Leaving Class and Dropping Out, Intellectually

LONG HAVE I MARVELLED and waxed amazed at my conservative brethren and sistern. I refer here in particular to those with whom I attended high school, all those years ago. class of seventy three. Go Eagles, valiant and strong. We have an online discussion group, sort of a perpetual class reunion. I was the token liberal, until I was driven to distraction by a "steady storm of correspondences" (Theodore Roethke "In a dark Time"), invariable insipid, filling my email box with unadulterated banality. One of my right wing classmates said "God bless the Kock brothers". The Koch brothers, I should have said but didn't, are cold blooded killers. ("Dark Money", by Jane Mayer). Plus, they purchase high political offices for right wingers, which makes them devils incarnate. Another classmate, speaking of America, said" "what empire?". So much for him, he's an idiot, who doesn't understand eight hundred military bases, overthrown governments, and foreign wars of occupation do an empire make. Then, he dug deeper, and said "I'm not so sure about this climate change crap." (are you starting to see what I mean?). When another, more bigoted member suggested that Michelle Obama is a transgender with two adopted children, I laughed, but didn't cry. against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain. (ancient Greek). So, I broke and ran, punted, bowed out gracefully, whichever fits. On my way out, transgender accuser accused me of being a "self inflicted intellectual". I'm an intellectual, and its my own damned fault. At least he didn't accuse me of being a self proclaimed intellectual. that would've really hurt. OK, I confess. I own up to being an intellectual, but don't blame me. Blame it on those reprehensible professors, that insufferable doctoral program, and thousands of pointy headed books penned by eggheads. My parents also share the burden of guilt. As a parting shot, a senseless act of self inflicted retribution and olive branching, I invited them all to write for this website. All declined, shockingly. Guess they didn't want to become self inflicted intellectuals. Can't say as I blame them. Its a brutal way to exist. I almost snared the bigoted one who exposed my self inflicted intellectualism. He agreed on the condition that I impose no conditions, including editing. I agreed, and told him that I only required that submissions be reasonable and intelligent. "No conditions", he repeated. Well, at least I tried. I'm still glad I went to grad school, even though it ruined me. At this point, I almost wish I hadn't gone to high school.