I've been thinking a lot lately. About intelligence, maturity, and compassion, and how most people don't think they're mutually exclusive. I thought there was something wrong with me when I listened to NPR and only heard five year olds with thesauruses. I honestly don't hear any argument, political or otherwise, that is above a kindergarten level. Sure, their vocabulary is advanced, and they use accepted terminology to describe their viewpoints, but vocabulary and terminology do not an argument make. Yet it seems that, if you have an opinion, you have to have at least four years of college to back it up. Doesn't make any sense to me.
I was also thinking about my problem with irritation lately. In high school, I was constantly thinking, "As soon as I get out of here, I won't have to deal with elitist IB douches who have no idea what they're talking about," but... Yeah no. Am I an asshole magnet, seriously? Or is it that I have a different definition of maturity than everyone else? To me, age, appearance, and intelligence have nothing to do with maturity.
For example, there was a girl in my Oceanography class who I will probably never forget. She had very lofty dreams, but there she was in a science class just for the credit, asking questions like, "Can you take a turtle out of its shell?" She was also the sweetest, nicest human being I've ever met. I used to think that maybe I have problems with people because when they grow up, they become bitchy and cold, but she was grown up too. tl;dr gay for sweet girls :(
Everyone in my seventh grade class read
Flowers for Algernon, but none of them took away the lesson it taught. Before I read it, I really was one of those people who think they're better than everyone else, and that intelligence should be valued above all things. I've gotten over that, and I'm frustrated with people who haven't (which is probably out of line).
What is my problem with getting my thoughts out lately? I feel like there's a wall there. Anyway, I was fuming about elitists this afternoon, and I realized that if I were mature myself, I would like them despite their faults. I shouldn't insult someone's entire existence if he/she loads as many big words into a sentence as possible, or if they push other opinions down in favor of their own.
I do believe I've gotten to the point where I love everything again, and I don't have to choose between kindness and intelligence. \o/
IN OTHER NEWS, GUYS,
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET.