The last piece I wrote about the United States of Duh was a little “ranty”. If we forget the sophistically complicated nature of discourse about fact and fiction, I still need to apologize for the basic “fact” overlooked in all serious discussions, including my article.

The fact overlooked: most people have no pride. Remember the quote about keeping your mouth shut to to remove all doubt? It does not seem to apply to Americans: they don’t care if they’re wrong and they don’t care who knows it.

How does any one reason with that?

Two guys were diatribing in my favorite gym about how foreign countries “don’t respect America, anymore.” One of the two had not replaced his teeth, yet, after his workout, and his conversational partner’s comb-over had come undone and I saw a chance to learn more about two gym guys in Upstate NY knowing how other countries feel about America. Apologies to smart people for how bullyish I sound in this discussion.

Me. “Have either of you been to another country? Talked to foreigners?”

Comb-over: “Yeah, I been to Madison.”

“Country, not county,” I had to say.

They both muttered something unrepeatable, but I pressed on: “Have you?”

Their sideways nods indicated they hadn’t.

I pressed on and asked how they know about the aforementioned disrespect. I got the Golden Answer of the uneducated.

“Everyone knows it,” said a combative Toothless. “Its all over the news.”

Amen.

PS Apologies for at least three “made-up” words. They sounded pertinentally important at the time.