We Believe in Data & Science (When it is Convenient)

            It is common in this day to hear, or read of, various experts and politicians say, “We are relying on data and science to make decisions.”  While data and science are essential in making good decisions about Covid-19 pandemic issues, it seems as though society is inconsistent and even reluctant to apply data and science to other issues of life. Consider the following examples.

            Science says a baby’s heart begins beating around 6 weeks after conception. Science says that a baby in the womb feels pain. In the face of such well known and undisputed scientific facts, why is the barbaric practice of abortion so freely and legally permitted in our civilized country? In February, the US Senate voted down the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. If an abortion fails and a baby is born alive, it is unprotected and can legally be denied the care of the medical staff who are present and capable of saving the child’s life. We tout America’s greatness in health care on the one hand, while on the other hand we condone withholding such care to save the life of a baby that still lives after a failed abortion attempt. 

            Any ninth grader who has had biology knows a little about DNA and XX / XY chromosomes. Science says that gender is binary – male and female. An individual’s choice to identify as a gender other than what they were born as, whether male or female, does not change the science of DNA and chromosomes. Why do school, community and political officials refuse to appeal to “the data and science” before declaring that biological males who identify as females can participate in female sports events.   The real sciences of anatomy, physiology and psychology clearly support the indisputable fact that men and women are significantly different in a variety of ways. Such differences make it unfair to have them competing against one another in those sports where such differences give a decided advantage to a (genetically) biological male. There are many gender concerns present in our society that should be addressed, but it is not good science to pretend that there are U, V, W, Z chromosomes from which we can make designer genders of our own choosing. Good science should consistently answer questions with some degree of absolute certainty. If scientific laws taught to one generation are evolving in the present generation, they are not really scientific laws at all.  They are merely opinions or theories.  How can one expect to live successfully in a universe, a world, or a society that is based upon a foundation of ever changing opinions and theories.

            Data shows the pornography industry revenues in the USA exceed the combined revenues of Pepsi and Coke. Scientific studies have shown that pornography is not victimless. Like crack cocaine – it can be instantly addicting and capable of altering the brain’s chemistry like drug or alcohol addictions. On the data side of the ledger – pornography contributes to divorce, child abuse, sex trafficking and a multitude of other societal ills. Real people and entire families are damaged as a result of this industry.  It might even be argued that it does more damage than the current virus.

            We are told that data and science is being applied to decisions about the Covid-19 virus to save lives. It seems clear that data and science are not being applied to other issues costing many more lives than the Covid-19 virus. We believe in science when we want to. We just as easily ignore it when we want to. Why is that? Perhaps it is because is easy to ignore the data and science when it is personally, politically, financially or in some other way inconvenient. And while it may be uncomfortable to do so at first, it becomes easier in time to simply look the other way turning a blind eye to verifiable truth about other health and social issues. On the other hand, those who have a strong moral compass will find the courage to graciously stand for the truth; and truly believe the data and science.

• Written collaboratively by Paul Thyren, with my assistance, as a letter to the editor of “The Sounder”; the local newspaper in Random Lake WI.