Question Everything

I remember when I was a young kid asking my father about God and religion. I was ashamed to ask him because he has always been a very faithful believer and is so committed to his faith that I thought he might think less of me or even be offended by this young punk questioning his faith.

But he and I have always had a transparent relationship and every time I've ever brought something up with him that I thought was controversial, he has embraced it and hugged me into wonderful conversation whether we agreed or not

So this particular day I asked him how he believed in God with such certainty and whether all the Bible stories were true or not. In true dad form he listened with full attention and then after some reflection he taught me one the best lessons he's ever taught me.

Question everything

He told me that, in large part, the reason for his deep faith was that he had spent a lifetime questioning and then investigating his faith. That accepting something as true simply because it came from a "recognized authority" is foolish and sometimes even dangerous. Accepting anything from a sole source without deeper investigation is irresponsible.

I did not appreciate this lesson for many years, but I began practicing it immediately and have lived this position my whole life.

As soon as the first vaccine mandate nonsense hit the media, I reacted with genuine anger. Then I questioned my feelings. Then I began my investigation. I asked questions, I watched videos and I read research and professional publications.

It became immediately clear to me that there was an agenda. It became clear to me that nothing was clear.

Another very interesting thing that started to develop was the gradual shift I saw taking place with people that I considered more liberal to a more conservative position regarding the vaccines and the mandates. People were stepping back from their political positions and looking at this for what it is...a violation of their personal liberty...a threat to their right to freedom.

When the government mandates that you put a questionable (at best) substance in your body against your will, it should be a wake up call. And once you question the government's motives behind this life threatening issue, it make sense that you might begin to question other things they're doing as well as other large institutions that you've put your trust in over the years.

The other place I see this return to common sense action is in the classroom. Particularly in the early grades through high school. It's simple to me. As soon as parents were able to look over their kids shoulders in the virtual classroom and see what was being taught, they went nuts. As soon as the actual facts came to light the moms took the bull by the horns.

If my kids were in school right now (they're all grown up) I would be up in arms too. "Teachers" who think they can indoctrinate kids with religion, race and gender in the secular classroom are another example of elitist academics that think they are smarter than people without academic credentials. They are deranged.

As we continue to investigate what's actually going on in schools, I feel confident that the parenting will return to the parents. This is some sick stuff man.

If you objectively and intelligently investigate...if you leave emotion out of it and do your research, you very quickly find that the dots don't connect properly. The math doesn't work. If you follow the money, the control and the entrenched positions of power you begin to see the holes in the logic.

I don't care if its climate change, gender distortion, the pandemic, or critical race theory. The math does not add up. The government is using fear and misinformation to get you to do things on behalf of their agenda and it's working.

But alas, intelligent people eventually catch on and that's what I see happening now.

I believe the thing that has heads turning and people waking up is the vaccine mandate. People are standing up to this personal violation of freedom of choice and it has them beginning to question other decisions and patterns that have been emerging for years.

Once you insist on things making sense, once you open your heart up to an opposing view...you begin to learn. The science, by definition, is never over. Science and ideas are open to new information, discovery and adaptation. Science is an ongoing discussion, always open for debate. An absence of debate is unreasonable

There are some very effective strategies that people in power use to persuade other people to act a certain way or take a certain position.

• If you think this way about one issue then you can be classified as believing all other things that particular group believes. NOPE. If you don't take the time to understand my opinions on these other things, then you are assuming you know me and are more than likely wrong about who I am. Being an older white male, just makes me an older white male. Presuming anything else about me without further investigation and discussion is ignorant
• Guilt. If you don't think we should make reparations available to races who were wronged by our ancestors then you are a racist and a bad person. No it just means we disagree. How about a discussion? I use guilt to police my behavior and then move on. Wallowing is not helpful
• Obfuscation. Abortion is not a women's rights issue. It is a discussion about when life begins. Murder is already illegal. Once we move the topic of discussion to another topic we can distract from the real issue. If you don't think that gun laws should be restricted you are an evil person who doesn't care about innocent children. Enforce our current laws better and invest more time and attention into mental health. Money is not the root of all evil...the "love of money" is the root of all evil. Distracting people from the real issues is a slight of hand...a magic trick
• Everyone else is doing it. Stop being a renegade and just comply. NOPE. What if there is a better way? There almost always is. This is the way it's always been done. So what?
• There is institutional racism in America. Show me the numbers. Racism is illegal. There will always be racist assholes. You can't change human behavior across the board
• I am a victim, therefore I deserve favor. Stop whining and do whatever you want to do you big baby. This is America. Equal opportunity for all. Equal outcomes for no one. Why are extremely successful black people focusing on victimhood and not teaching young black people how to be successful?
• There are more than two genders. NOPE. People should be themselves and everyone should be respectful of others, but there are male and female. That's it. This does not make me transphobic. It make me logical
• Calling it the China virus is xenophobic/racist. Where'd it come from again? And by the way, China is our enemy...
• What ever happened to accountability and enforcement? How come people in power can do illegal things and they aren't punished? This would seem to be the source of most our society's problems.

The pandemic and the vaccine mandates really shed light on how many of us don't question things. Who are these people still wearing masks alone in the car or outside alone? I'm astounded at the number of people who I have spoken with lately about some of these polarizing issues who have responded in one of two ways to my positions:

Are you sure that's true?

OR

I didn't know that

My response is either, I am not sure...it's simply my opinion

OR

Yes and here is the data

We would all be better off if we took better care of ourselves and stopped leaning on a corrupt healthcare system that is incentivized to keep us sick and never actually cure anything.

Our bodies were designed by God to be able to heal themselves. It's what we fill our mouths, ears, nose and eyes with that is killing us

I have taken a lot of time and energy and invested it in my own health. I eat nutritious foods, I move around a lot, I pray, meditate and I breath.

I try to spend most of my time surrounded by honest funny, intelligent, optimistic people who believe in personal accountability.

I might die tomorrow, but it's not going to be because of any government mandated programs, pills or coercion.

If you're not questioning everything, then you will likely fall for something that is not in your best interest.

If you feel strongly about something, speak up.

If you feel like you can't speak up because you will be judged or reprimanded...well, therein lies the problem doesn't it.

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For anyone who is interested, Jim and I are going to start recording our podcast again this week and publishing new episodes soon. If you want to check it out you can find season 1 here...

https://www.imperfectmensclub.com/

We take polarizing issues and try to make them fun and interesting

Peace

Mark