The Arrogance of Stupidity: In response to Neil Gabler's February 22, 2011 editorial "The arrogance divide -- Why can't liberals capture the populist moment?" (Link below) I responded to his Globe editorial.

As a proud liberal I loathe that this nation glorifies those qualities which are the least admirable and deescalates those qualities of greatest import. A smile becomes more important than intelligence, wavy hair or an elite family background more important than academic excellence. Bluster is often more important than thoughtful and careful understanding of policy and history. Historically embedded in our nation's sinew is an anti-intellectual essence where erudite academic intellect is to be scorned and mediocrity becomes a virtue.

Does one want intellectual truth as best as man is able to determine it or does one want myths, falsehoods and the showmanship of a Ringling Brothers Circus or a Southern Baptist preacher to prevail? I will take an MIT/Harvard intellect any day over a William Jennings Bryan, a Father Coughlin or the stupidity that is a proud part of the American Tea Bag and other American populist historical movements.

Cures for physical maladies come from the best and the brightest science has to offer, careful intellectual scrutiny and a breadth of knowledge capable of competing with the entire world. A great nation is NOT born from the cesspool of anti-rational thought, anti intellectuality and utter stupidity. It is born from the hard work of study, the questioning of the status quo and the reproducible truths that only science can bestow. Ignorance, superstition and an unquestioning public will in evolutionary fashion erase a culture. Those who try to achieve academic excellence will survive!

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/02/22/the_arrogance_divide/