The world seems to make less sense every day.  Strange things are going on everywhere. This is not about UFOs, ESP or Bigfoot. It’s things more incredible than that. We are living in a Bizarro World. I submit the following into evidence.

On the very same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the U.S. Congress, Kanye West gives a lecture at Oxford University.  Guess which one was controversial?

The leader of one our closest allies speaks about a concern to both his nation and ours, and it’s depicted as an insult to President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, Kanye West is doing a “stream of consciousness” nearly incoherent babbling presentation at Oxford University where he boasts that President Obama calls him at home.  I hope that isn’t true.

I hope it isn’t true that our president refuses to talk to the prime minister of the democratic nation of Israel but calls up the egomaniacal Kanye West for a little chat.  By the way, West told the students at Oxford that if he had been a Renaissance painter he would have been like Picasso, only better. He also told them his shirt cost $2,000. Skipping that class should have been an excused absence.

You know that look where a dog is trying really hard to understand? Picture it: turning its head a little to the side, watching closely, really trying to understand. That’s where I am. Events like those described above make me feel like a confused cocker spaniel. And it’s a feeling that’s happening more and more.

Our government sells bonds (debt) to China and then gives money to countries that hate us.  Cue the cocker spaniel. A law that required age verification before accessing Internet pornography was declared unconstitutional. Yet, with all my gray hair, I have to show my driver’s license to buy beer. And it’s controversial to require voters to provide evidence of citizenship to vote. That cocker spaniel is in danger of whiplash.

Hillary Clinton lies about dodging gunfire in Bosnia and she’s still a strong presidential contender. NBC news anchor Brian Williams tells a similar lie and he’s suspended from work. Try explaining that to the cocker spaniel. While you’re at it, try explaining the popularity of Miley Cyrus, whatever happened in Benghazi and why it’s not OK to be skeptical about climate change (formerly known as “Global Warming.”)

Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Elena Kagan never served as a judge anywhere before being nominated and then confirmed to serve on the highest court in the country. She had only two years of law practice experience. In what world does that make sense? When there’s a bombing, the bomber is blamed. When there’s a drunken driving accident, the driver is blamed. When someone is shot, guns everywhere are blamed. Non sequitur. JP Morgan is now charging customers who make large deposits, yet government reports say that the dollar is stronger than it’s been in years. Interesting? Certainly nonsensical.

Eventually, that poor cocker spaniel starts to whimper. Despite its best efforts, it can’t make sense of what’s right in front of it.

Maybe it’s not the dog’s fault. Maybe it really doesn’t make sense. Maybe that’s why ABC news reports that anxiety is now the most reported psychiatric ailment in our country. In this category, the United States is number one!

Bizzaro World is highly stressful for those wanting things to make sense. Bizzaro World is one where attitudes are measured and presented as a meaningful barometer of what must be true. Excuses are offered as reasons and attitude trumps analysis. And most of us go along to get-along. Stressful. Finally, the cocker spaniel goes beyond the whimper and starts to bark. But, nobody likes a barking dog. They would rather listen to Kanye West.

These are things I just don’t understand.

Column by  Kevin Qualls, Professor of mass communications