There is a larger truth in Lieutenant General Russel Honore’s “stuck on stupid” remarks. Getting stuck on stupid becomes an obstacle to grace and to accomplishing the work we are given. Being stuck is a form of insanity, defined as doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a better result.
Being stuck is a spiritual condition. There is a way to become unstuck. But first, lets look at the exchange between the blunt speaking General and newspaper reporters.
Remember that there are two different roles here. Reporters are accustomed to uncovering corrupt and inept actions by government officials. Katrina only fueled their zeal. In this exchange it seems the reporters are framing the story in terms of yet another set of governmental blunders.
General Honore, on the other hand, had a job to do: provide for evacuation before Hurricane Rita struck. In an emergency he expected help, not criticism from the reporters.
Here is an extract from the exchange. (Radioblogger has provided a transcript and an mp3 file here).
Buses at the convention center will move our citizens, for whom we have sworn that we will support and defend...and we'll move them on. Let's not get stuck on the last storm. You're asking last storm questions for people who are concerned about the future storm. Don't get stuck on stupid, reporters. We are moving forward. And don't confuse the people please. You are part of the public message. So help us get the message straight. And if you don't understand, maybe you'll confuse it to the people. That's why we like follow-up questions. But right now, it's the convention center, and move on.Male reporter: General, a little bit more about why that's happening this time, though, and did not have that last time...
Honore: You are stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that question. We are going to deal with Rita. This is public information that people are depending on the government to put out. This is the way we've got to do it. So please. I apologize to you, but let's talk about the future. Rita is happening. And right now, we need to get good, clean information out to the people that they can use. And we can have a conversation on the side about the past, in a couple of months.
(I have to admit to a surge of satisfaction on hearing this. Reporters tend to think that they can only improve the world by exposing stupidity and corruption. True – but this time they had a different role. It took a blunt talk to convince them otherwise.)
We all tend to get stuck – attached to the things or behaviors that get us in trouble. Sometimes this is only a small matter as, when I can’t find a piece of paper that I should have filed properly. Then the “stupid” self talk gets started and I start thinking “I could meet tomorrow’s deadline if only …” This is being stuck. It is better to put yesterday behind us, forget about tomorrow and concentrate on today.
Some times we get stuck on more serious things. When we are stuck, there is a good chance that it is due to one of the seven capital vices. When used in this sense, the word “capital” means the head – everything comes out of it.
For example, it is easy to be stuck on stupid because of pride. Being unwilling to admit to having done something “stupid” we become blind to our faults.
Being stuck is part of the human condition. Usually we are blind to it until we get hit over the head with the result. When that happens, the only way out is to admit our condition and ask for help. The better way to do this is to say the complete version of the Serenity Prayer - sincerely. The best way is to say the prayer daily. We will get stuck less frequently and get unstuck more quickly.
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