awakening because you can only be ignorant for so long and then it will come to bite you.

In the Torah, in the book of Hoshea , it states that a lack of knowledge can lead to destruction. It emphasizes that deliberate rejection of g-d’s word – which is a form of ignorance – is unacceptable. This implies that seeking knowledge and understanding is crucial for spiritual well being.

In Leviticus, it states that even if someone sins unintentionally due to the ignorance of the law, they are still held accountable.

So what does Judaism say about ignorance? “One cannot build an enduring future based upon willful ignorance.” We must not willfully hide from a truth.

This leads us to see that from what is going on today -ignorance can be willful. It is a deliberate refusal to learn or acknowledge “truth”, “or learn what is right”.

Willful ignorance can also be a source of evil. Wasn’t it Plato who said ; “ignorance is the source of all evil.”

Willful ignorance erodes moral character.

Philosopher Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a victim of Nazi oppression famously argued that: “stupidity is more dangerous than evil because evil can be reasoned with, countered, and even defeated; stupidity however, is immune to logic, resistant to evidence, and often confident in its own ignorance.”

I did read that Buddha found: that the cause of suffering is ignorance.

Ignorance and denial are one of the same.

What defines ignorance; lack of exposure, confusion and deluded thinking.

The 3 poisons of ignorance are greed, hatred and delusion.
What are the symptoms of a person in the mode of ignorance: intolerance, anger violence, hatred, hypocrisy, delusions, unhappiness, etc.

These symptoms can be reversed through generosity, loving kindness and proper education.

It is time that society asks itself honest and uncomfortable questions, stop avoidance of knowledge, truth and responsibility.

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” – Dyer

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity” – Martin Luther King

The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about and refuse to investigate.

So what triggered this article? Well so much and most recently watching the interview of Roger Waters from the band Pink Floyd as he was being interviewed by a known British Journalist. In this interview he downright refused to acknowledge the truth of what took place on October 7th no matter how the Journalist kept repeatedly saying: but there is complete evidence. Waters responses were acerbic, rabid and antisemitic, gaslighting, and completely denying of the truth.

When they asked … the mayor who just won the primary in New York; how do you respond to the calling of: Globalize the  Intifada, – he kept beating around the bush and said he’s not here to monitor speech. Willful selective…dishonest.

Students protesting and not even knowing what they are actually protesting about yet remain willful participants in hate campaigns.

I was trying to figure out how they, and others can be so embedded in lies and denial.

So; Become aware, look for and seek out the truth. Look for the light of “Emmett”, the light of the truth.

Be kind and compassionate and make life valuable.

May we merit the ultimate truth- B’karov- soon. Amen

Shabbat Shalom