Tyranny of Opinion

Written two years ago. - Rambler1

What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion.2

- Herman Melville3

Tyrannies have come and gone. Caligula, Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin...they only begin the list. Such men make tyranny obvious by the great loss of freedom and life they impose. But people seem to be willing to rest content with tyranny that causes less immediate pain but nevertheless wastes much time, potential and resources. The tyranny of opinion is the source.4

I remember in high school when I was mainlining science fiction. That was the thing that stimulated me during that time. Though people didn't know it science fiction was sustaining for me a life of the mind in a town where the people were small minded. Where the spirit killers took their toll daily by reminding you of all the reasons you would only get so far and no farther. One day in English class I had my customary science-fiction paperback on my desk. A sports jock walks by, looks at the book and then at me and says, "You'd better broaden your horizons". I was speechless. His utter arrogance stunted the formation of words in my mind with a mixture of anger and sheer unbelief. These words fell from the lips of a blond, bowl haircut punk who would have signed an affidavit that a Joe Namath fart exactly matched the fragrance of Channel No. 5. But his opinion was shared and mine wasn't. Right or wrong was unimportant. Tyranny of opinion5

One day, sometime in the 80's, I was awaiting a bus on the corner close to my apartment so that I could pick up my car, which was being repaired. A guy named Dave,  a member of the church I then attended, saw me and picked me up. We got into a conversation and Dave informed me that some people at the church were giving him a hard time for not coming to Wednesday night Bible study. He said he would like to come but he was taking a night class at the tech school that was only offered on Wednesday and Friday evenings. He had a wife and newborn son and needed that class to advance himself. I asked him which church member he knew that would pay his light bill or rent if he lost his job due to lack of keeping his skills current. He knew the answer to that. It angered me somewhat the way Jesus was angered when they tried to make Him look evil for healing a man on the Sabbath. I said, "Doesn't the Bible say a man that won't take care of his family is worse than an unbeliever? Forget those people". Tyranny of opinion.6

A man by the name of Paul Erlich wrote a book years ago called the Population Bomb. In it he made some very dire predictions about what would happen to the Earth due to lack of food and population explosion. Every single thing this man said has been proven totally wrong. Yet he wrote another book and the arguments in them are still being made. They fit the tyranny of opinion. When Oprah Winfrey got a television show what was the first order of business? Was it not to slim her down and make her face cute enough that she might be admitted to that most exclusive of all clubs, Those Who Look Good? Yeah...Roseanne Barr is fat but she got a face-lift. She makes a lot of money and has an irreverent attitude, so Those Who Look Good will pretend she's one of them. Tyranny of opinion waived at key points to maintain tyranny of opinion.7

What is one of the most poisonous accusations that can be cast at one these days? "You are INTOLERANT!" The most amazing thing to me is how intolerant are those who scream loudest for tolerance and nobody says anything. Tyranny of opinion. Never forget this: THE CRY FOR TOLERANCE IS THE PRELUDE TO A NEW INTOLERANCE. When they get what they want the tolerance whiners crush  those who have a different view. Historical proof is abundant. Tyranny of opinion.8

Once when I worked at the hospital I went to breakfast with several female co-workers. There were signs posted in the hallways about a baseball team being formed. I asked if anyone knew anything about it. My supervisor asked what I wanted to know. I asked if it was a co-ed team. The conversation then went like this...9

Her: "What difference does it make if it's co-ed?"10

Me: "I'd rather play sports with guys. No offense meant. That's just how I'd like to do it".11

Her: "Chauvinist"!!12

Me: "Well, when you have these ladies over to your house (which I knew they went there), and you're all sitting around talking about the things women like to talk about, do you want your husband in the group?"13

Her: "No. Anyway he wouldn't want to be there".14

Me: "Case closed".15

Tyranny of opinion is usually lipsinking by most people. They have rarely thought through one single thing they parrot. They do not even attain the dignity of Pavlov's dogs. They generally get their opinions by osmosis, not by thinking about them. Your only real defense is to have a solid understanding of reality yourself. Above all keep your sense of humor because those under the tyranny of opinion never have one. They take themselves too seriously.16