My eighth grade science teacher, Mrs. Gladys Sigman, established early in our science class, “If you make a declarative statement, you must have evidence to prove that statement.” The same axiom was seen as the local farmers and workmen gathered in Brown’s general mercantile store when they would call someone down when there was doubt in what was being said, “you’re just blowing smoke,” or if it really was blowing smoke and there was no evidence to substantiate the comment it was not unusual to hear, ‘that’s a bunch of b—s—.” During my graduate studies at Western Michigan University, Professor Donald Blash returned my research paper with comments written in bold red letters, “there is no empirical evidence to prove your hypothesis!”
Eighth graders understood the premise, the local farmers understood the premise and certainly I understand it too. I need some help! If this group of diverse individuals from a wide cross section of the culture have no problem understanding “you must have evidence to prove your declaration,” how is it the most educated people in our country, individuals chosen to be our leaders and given the responsibility to make laws that govern our very existence do not understand the premise that every eighth grader in the United States understands?
I have long considered myself to be pragmatic and not driven by political parties. After carefully weighing the principles involved I cast my vote accordingly. I always try to weigh everything through the filter of Holy Scriptures. However, as I find myself getting more involved, hopefully from a pragmatic viewpoint, I find myself trying to figure out “Why?” I like what Tim Keller, noted Presbyterian pastor, said in the New York Times: “Christians cannot pretend they can transcend politics. Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for social status quo. …to not be political is to be political.”
‘The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.’
Excellent commentary. So basic to decision making, yet… Justice Holmes knew a thing, or two, about decision making.