I am a fan of Carl Sagan (1934-1996), the late American
astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science guru overall. He
brought science to the broad public. He helped the public understand complex
scientific matters. But he also was frustrated in this mission. It is from that
discomfort that Sagan gave us today’s quote:
“One of the saddest lessons of
history is this: if we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any
evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth.
The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to
ourselves, that we've been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you
almost never get it back.”
Bamboozled? How so? By religion, politics, ideology…you name
it. There are those among us who attempt to deter us from science and facts.
They mistake faith as fact. By its very nature that is alien. Faith is not
fact. It does not explain facts.
Climate change. Oil based energy. Abortion as murder. A
woman’s choice. These are factually based subjects in need for serious
thinking. Not faith. Not voodoo. Not myth.
Values? When do facts become important to this discussion?
A good set of thoughts to ponder over the weekend.
Thanks, Dr. Sagan!
June 28, 2014
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