In the Presence of Genius

As our country becomes dumbed down, there is an all too prevelent attitude that anyone who is intelligent is stuck-up, elitist, and untrustworthy. To those who feel this way I say "Shame on you. You are depriving yourselves of some of the most interesting and stimulating company available."

In this calendar year I have had the privilege of getting to hear Leonard Pitts and Ken Burns speak. What a joy! Although their topics were totally different, I found them so similar in their approach. Both are amazingly articulate and able to think quickly when put on the spot. The are both such humanists, forsaking any strict adherence to dogma in favor of an approach which sees everyone as a valuable human being.

I heard Ken Burns speak last night. He was in town as a part of the celebration of the 100th birthdy of Frank Lloyd Wright. I loved the fact that he looks at the people he portrays without trying to hide their warts and encourages us to do the same with life. And I love the fact that he is 51 going on 12 - his enthusiasm for what he does is so refreshing. I also love the fact that he has an absolutely amazing mind. He talked about Wright being a genius and I kept thinking "you're one also." As interesting as his talk was, it was the question and answer session where he really shone. He made it worth listening to the questioners fawn on him and try to get their 15 minutes of fame.

Leondard Pitts has that amazing ability to take what I am thinking and am unable to effectively articulate and put it into words which say what I wanted to only 100 times more eloquently.

If I stretch my calendar year by a little less than a month, I can go back to October 2003 and include Mitch Albom in my list of geniuses. Again, his underlying theme is "come together".

All three of these people (all men, but that is only coincidence) are storytellers of the highest order. If Garrison Keillor would come to town and I could go hear him I think I would be in listener heaven. There aren't that many people I can sit and listen to without getting restless, but I wasn't ready for Mitch, Leonard, or Ken to be done. And I got to hear Leonard two days in a row.

For those who think minds should be small and to be "intellectual" is almost a sin, WAKE UP! You probably have minds which could be expanded to be interested in more than who Brittney is marrying this week and who gets kicked off the island next. Start with Ken Burns's video "Horatio's Ride". It is not real long (by his standards) and is a charming story of a very minor but inspiring piece of history. And if you don't like history, try learning it from Mr. Burns. It isn't your high school history. It breathes and speaks. It is fantastic. (When you're ready for the major leagues, start on the Civil War series. It is something like 8-10 hours but every minute is amazing.)

Remember, the man who can read and doesn't is no better off than the man who cannot read. (Mark Twain, I believe)