h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There are stages of life. It's hard to be ugly in your twenties, and you take it for granted that you'll keep your good looks and heath forever. Plain-looking people often develop their inner resources, because that's the only way to survive.

In any event, there are inflection points when people realize that they have to change. Some of them fail the test; death is sometimes the result. You realize that mom and dad aren't around any longer to bail you out.

There is something called cognitive dissonance, which means that your conscious mind is fighting against your unconscious perceptions. You go on believing lies that are constantly contradicted by what you see and hear. Even stupid people can see reality.

I think that was Bonhoeffer's point - and one that is demonstrated daily these days: stupid people often *can't* see reality. When questioned about it, they'll make things up.

Fox News and increasingly, the New York Times keep demonstrating this.

Bonhoeffer rules!

Add adolescence to this stupidity/ignorance theme and you have your work cut out as a parent...