Innocence verses experience. Ignorance verses wisdom. Which side of line is preferred? Frankly it’s wisest to stay innocent, if only to be ignorant of experience, for therein lies growing up. The predicament. The involuntary liberty to do whatever, whoever, whenever and wherever, that is frightfully constricting. The sudden commotion of limbs flying akimbo, grabbing sweaty hold of shoulder blades, and shielding your eyes from the ever-nearer sun (Global warming’s such a drag when you’re no longer ignorant.)
Why would God do such a thing, put us on Earth with such temporary, transient innocence that is entirely incompatible with knowledge? Why be so rash as to grant babies the bliss of ignorance, when they have neither the time nor the capacity to comprehend or appreciate their pure, silken, blank slates? Then he condemns them for learning, plucking away particles of purity with every moment of life, until we are old, guilty, and trembling with sin.
Why not do it the other way round? If He wants believers, why not give us experience from the start and grant us innocence as we grow? Wipe away our wisdom, our hasty conclusions, our mundane understandings as time goes on, and teach us ignorance when we are old enough to want it. For we are starving for it.
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This is the most beautiful and emotionally stimulating poem i have seen for years!
ReplyDeleteIgnorance is bliss, but it is not a bliss one could ever comprehend or appreciate, no matter how old we are or how long it lasts. Without ignorance, every decision we take has infinitely more value because we are responsible for the consequences.
ReplyDelete"It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied" - J.S. Mill