I have accepted that I will never be as happy as the people in vodka commercials.
We oppose the teaching of higher order thinking skills, critical thinking, and similar programs.
- Texas Republican Party platform
Call me naive, but I grew up believing that truth isn’t a fungible concept. There isn’t one truth for a group who believes a certain way and another for those who believe differently. I was taught- and I believe- that truth is immutable and immune to manipulation for the convenience of fitting into a particular belief system. Truth isn’t something open to interpretation through an ideological filter. Truth (and reality) just is…and the fact that some might want to change truth and reality for their convenience changes nothing.
As you might have figured out by now, I’m talking about scientific, empirical, measurable truth (you know, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, evolution is backed by evidence, etc.). The latest attempts to invalidate scientific truth is the question of the age of the Earth and the denial of global climate change. Why so many (primarily on the Right) continue to be so fervently anti-intellectual is something I can’t begin to explain.
The question of the Earth’s age is a peculiar and astonishing one. Despite all manner of archaeological evidence to the contrary, Creationists and their apologist continue to believe that our planet is a mere 6000 years old. Marco Rubio, when he was Speaker of the Floriduh House of Representatives, provided assistance to creationists looking to water down science education. Rubio was thoughtful enough to make it clear that, “I’m not equating the evolution people with Fidel Castro.” But now that you bring it up….
Wow; with friends like that….
And then there’s the Right’s continued nonsensical denial of the validity and seriousness of global climate change…if they even acknowledge it as an issue. The anecdotal evidence alone should be enough to, if not completely convince deniers that global climate change is real, at least set reasonably lucid folks on the Right to thinking. Sadly, though, it’s not often you’ll see the phrase, “reasonably lucid folks on the Right” used in a sentence without comic intent.
There’s been a good deal of research into the connection between personality types and political beliefs. It’s been well-documented that today’s Republicans live in a bubble defined by Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, the Drudge Report, and the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page, where reality always breaks in their favor. Then comes Election Day, when they find out that (GASP!!) their views don’t stand up to scrutiny.
I don’t begrudge Republicans the right to believe as they see fit…but would it be too much to ask that they at least act like members of the reality-based community??
