“Stupid Is as Stupid Does” — Labels, Warnings, and When Language Hurts
By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
I recently heard MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell call Donald Trump “stupid” on national television.
He didn’t stop there. He said Trump was “trapped in his stupidity,” launching into a fiery takedown that felt more like a performance than journalism.
And I thought—we’re going in circles.
This isn’t how news should sound.
It shouldn’t echo reality TV or viral outrage clips.
It should inform, not entertain at the expense of reason.
It reminded me of Forrest Gump:
“Stupid is as stupid does.”
That line wasn’t meant to insult—it was about actions.
🌊 Driftwood, Name-Calling, and Breaking the Cycle
Just yesterday, I was upset watching someone hack up a beautiful driftwood log that had rested on our beach for over 50 years. In frustration, I muttered, “Trumpster…”
And then I caught myself.
Name-calling doesn’t solve anything. It just keeps the fire going.
💬 My Friend Who Shouts “Ya Dummy!”
My 76-year-old friend used to say, “Ah, I’m so stupid,” every time something went wrong.
I gently encouraged him over time to stop saying that.
Now, when someone cuts him off in traffic, he just says:
“Ya dummy!”
Better, maybe. But words still matter.
🔥 A Wound from the Past
A few years ago, I was in a reconciliation and carving program.
We were creating two powerful pieces:
- One to honour the children who never came home from Residential Schools,
- And another for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
It was emotional, intense, and sacred.
In a group chat, I posted something calling Trump a sociopath.
I didn’t mean to diagnose—I meant to warn.
But the word hit a nerve.
One First Nations participant, someone brave and open about their struggles and hopes, called me out.
They said my words were racist.
Another friend had posted a similar thought—and things spiraled.
I left the group.
Not because I didn’t care—but because it hurt so much.
And I realized: we weren’t just arguing about Trump.
We were navigating deep wounds.
Trauma. Power. Trust.
🧠 Why I Said Sociopath
When I used the word “sociopath,” I wasn’t trying to excuse him.
I was trying to alert others to the danger.
But I now see that words like that—especially in cross-cultural spaces—can be misunderstood.
What sounds like concern to one person can sound like protection to another.
Especially when it's about someone in power who has caused so much harm.
📺 Why Are Newscasters Talking Like This?
Why are American newscasters sounding like celebrity roasters?
Why are they stooping to name-calling—on air?
Is this really how we challenge authoritarianism?
By sounding like the very thing we’re fighting?
We need anchors and journalists who report with truth and professionalism, not sarcasm and soundbites.
🔁 Closing the Circle
This isn’t just about Trump.
It’s about how we speak.
How we treat each other when we’re angry.
How we hold ourselves accountable when we mess up.
And how we try to grow—even when it’s messy.
We don’t have to be perfect.
We just have to try not to become what we’re resisting.
Even if all we can say in the heat of the moment is:
“Ya dummy!”
Let it be a reminder of our shared humanity—and our ability to do better.
❤️ If You’ve Ever Felt Misunderstood…
I see you.
You’re not alone.
Let’s keep the conversation going—with truth, care, and courage.
🔖 Keywords:
Trump, sociopath, reconciliation, language, Indigenous, media, namecalling, trauma, journalism, truth
