Blog 416 – 09.26.2016

There is  problem with much of our thinking in the world today. It is a problem not new. Thinking is asking questions, proposing theories, examining evidences in an effort to prove our theories, so we can act on the best conclusions. The problem as I see it is when we stop questioning and examining the evidence we start crystallizing certain theories or beliefs and the longer they go unquestioned the stronger and harder to challenge they become. When an idea, theory, or opinion becomes a rock hard belief it becomes a religion seeking followers and worshipers and the world is divided into believers and non-believers.

There are a host of issues where people in general are saying, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I already have my mind made up.” Climate change appears to be one of those issues. Most legitimate climate scientists agree that the facts support man-caused climate change and that if big changes do not occur soon about our continuing to burn fossil fuels that temperatures will continue to rise, the ice packs at the poles continue to melt, and the seas continue to rise. To counter the scientific facts big oil and the auto industry years ago started a disinformation campaign much as the tobacco, asbestos, and other industries did to protect their profits to the peril of the greater good. It does not take faith to examine the evidence and draw conclusions. It does take a lot of faith to continue to believe against all the mounting evidence.

We have believed a lot of things that have been proven to be false and yet some of us continue to refuse to face the facts. Some people still believe men are stronger, smarter, and more capable than women and worthy of more pay for the same work. Some people believe people of color are inferior to lighter skinned people, that might makes right, and a host of other tired old beliefs whose day should have been long gone before now. How to we keep from being boxed in by our own thinking?

First, I think we need to question and continue to question our own thinking and opinions. Secondly I think we need to be open to new information or differing opinions. And lastly we need to throw away this notion that changing your thinking or mind is an undesirable thing. The fool is always sure while the wiseman always questions, listens, and stays open to new ways of thinking.

To hold on to anything too hard in this ever changing world is to set yourself up to be tomorrow’s caveman or dinosaur and totally if not marginally irrelevant. As I said in the the beginning when we start believing unproved opinions or theories they become as facts to us and are very difficult to let go of. Try to hold even your most serious thinking as lightly as you can because you can be sure no matter how sure you may be that all the information is not in yet. And new information is supposed to change our thinking. They used to call that education. Though we are never to old to learn we can quit thinking anytime that we think we have all the answers and usually do I am afraid.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White