The Circus

Stupidity likes to prance around in clown suits and wave big batons and yell through bullhorns "Look at me! I'm right! Look at all the clever ways I can prove it!" And Intelligence gets offended, sets out to silence Stupidity by wearing fancier suits and waving bigger batons and yelling much, much louder. Big ol' clown war, confetti shooting out everywhere. Before long, it's hard to tell who is on the side of Stupidity and who is on the side of Intelligence. Nothing is accomplished but there are lots of flashy colors littered about for the whole world to see. Many join in the ruckus, and others just sit back and enjoy the show. The few members of the Wisdom committee shuffle along among the outskirts, doing the hard labor so often neglected by those too busy with lead roles in the circus. For a moment they pause, consider the outcome of asking the baton wavers and bullhorn yellers to shut up, settle down, and help them carry out more noble chores. With a heavy sigh, they decide it is useless, a bargaining with the devil, and set out once again to do the quiet, colorless work they know must be done. Their brooms sweep about where they can fit, deep into the crevices of humanity, to do the changing, the mending, the making. If only those clowns would get out of the way.