Speaking at the Rutgers University commencement President Obama said what every American should commit to memory:
“Let me be as clear as I can be: in politics and in life ignorance is not a virtue. It’s not cool to not know what you’re talking about. That’s not keeping it real or telling it like it is. That’s not challenging political correctness. That’s just not knowing what you’re talking about.”
“In politics and in life ignorance is not a virtue.”
It says a lot about the state of the presidential race that the sitting president felt compelled to make the case for knowledge over ignorance when it comes to discussing issues.
In his response “the Donald” made it clear where he stands: “This is a primary reason that President Obama is the worst president in U.S. history.”
Now think about that for a minute.
The word “ignorance” literally means “a lack of knowledge, understanding.” If we are to take the Donald at his word, President Obama is the worst president in U.S. history because he said a lack of knowledge or understanding is not a virtue.
So the Donald doesn’t care about knowledge or understanding. That may be the reason he is usually long on generalities and short on details. He just doesn’t know the details because there’s nothing like facts to upend a broad and baseless claim.
But the importance of this incident transcends what the President and the Donald said.
It points to something I am absolutely convinced is true, that it was the President, not Trump, who spoke for most Americans.
Most of us believe as the President does that ignorance is not a virtue, and that leaders of every kind should know what they’re talking about when they speak.
I know that some political commentators are saying that Trump has tapped into the frustration and anger many Americans feel because of a rigged political system that has left them out, making him a serious presidential contender.
Yes, well, even if that is the case it doesn’t mean most Americans have taken leave of their senses and decided to go with ignorance over knowledge.
We have not entered the age of ignorance as a nation. Most Americans see political and religious shamans for who they are, pretenders who claim to have a cure or answer to our problems, but never do.
The real political story this year is that most Americans are smart enough to tolerate extremism without embracing it.
We believe the President was right when he reminded us that real leaders seek knowledge and understanding so that when they speak they will deserve to be taken seriously by the rest of us.
We know that without knowledge and understanding public opinions are nothing more than expressions of ignorance.
Personally I could not have been more proud of President Obama than when he named ignorance for what it is – not knowing what you’re talking about.
So as one American hopefully speaking for many I say, “Well done, Mr. President, well done.”
linnposts.com 
I strongly second your “Well Done, Mr. President, Well Done”. Some days I think ignorance is overtaking sanity and intelligence in our country. Some how it has become cool, or at least OK, to be ignorant and operate from assumptions, non facts, emotions, ignorance, pure baloney, etc and all that goes with those things. I think our current political campaign is evidence of that. So I have pretty much “dropped out ” of this so called campaign. I think we have been “dumbed down” by many factors and I think the results are all negative. I for one, do NOT like it.
I for one, speak with you on this blog. Thanks again for saying what needs to be said.
I believe many others agree with us, Wally. Thanks.
Well stated, Jan. When I look at the word “ignorance,” I see a willful “ignoring” of facts, supported assertions and deliberate eschewing of logic. While one can be tolerant, or at least understand, the “ignorance” of someone just coming to a subject, I cannot countenance Ignorace from a person who has had the chance to gain knowledge and insight; I am even less tolerant of a person who has the knowledge from study and experience and still embraces irrationality and anger expressed by a narcissist and self-agrandizer. Such attitudes derive from invincible ignorance.
Cheerz!
Gene
You said it well, Gene. Thanks.
“He just doesn’t know the details because there’s nothing like facts to upend a broad and baseless claim.” YES. Ignorance is my trigger and I don’t respond well. Working on it. Hard to bring the ignorant over. I should know, there’s plenty I’m ignorant about… just hopefully not willfully ignorant.
There is a lot of willful ignorance, Luke, but there is also an appalling intellectual laziness that is much worse than ignorance itself. That is what I see so much of today that I don’t believe was the case years ago.
Thank you, Jan! Great Blog!. Jane Asche
As always, Jane, thank you for reading it.
Some people are still riding unicorns on rainbows. Don’t look too closely. Don’t think too hard. Don’t let the obvious lesson of eliminating curiosity that prevents truth from seeing the light of day get in the way of the future. I see it in religion, politics and life… unfortunately. Good post, Jan.
“Riding unicorns on rainbows.” Now that’s an image to remember, as real as you suggest as many of the views people insist on holding. Thanks, Rollie.