The best retort my old man ever said to my brother and me, but not to my sisters, was, "You must be a little bit stupid!"

I never disagreed.

We have a lot of stupid people in this world, the majority of whom seldom read a book or a daily newspaper.

Some are even religious fanatics, who really capture my attention.

The other day I perused this November 22 headline on Page 2 in the Star Tribune: American killed by tribe on remote Indian island.

Terrific!

In smaller print, the government of India in New Delhi stated that John Allen Chau, in his twenties, knew his trip was prohibited.

Still, Mr...