Ignorance

Each year I am curious to know what the word of the year is in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. The word this year is obviously pandemic. I would offer as the next best choice for word of the year: ignorance. As I reflect on the coronavirus continuing to ravage the country it appears it has zapped the rational and common sense thinking of an overwhelming number of our fellow Americans. They are refusing to accept that the election was in fact free and fair and that there was no widespread voter fraud. They continue to ignore the truth. I’m not wanting to call them ignorant as in unintelligent or not educated but to suggest that they continue to ignore the data, facts or truth.

In plainer words I’m highlighting the first two syllables of the word.

They are purposely ignoring the obvious and attacking people who in many instances are members of the group/ political party that is in fact recognizing the truth and the validity of the election results. Some have gone so far as to deny the seriousness of the virus/ pandemic. When you can’t agree that this virus is for real and is spreading, you are demonstrating how serious the problem of ignorance has affected you.

Recently a nurse said that she was holding the hand of a man in the ICU dying from COVID-19, and yet he exclaimed that she should take off her mask because he did not have the virus.

These two examples, as different as they may be, highlight the significance of my second word of the year. The pandemic deserves it’s place as the number one word because it’s so deadly. Ignorance deserves second place because it is so deadly for our democracy.

Vernon C. Crump III, Portsmouth