Pravda

Since the Reagan years, I’ve been hearing the phrase “liberal intelligentsia” tossed around like so much dressing on a salad. And in all those years, I still can’t figure out what clandestine, power-hungry group of people they’re talking about. They never have names to put with the label, just the accusation that gets repeated until everyone else takes it as gospel.

Well, I’m here to preach the truth.

I am both intelligent and liberal. The two have no more to do with each other than stupid and conservative. I know stupid liberals and intelligent conservatives. Of epic proportions on both sides.

It’s not like intelligent people are some kind of mafia who only vote Democratic or support things like social justice. We don’t have secret meetings in dark rooms in the still of night.

From my experience, we don’t even talk to each other that much.

We’re too busy taking care of our own lives with all their unexpected traumas, twists and turns. Even back-flips.

And if we did get together late at night to try and overthrow the American system of government, we wouldn’t even agree on anything. Intelligent people tend to be very certain in their beliefs. Except when they’re not because someone with a different intelligent viewpoint makes a good point that challenges their perspective.

Intelligent people actually listen. The ones that don't and believe something because someone else said it and, well, they don't have time to figure it out for themselves: they ain't that smart. If you don't know why you believe what you believe, your belief is false, a hollow gourd blowing in the wind.

To have the strength of your conviction takes thought, not reaction. It takes excluding what everyone else says and making an indepedent judgement. It takes acting as an individual, not part of a mutant collective that wants you to simply repeat what it tells you.

My point is this: liberal does not equal intelligent, intelligent does not equal liberal.

Branding either as the other is a disservice to all involved and ultimately leads to nothing but obfuscation and mendacity.

Put that in your liberally-intelligent pipe and smoke it.

And, no, I don’t mean a bong.