If Everyone Jumped Off the Bridge. . .

My momma used to say to me – “If everyone you know jumped off a bridge, would you join them?” She was making an attempt to teach a boy that following the crowd, and/or, doing stupid things, was not necessary and usually not real bright. Over the years I have tried to accept and use a standard that is timeless and true. No matter how large the crowd, or how strident the message, wise men avoid making fool’s mistakes – an easy thing for Believers who have an absolute standard.

Strong public support for same-sex marriage exceeds strong opposition by a significant margin for the first time in ABC News/Washington Post polls, and African-Americans have moved more in favor, perhaps taking their lead from Barack Obama on the issue. Overall, 53 percent of Americans say gay marriage should be legal, steady the past year but up from 36 percent in just 2006. Thirty-nine percent “strongly” support it, while 32 percent are strongly opposed – the first time strong sentiment has tilted positive. Six years ago, by contrast, strong views on the issue were negative by a broad 27-point margin. (ABC News)

I don’t like polls. In this case 1004 people were asked (I don’t know the form of the question) about “same-sex marriage.” Math is not my strong suit, but that would mean somewhat over 500 people (in this poll; 53%) support the issue. That’s not a big crowd – now wait a minute. I know how polls work, I understand extrapolation, I get how pollsters move from smaller to greater.

I also know immaturity causes a lot of foolish kids to do insane things. Failure to attain sufficient intellect in an examination of history leads to repeating it at our peril. Following the “crowd” and attempting to appear tolerant and understanding often leads to catastrophic consequences, individually and collectively.

Incendiary terrorism is not America’s main destructive threat. Ignorance and apathy are irrevocably in the lead.