Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Have you ever thought, “Hey, what’s the worst that could happen if I stare at a solar eclipse without any protection?” Well, apparently one man did, and that man happened to be a former president of the United States, Commander-in-Chief of looking at the wrong things the wrong way.
This incident is a bite-sized metaphor for the kind of willful ignorance that could only be outshone by the sun itself — and believe me, that’s saying something. The article in Mother Jones takes us on a whimsical journey through the potential dangers of solar eclipses, the science behind them, and one man’s journey to outshine common sense with sheer, unadulterated confidence.
The Breakdown
- Trump’s Optometric Rebellion, or How to Outshine Scientific Advice
- In what can only be described as a monumental act of optical defiance, Trump gazed directly into the solar eclipse, ignoring the advice of literally every scientist, ever. It’s the ocular equivalent of tweeting in all caps: “FAKE NEWS!”
- In what can only be described as a monumental act of optical defiance, Trump gazed directly into the solar eclipse, ignoring the advice of literally every scientist, ever. It’s the ocular equivalent of tweeting in all caps: “FAKE NEWS!”
- Science vs. ‘The Feels’ – A Presidential Dilemma
- The article deftly points out the president’s choice to rely on his gut rather than, you know, centuries of scientific understanding. Because who needs retinas when you’ve got instinct?
- The article deftly points out the president’s choice to rely on his gut rather than, you know, centuries of scientific understanding. Because who needs retinas when you’ve got instinct?
- The Great American Eclipse – When Darkness Was Literally Cast Over the Nation
- Spectators might have been wowed by the awesome cosmological event, but the real spectacle was political, providing a shadow over the nation that some might call ‘foreshadowing’.
- Spectators might have been wowed by the awesome cosmological event, but the real spectacle was political, providing a shadow over the nation that some might call ‘foreshadowing’.
- Retina Burn – The New Badge of Honor for Political Maverick
- Perhaps the ultimate takeaway is the idea that staring at a solar eclipse is a sign of maverick behavior — a direct challenge to the wimpy norms of ocular safety. A political “hold my beer” moment, if you will.
- Perhaps the ultimate takeaway is the idea that staring at a solar eclipse is a sign of maverick behavior — a direct challenge to the wimpy norms of ocular safety. A political “hold my beer” moment, if you will.
- The Blinding Power of Ego
- Blind by ego, not by the sun, the event begs the question: What’s more damaging, UV rays or unchecked self-assuredness?
- Blind by ego, not by the sun, the event begs the question: What’s more damaging, UV rays or unchecked self-assuredness?
The Counter
- Sunglasses are for the Weak
- Turns out, protective eyewear is just a recommendation, much like facts in certain political circles. It’s all about the image, baby!
- Turns out, protective eyewear is just a recommendation, much like facts in certain political circles. It’s all about the image, baby!
- I Have the Best Eyes, Tremendous Eyes
- One small step for a man, one giant leap for proving that personal health takes a backseat to proving a non-existent point.
- One small step for a man, one giant leap for proving that personal health takes a backseat to proving a non-existent point.
- When the Illuminati Sends Codes Through Solar Eclipses
- The article failed to mention how looking directly at an eclipse is clearly the only way to get the secret messages from the cosmos. Sci-fi movies have been trying to teach us this for years!
- The article failed to mention how looking directly at an eclipse is clearly the only way to get the secret messages from the cosmos. Sci-fi movies have been trying to teach us this for years!
- Why Trust Scientists When You Have a Gut Feeling?
- Who needs NASA when you have an impeccable gut that led you to the healthiest fast food choices known to mankind?
- Who needs NASA when you have an impeccable gut that led you to the healthiest fast food choices known to mankind?
- If My Eyes Burn, So Does the Fake News
- The ultimate strategy: If you can’t see the news, is it really there? Problem solved.
- The ultimate strategy: If you can’t see the news, is it really there? Problem solved.
The Hot Take
In conclusion, the cosmos gave us a celestial event worth centuries, and we got a live lesson on retinal safety – or the lack thereof. If the solar eclipse taught us anything, it’s that the blinding light of stubbornness can be far more damaging than the temporary darkness of the moon passing the sun.So as a not-so-humble suggestion, next time instead of bravely (or foolishly) staring into the abyss, perhaps we should try the novel approach of listening to experts.
But if all else fails and the temptation to gaze upon the fiery orb unshielded becomes too much, just remember: future political campaigns won’t just need slogans, they’ll need a good optometrist on hand, too. And that’s my “bright” idea. Stay safe out there, and for heaven’s sake, if even a cardboard eclipse viewer is too “mainstream” for you, at least blink a lot.
Source: The Fascinating Science Trump Ignored When He Stared Right Into a Solar Eclipse – Mother Jones
