Stupidity Means Never Having to Say “I’m Sorry”

August 23, 2008 by Keli.

There are two small words that roll off quite easily from most tongues, but manage to break down, even get stuck, in the ineffectual mouth of a stuper (short, once more, for an obtrusively stupid person). Stupers are unable to utter these basic, simple words: “I’m sorry.”

Many years ago, a dreadful relative, Mildred, made a point of telling me that she was sick and tired of hearing other relations say nice things about my children. She felt her own kids equally deserving. I listened, certain that she’d come to her senses and get to the real point of what was troubling her. She was a parent herself and certainly would understand that her mutterings were unkind. But Mildred finished rambling and left. She’d spoken things out loud that most authentic humans wouldn’t even think about. Thus began the end of a very iffy relationship.

Ten years later… and still no apology.

Meager minds don’t understand the concepts of courtesy and responsibility, both of which underlie an apology. Namely because idiots can’t, don’t and won’t think. If only people would say these two small words sooner than later, or say them at all, much discontentment and distress would be avoided.

Even my ten-year old Australian Shepherd, Rio, apologizes in his own way when he’s been a naughty dog. After he pulled out and ripped to shreds the drip line for my roses, Rio made amends by laying down, begging for mercy and offering an endless stream of licks. Yes, dogs are smarter and kinder than most stupers.

If one can lower him/herself to stuper status by the inability to apologize, a stuper may also elevate him/herself to non-stuper status by speaking the sometimes elusive two words.

I once overheard my friend, Leslie, speak in a derogatory fashion about some one I cared about. Leslie had a sending voice. The type that didn’t require a microphone in order to be heard on the opposite side of a cruise ship.

I confronted Leslie. She apologized profusely for her thoughtlessness and lack of candor, and thereby restored her status to authentic human.

Stupers are not part of some Master Plan for scattering annoyances and anger across the planet just to make life tough for the apple-eating race. They’re here so that the rest of us can spot unacceptable qualities and make sure we don’t harbor them ourselves. We may not be saintly enough to love the stupid among us, but for the sake of our health, happiness and sanity, we should forgive and forget them…immediately.

I have many regrets, and I’m sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret…if you have any sense….And if you don’t regret them, maybe you’re stupid. ~ Katherine Hepburn

Thinking is a precious asset.

Keli

Keli@counterfeithumans.com

Posted in Plain Old Fashioned Stupidity, Relative stupidity | 7 Comments »