Ah, I must be stupid, how to display posts?

I looked at all the loop type stuff and all that, and I still cant figure out how to display posts. I must be really really stupid or something. I tried a bunch of crap, but nothing. If some one could just give me the php code to stick in my index.php file, or a place that will give me a straight answer, and not alot of technical jargan, it would be helpful. Thanks.