It's Good Friday. That's probably the nicest thing I have to say today.
The holiest weekend on the Christian calendar seems like a good time to talk about belief. So I believe I'll give it a go.
I'll start by saying I believe in belief. Belief is the force that gets us through times of uncertainty, that helps us achieve the impossible, that steals us when reasonable hope is lost. If it weren't for belief, we'd likely still be living in caves.
Nothing controversial about that. And there shouldn't be. But what might hang you up, is I'm not talking about a specific belief. It might be Easter weekend, but this is not an altar call. It's also Ramadan after all.
Belief is not tied to the flavor of religion, it's the basis of religion.
The founders of this country had great respect for belief and they ensured in their founding document that all Americans had a right to their own beliefs. As a group, their great belief wasn't a religious calling, but that there might be a better way to establish a country than one based in monarchy or theocracy.
Because they knew, which is key, that those two systems led to failure and misery for most. They knew that from observation. They believed that a system that rose from the people might be a better way to go.
They didn't know that, because it hadn't been done in the worlds they came from. There were no democracies in 1776 or 1786 or still in 1796. But what they established is now the world's oldest Democracy.
But it's important to remember that belief is for the unknown or unknowable. Belief is in the realm of philosophy and forecasting. It is not in the realm of science and knowledge. We know the earth is a ball. We believe there was a creator who shaped it (or not). We know oxygen is essential for human life. We believe humans will still be roaming the planet in 100 years.
Someone once said you have every right to your own beliefs, but you've got no right to your own facts. That is really the idea the founders were working on. And that's what brings us to today.
Too many Americans have confused belief with knowledge. There is a large contingent of the elected class who are passing laws based on belief when facts and knowledge prove differently. Belief despite knowledge and fact leads to disaster.
Last week an actor from a TV western was kicked off a flight because he refused to sit next to a person wearing a mask. The reason he refused to sit next to that person is because he "doesn't believe in masks." He didn't inquire if the person was immune deficient or possibly sick themself or even just a paranoid wreck. All that mattered to him is "he don't believe in that."
I hope his doctors pay attention so if he needs surgery one day, the entire O.R. crew can work without masks per his beliefs. We'll see how that works out.
Happy holiday!