Standing in line at the Post Office the week before Christmas is always fun; it’s the people. Complete strangers sharing the plague of the queue, weary arms hugging overweight packages, and more than 
willing to engage in conversation to pass the time in line. It was the guy wearing the unbelievable holiday sweater who caught my eye and then my ear. He was pontificating, to anyone who would listen, on his knowledge of domestic and international politics and his disgruntlement with recent cabinet selections. A demure woman commented about how worldly his knowledge was and that obviously he had traveled extensively. To her surprise, he told her he had never been outside of the state.
willing to engage in conversation to pass the time in line. It was the guy wearing the unbelievable holiday sweater who caught my eye and then my ear. He was pontificating, to anyone who would listen, on his knowledge of domestic and international politics and his disgruntlement with recent cabinet selections. A demure woman commented about how worldly his knowledge was and that obviously he had traveled extensively. To her surprise, he told her he had never been outside of the state.I paused to ponder his acclaimed knowledge. And then, contemplated my own; and asked myself, ‘what do I really know?’ Not just believe, but know. I’m reasonably well educated, thanks to my folks (really I’ve not squandered my college education, really…). I’ve seen a lot. I’m reasonably well read, or so my library would imply. I’ve traveled from north of the arctic circle to below the equator and to 4 continents. I’ve heard a lot more than I care to, especially from folks who don’t know. I’ve been told a lot. And, I guess I’ve experienced a lot.
But, through it all, what do I really know. What I’ve heard and read can be easily discounted as opinion, except for most of my engineering; some of which is now changing. Main stream media is biased, slanted, unabashedly opinionated, and cares more about being first than being right. Social media is an unreliable, unverifiable, and an interesting social experiment. What I’ve seen, is only really good from the perspective I viewed the scene. What I’ve experienced is influenced by my perspective on the event and my collective experiences in life.
What I’ve resolved is this; for all I think I know simply shows me how much I don’t know; and the more I know, the more I know I don’t know…..
There will always be that which I simply believe; but, what I do know; is that I’m not going to believe the guy in the ugly sweater…..
simplebender 