Many people are simply ignorant--and this is not intended as an insult, but just an observation. Some might be smart in their field or occupation, but they are largely ignorant of history and social issues.

This was confirmed for me again today. I was in Aldi putting my purchases in a bag. A man, about my age (69) was standing next to me doing the same. He wore a hat proclaiming he was Vietnam vet. I said to him, "I protested the war, but didn't denigrate soldiers.' He replied, "We didn't want to be there and didn't like the war either."

He then went on to say that he thought the war was the beginning of a decline for the USA and that it that decline led us to where we are now. No argument from me. But then, he said, "Just look at these trans people--they're everywhere, wanting to take over. They weren't around when we were --did you ever know any trans people years ago?"

He made mistakes:

, that I would agree with him about the 'degeneracy' of trans people. (This is often the case--people assume that I agree with issues such as this or that I am Xtian.)

, that, somehow, trans folks just popped in the last few years.

I told him that I had no problem with trans people; my problems are with people who abuse/kill children and some other sundry issues.

Then, I told him that I was an English teacher and a student of history and that trans people have always been around.

He looked surprised and just then, his wife walked , looking at me in an unfriendly manner. I think she thought I was hitting on her husband.

I left the store thinking about the past, how Rome was highly homoerotic and yet, conquered many lands. I thought about Oscar Wilde being imprisoned for being gay and how there is overwhelming evidence that Alexander the Great was bisexual. Socrates wasn't put to death for "corrupting" his students by diddling them, but disagreeing with the state and for impiety.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastics was right when he said, "There is nothing new under the sun." Being gay or trans is not new, nor is homophobia. Children have been abused since time immemorial; women have been raped for as long. There is nothing new about murder, invading other lands, or wars.

Ignorance has been around from time immemorial, too, but it used to be that many/most people were ignorant because they were denied getting an education or did not have access to news.

Now, we do have access to education and news, or at least the USA has both. People choose to remain ignorant.

And that is why I have become a misanthrope.