What Once Was Understood Must Be Again

There is a strange concept growing in the world, and it's without a doubt a huge problem.

What kind of problem, you ask? Well, imagine if you will, a complete and utter disdain for what's real. That's right, people are living in fictional worlds of their own making.

You may know someone who does this. They think and say things that you know aren't true. For instance, and this is a doozy, the Earth is flat. Flat Earthers believe the Earth is flat and deny that we ever went to the moon.

I know, it's astounding, isn't it?

But to a flat-earth believer, the idea is as real as the nose on their face, the storms that sent me home at the end of my day, soaked like a drowned rat, and any other reality. This type of thinking brings to mind colorful words, like nut jobs, lunatics, and many others I won't dare share in polite company.

And no, you can't preach common sense to people who have chosen to think this way. They're a committed bunch. Just take a look at some of the ideas that people follow, and you'll find dozens of examples of out-of-control mayhem being caused by these fringe-thinking types.

Here's another truth that the fringe lunatics don't seem to understand. If you crack up every time you see one of these incidents, maybe keep it to yourself. However, if you question the mentality of the person getting run over, you're not alone.

It's now been nearly six years since the bloody, destructive, and out-of-control riots of 2020. However, people won't forget the dangers of mob mentality. As crowds of usually "passionate" but misguided people form and choose to surround vehicles on the road, people in those vehicles face a tough choice.

Do you sit and hope calling 911 will get someone there in time, after seeing videos of people pulled from their cars, public assaults by these renegade hooligans that mix in with the crowds, and potentially worse from the ones who are looking for a reason to rage? Do you let them terrorize you? Or, do you flee?

You also have to wonder what's wrong with these people, who we've seen attempting to block traffic. There is no constitutional right to do this. We have a right to assemble and voice our opinion about what's going on. But at no time do we have the right to impede upon the rights of others. That's right, if you look, you will not find the "RIGHT TO PROTEST" in the United States Constitution.

Then, there's the common sense side of the issues of today. Unless you've been overloaded with gamma radiation, mutated your DNA, and can turn into a gigantic green rage monster, you're not going to stop a moving vehicle with your body. Yet, they're the first ones to scream when they get run over.

NO! You'd think these lunatics haven't heard the word before. No, you're not supposed to stay in the streets and play social justice, warriors. No, America doesn't have a King, and we won't likely ever have one. No, standing in front of a motor vehicle and scaring the driver by surrounding the car, climbing on top of the car, and acting like thugs, is not a good idea. Nor is it safe.

Yes, people have a right to ignore your "protest." As much as you have a right to stand on the sidewalk and chant "No Kings," people have a right to go about their business unimpeded.

No, you're not a superhero, not eaten enough spinach, and you're not one of the Avengers or from the planet Krypton. And standing in front of a moving vehicle, or in the middle of the street to prove a point, is likely to get you run over. And afterward, no, you aren't going to get sympathy from the world.

No, you're not a victim. Unless you count on your own stupidity.

These are all truths that most of us accept. We get it that everyone wants to push their side of the story, or their message, but not everyone wants to hear you. And that's reality.

Truth, it's a strange and foreign concept in the 21st century. If we'd all start embracing the truth, even the ones that might not be on our side, we might find a way to meet in the middle again. But hey, we've got politicians who think islands tip over, presidents who are reputed liars, and representatives who can't be trusted any further than we can throw them. Why would we be any better?