The human condition is in the mind. Superior intelligence makes mankind do things that are far dumber than other animals. And throughout history, while we have consistently propelled civilization forward with innovative thought, it is initially met with opposition, defiance, and denial…every single time.
- “The earth is round?? Begone you preposterous fool!”
- “Hand-washing in place of bloodletting to avoid infection?? You’re a madman!”
- “E = MC2?? Heretic Jew-babble!”
Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once stated that “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.“ And yet, instead of learning from the mistakes of our ancestors, we repeatedly abscond from enlightenment and dig our heels firmly into deep-rooted belief long after it has been proven false. And that, dear friends, is the true definition of ignorance.
William Harvey was a physician who in 1628 published a book describing circulation through the heart via arteries instead of through the liver as postulated by Galen 1500 years earlier. 1500 YEARS! Harvey was so severely ridiculed and ostracized by the medical community that he had a nervous breakdown, and Sigmund Freud would not come around for another 300 years. All this for proposing what later came to be accepted as unequivocal scientific fact. The most potent example cites that Harvey’s contemporaries said they would “rather err with Galen than proclaim the truth with Harvey.”
There’s an old anonymous saying that is often wrongly attributed to Mark Twain, so I paraphrase. “It is easier to fool people than to have them admit that they have been fooled.”
In fact, many rules exist for the simple-minded masses whose lives require constant direction. Intelligent people attempt to understand the reason FOR the rule so that they can make sensible decisions based on the limitless combination of circumstances life is known to present. Without the use of “not so common” sense, rules can generate the opposite of their intended effect and hurt those they propose to protect.
Today, law is not even the guiding factor. It is consensus that rules the world. In the online universe, every philistine can present an opinion which regardless of how uninformed, may be heard with equal resonance.
Then there’s traditional media, unmistakably comprised of non-scientific types and these days, barely even “journalistic” types, that continues to present utter nonsense as prudent and judicious action. And what dribbles from the drooling dumbbell drips down upon the collective crop of commoners. (Hey, I like to wax a little poetic sometimes. Very little.)
In other words, we see a problem and we are told what to do by people who by their own admission, do not know what to do. But hey, when the people demand a solution, you have to give them something. So, enter someone with a degree in some discipline they don’t currently practice, and that did not necessarily ever correspond with the issue in question says, “I need time to observe, consult, and reflect, so for now, just stay put until we figure this out.” And THAT becomes the rule.
What ensues is a pseudo-scientific correlation between a baseless temporary action and an illogical leap into a hostage-like ultimatum “Follow this or everyone dies!”.
Hey, here’s an indisputable scientific fact: The number one cause of death worldwide and throughout history is … LIVING! In order to die, you must first be alive. This means that every minute of our lives is one long ongoing risk assessment negotiation and until now, if your solution for preserving life was to imprison yourself and avoid human interaction, there is a good chance that you would be medicated and/or institutionalized. Ironic yes, but still a good indication of how insane the notion was, and still is.
So perhaps it is time to ask some intelligent questions because while everyone is entitled to their opinion, they are not entitled to their own facts. “Find thyself a teacher”… Then get a second opinion. Because science should be learned from scientists, not politicians, anchor people, or radio DJs.
Best Paradigm article yet.
Great message Mikey!
Well said my friend, you hit it out of the park this time !
You are saying loud and clear what many Canadians think but are too afraid to admit! Frankly many have had enough of these incoherent, imbecilic, moronic and frankly crazy rules! A pandemic where 99.8% survive, where the 3 stages of lockdowns has been foreseen and for which our dumbbell in residence Trudeau admitted it was the pretext for a new world order and grand reset! So the truth is that WE Canadians are crazy to believe our gouvernement. Hallevai that we should behave like the Floridians or even the Italians and walk out into the streets after curfew en masse , sit in restaurants en masse, say no to internment hotels en masse …. what do we have to lose?
Well said! This is sharable!! 😅
Thank you. So please share. But FOR THE LOVE OF G-D… STAY INDOORS!
Really beautifully written Mike. Some people don’t question and others are simply too uninformed to understand what they should question. On top of that, a coordinated power play by our “leaders”, supported by the media and big tech. What drives them is power at all cost. Take a look at what’s going on at the Southern US border. A humanitarian and security calamity. Children being tossed over walls and abandoned by smugglers. People on terror watch lists traveling to the US via these now open borders. Drug smuggling at an all time high. But our Democratic leaders don’t care and there is no outrage by their supporters. It’s a desire for power at any cost. The ends justify the means. So sad and upsetting on all fronts.
Best Paradigm yet.