Believers

There are those who do not believe history. These include doubters of the Holocaust. Also those who think slavery in America was a good thing culturally and morally. There are also people who believe in science over myth, myth over science. You know the kind. You cannot shake their conviction: the world was created in 6 actual 24-hour days; evolution simply did not occur, nor is it happening at this very time.

And the cow jumped over the moon!

It is difficult for the rest of us to understand these folks. Logic tends to rule our lives. Oh, so does spirit and a few touchy-feely things that make us tear up and feel warm and cozy. But those are different elements than denying facts, history, and science. No there is a special stubbornness that corrals belief to narrow confines in these other people. Perhaps we gain some comfort in knowing that there are these ‘other’ people out there; because they are there we know we are OK. Kind of perverse logic, though; we are OK only because these others are somehow not.

Where does this leave us? Do we just shrug our shoulders and go on about our business? We do, of course. We cannot be responsible for what others believe.

But these folks vote, they get elected to public office. They spread their non-factual take on life and make public policy. These people are in our congress! They make policy on science, military research, and education. Yet they believe evolution is not operative. They also believe biblical parables are factual not metaphorical. Those were lessons meant to explain and teach. Not to be taken literally.

So shrugging our shoulders is not good enough. We need to press forward as a society for open education, research that seeks truth, and policy that recognizes reality not “wish it were so”.

So much has been in the news lately about politicians speaking to their base on the down low; but somehow the word gets out. “Evolution is a theory from the pit of hell” is how one congressman told his fellow churchmen. Yet he is on the education and science committees in congress!

“Slavery was beneficial to African-Americans” is a statement from another congressman from a southern state. Again, speaking to his constituency so he can remain in office, and raise funds for re-election. This is the reality of our current political condition.

Very poor reflection on us as a people. Very sad.

Yet in the land of the free and home of the brave, I guess we allow them their freedom, and we take on the bravery so they are free. Dumb maybe; but free.

And us? It is our responsibility, I think, to ask our representatives in government to stand up for reality and fact and follow through. They need not be vindictive or punishing of those who do not agree with them. But they must stand on reason and govern intelligently. That is our task; to set a standard and keep them to it.

It is happenstance, isn’t it? How do we know what they people believe, or what they will do once in office? We cannot know in advance, but we can press them and set the direction for them. It they falter we will find a more worthy replacement.

This takes our time and commitment. But to do otherwise is unfathomable. Just imagine America falling backward into a theocratic state of medieval Europe wherein the church ruled all. Or Iran or Iraq where imams make the laws. Is that what we want for our nation?

I thought not! So now it’s time to get to work. The election is less than a month away.

October 8, 2012