SheerIdiocy

Idiocy in America is rampant, and one does not have to look too far to find a person or situation on which to stamp the idiot label. People do and say dumb things all the time and that does not necessarily mean the person is always dumb. However, we all have our moments of stupidity, and today these moments are generally termed “blond moments.” So as not to be unfair to the smart blonds who feel they are singled out as being a part of stupidity today, we will take a look at some of the stupid things done and said by some of the most prominent or famous American idiots. From brunettes to redheads to salt-n-peppers alike, we will highlight some of the noteworthy idiocies of this great nation.

Before we take a look at examples of idiocy and moments of stupidity, let’s take a glimpse into the origins of the word idiot and how it has arrived at its modern day meaning. Most sources claim that the word “idiot” was derived from Greek and Latin. The Greek used the word to describe a person who was a private person or for someone who lacked professional skill. There is an early Latin meaning and a later Latin meaning. The previous Latin definition was used to describe an ordinary or lay person, while the latter Latin definition described an uneducated or ignorant person. Hence, we come to the modern usage of the word “idiot” to describe someone who has bad judgment, is not clever, or who is extremely foolish in their stupidity.

A most recent example of an act of foolishness is on the part of NFL Pro Bowler formerly known as Chad Johnson. In an unprecedented move, Chad Johnson changed his name, legally, to Chad Ocho Cinco. Brandishing the new surname on the back of his jersey, the Bengal’s number eighty five is now Chad “eight five.” To the chagrin of his teammates, coaches and the rest of us who are just simply embarrassed for him, Ocho Cinco is proudly wearing his new name this football season. Just for the record, eighty five in the Spanish language is pronounced “ochenta cinco.” Misspelling of words, even in other languages, for your official last name is a sure sign of idiocy as its defined.

Employing a top-notch speech writer and proof reader would behoove most politicians, as well as having a traveling companion to approve all statements before speaking. By doing so, they may avoid being branded as one of the numerous American idiots of our country. Using incorrect grammar and having a poor understanding of the world is one of the greatest displays of idiocy by the leaders of this country. Al Gore, Dan Quayle and George W. Bush are some of the honorable mentions in this category. From believing that zebras have spots, not stripes, to thinking the people of Latin American speak Latin, the upper echelon of this nation seem to be quite uneducated. George W. Bush once stated that the question “is our children learning” is not often asked. It is not often that someone is right and wrong at the same time.

Ignorance and stupidity have been issues throughout the ages which people have had to deal with on a daily basis. One of the interesting ways this was handled early on was by use of the Dunce Cap. For students in school who were slow or lazy, the Dunce Cap was placed on their head in order to humiliate them into learning. The Dunce Cap actually began as a symbol of knowledge but soon deteriorated into a symbol of ignorance and stupidity.
In 1959, the television set was dubbed the “idiot box” and the year 1968 marked the advent of the “idiot light” dashboard warning signal. From these names, it can be determined that people have always been aware of the presence of American idiots in this country and have tried to remedy this situation. Shamelessly using a cliché to make a point, it is always better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid rather than open your mouth and remove any doubt!