Is ignorance Bliss? Part one

Can’t believe I wrote so much I had to post this in two parts.

The phrase comes from a Thomas Gray poem entitled "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College"; "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

I use this saying from time to time. On the surface it sums up a great deal of people who are not overly intelligent or educated and others that are ignorant by choice (chose not to accept truth) on subjects that affect their personal life -from financial concerns to their personal health for example- and choose not to query these issues to avoid reality and ultimately not wanting to be bothered with worry and doubt.

But then again is it truly intelligent not to be affected by the small comforts and the beauty that can be seen around us, as well as the ugliness?

A political science course I took, the Prof declared "If you don’t want honesty and/or reality then this is not a class for you". He went on to say there would be no political correctness he would report things as they are and he would use examples from history based on racial, ethnic, gender, sexual…hate and injustice that may make people upset or angry.

He has been nicknamed ‘Professor Morpheus’ by his students, bc he uses the movie the Matrix as an example; he gives us the choice of staying in the class to discover the truth or as he said in class "we can take the blue pill" and drop the class and avoid reality.

Needless to say it was an amazing class filled with debate and discussion of events from Hitler’s first writings, to genocide in Rwanda to US policies and related to how the average person has little to no clue as to why or who they are voting for in their leaders.

Speaking of the matrix; the character, Cypher, who wants to remove his knowledge of the truth that nothing really exists in the matrix ‘world’, in trade of fame and fortune;
"You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?" Resulting in his next line being "Ignorance is bliss".

Knowledge is said to be power which is true but it comes with a price. You sit down for a meal the taste, and texture, how it melts in your mouth and just as you realize this is the best meal you ever had the chef asks "how are you enjoying your deep fried bull testicles and seal eyes?"(inside joke but it worked for my point).

Now in a split second your mind has went from bliss to horror as you process that the mere mention of what this meal is, revolts you to the point that you can’t help but feel sick to your stomach and want to vomit. If the chef would have never told you nor if you had never enquired, you would have had the best meal of your entire life.

Tomorrow part deux...