Ignorance Is Bliss
My husband and I rarely watch the news. We both find the information depressing, since most of it is bad, and it often evokes anger and disbelief, even as we watch a video clip, assuring us the information is indeed accurate. Now that said, my husband is diligent about checking out the news clips he sees online. In his disgust or disbelief, he will sometimes read the article that has piqued his interest. It makes me wonder if by choosing to not know the news, we find it less stressful than “being in the know” and in a sense have the attitude of “ignorance is bliss.”
We are not alone in our desire to “not know the news!” Some research suggests complex issues like the world or US financial status, environment, governmental matters and even energy usage are being blocked by consumers who choose to avoid being informed beyond the barest minimum. It seems many people would rather leave the important matters, they feel they have no control over anyway, is best left to the “powers that be” even if it makes them angry!
Is this behavior any different than the person who chooses to not watch the news, which could make him aware of danger in his community or neighborhood like a robbery or even a murder? He feels ignorance is bliss because if he knows about “said danger” he would just be worried about his family and unable to sleep. In this case, is ignorance bliss?
Another area where ‘ignorance is bliss’ reigns is in the Disability arena. I admit, I was one of that group years ago! I remember when my children were in school and while I knew a few Special Needs teachers, I was not involved in ‘their world’ and wasn’t interested. I have always said, “It takes a special person to be a Special Needs Teacher, and it’s not me!”
I had five children and none were Special Needs. It came as a total surprise to me when I discovered my ‘Paxton Series’ books would be a disability series! The first book was more environmental and written at the request of my Publisher who suggested I write a book involving animal characters. My immediate reaction was…. “uhhh no.” But I did what I was asked and in the writing of the first book, included an early arrival of a baby buffalo and an antelope with asthma!
Because of these two episodes, which required very little research, other than mentioning the problem, I became unintentionally interested in the subject of special needs! I followed up with a book called, ‘An Early Arrival’, discussing the problems that can be incurred from being born too early and then with ‘The Great Race’, which talks about the problems with having asthma!
These new books took a good deal of research to write accurately but I learned so much! But I also discovered that I wasn’t alone in my ‘ignorance is bliss’ attitude from years before! I found that unless a person (or family) is intimately involved in Special Needs, they usually have very little interest or information. Again, I had been in this group and was mortified!
Ignorance is NOT bliss. The more we know, the better we understand and realize that being a Special Needs person does NOT make you less a person than anyone else. Each person, regardless of disability has unique and wonderful qualities and abilities. They want nothing more than to be recognized for what they can do; NOT what they cannot, just like you or me.
It’s time we recognized the child with a disability not because of their ‘disability’ but of their ‘ability’! We need to embrace the wonders, perspective and amazing kindness and heart each of these, in this often forgotten people group. Let’s start today—this very moment to bring change through understanding and inclusion.
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