Write About What You Know

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Write About What You Know

By Gary Rogers (Argile Stox)
Mar. 29, 2007

I have not written an article for Useless-Knowledge in a very long time. My preoccupation with severe back pain and other things have prevented me to do any serious writing. My memoir still remains un-edited. I do post a few bits of information on AbsoluteWrite, the Guild, and other writing forums. I just don’t have the fire in my stomach to fully engage the editing process on my memoir.

I have always maintained the written in stone advice: “Write about what you know.” I admit that I also follow Mark Twain’s advice: “You learn all of your life, and still die ignorant.” If that be the case, I am the most ignorant person walking the face of this Earth.

I am approaching my 54th birthday in July. From age zero to eighteen, I was dumb. From eighteen to thirty, I was becoming more ignorant. From age thirty to present, I am just plain stupid. No, I am not putting myself down – For I fully admit there is so much to learn before the eternal dirt nap.

Every day, I come across a person who is a know-it-all. There is just no way to introduce new knowledge to that person. If the sky is blue – and everyone agrees that the sky is blue, this person will argue that the sky is indeed purple – just for the sake of the argument. My Grandfather was a prime example of this mentality. The last words he said to me, about twenty-four years ago – before he went senile was – “You will always be a failure – because you never listen to me!” I guess he died a very smart man.
I consider myself to be very rich and successful. I have a lady who really loves me. Her family thinks I am a real kick in the rear. Our four dogs and three cats like me. Although, I am very poor monetary wise, I am rich in the knowledge that in my circle of friends and family – I am a walking encyclopedia of knowledge regarding computers, general trivia, and a die hard researcher. Sometimes I get a phone call to search out a News Item. The latest request concerned the poisoned cat and dog food. Within five minutes, I had complete information about the name brands of the companies that were involved in the recall.

The feeling of being needed fills my mind with joy. It it gives me some to do researching information. I am happy that people turn to me for advice and detective work. The feeling of accomplishment is a blessing. In past relationships, I was considered to be to be rather dumb. I don’t know why. I have been told that my physical appearance and the information that comes out of my mouth, by way of my brain, intimidates people. I would bite my tongue as others would spill inaccurate information to others. The people were held in very high esteem by others. I was – in their eyes, dumb as a rock. Yes, I am still dumb as a rock – for I don’t know everything – and never will. My mind is very open to new, accurate information. Before this information is accepted by my brain for long term storage, I investigate the topic – to check that the information received is truthful.

At the present time, I have negated all the people in my life who have – in the past – aggravated me. Personally, I don’t need the stress in my life. If they are held up on a pedestal by others – so be it. There is something about, the blind leading the blind. The Bible is filled with passages about Jesus curing blindness. Literaity speaking, he conveyed new knowledge to people that opened an avenue to new thought processing. Jesus cured deafness. Again, people only hear what they want or are forced to accept as gospel. Okay, I can accept that. Yet, his teachings are not the end of complete knowledge. People must accept that Jesus also promoted free thinking and free associating. People must use the information contained in the Bible (Old & New Testament) as a guide. There are so many opposing views and thoughts that contradict each other in the Bible. I really enjoy the story of Job, the Tower of Babble, Ruth, David, Peter, Paul, & Mary Magdalene, Moses, and the list goes on and on.

I try and pass on my knowledge to others for them to digest. Yet, I remain fifty percent right & fifty percent wrong. When incorrect, I am open to criticisms and new knowledge. It is absolutely a positive thing to be wrong. That is the way, we as human beings – learn and process information. The founding Fathers of our great nation knew this, as well. That is why our Constitution is a continuing document to advance with amendments. I think of the American Constitution as a living organism, continually being educated by humans. The Constitution also educates people. It is a give and take relationship.

The Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan dictators and leaders are so frightened of education – they keep their masses ignorant by suppressing knowledge. The golden key to freedom is education. Ben Franklyn invented Public Schools, among other things. The Emancipation Proclamation, Giving Women the right to Vote, The Civil Rights Movement, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment for women), the Person’s with Disabilities Act, just to cite a few – are prime examples of curing the blind and deaf to new knowledge.

The American Constitution is shaped by the political climate at the time of amending. Prohibition, was given life, then it was killed off by a stroke of the pen. Amazing, isn’t it? When an author writes a non-fiction, fiction, poetry book, etc, it is a way of expressing his or her opinion. That is also the golden key to knowledge – opinions. The Federal Supreme Court continually issues positive and dissenting opinions on the Law of the Land, which affects the people of the United States of America and its friends abroad, who must abide by that opinion.

As this editorial is being composed, the House of Representatives and the Senate are struggling with the War in Iraq. The people of our great nation want to pull the troops out by next year – yet, the President of the United States will Veto any Bill that crosses his desk that includes a timetable for troop withdrawal. One man against the Will of the people – that are being carried out by their elected officials. This issue will be fought out in the Courts. Is President George W. Bush right, and we are all wrong. Or are we right, and he is wrong. The same situation was played out in the 1970’s, when President Ford bowed to the Will of the People, and pulled our troops out of Viet Nam. History often repeats itself, if you don’t pay attention to it.

Are you paying attention…?

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Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com

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