Science; Deny it, Believe it

Science deniers have been with us for all of recorded history. In the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei created a telescope that allowed us to view the stars.  Those in power who feared his creation simply refused to look through it and denounced its creator rather than acknowledge the observations that were now possible. The denial of science flows from a lack of understanding and a mistrust of any knowledge the deniers don’t understand or possess. Because some science is beyond simple understanding by those not of its community, deniers dismiss it as unnatural, elitist, or politically driven.  They hold it to be contradictory to their personal or religious values.

Our current president may be a science denier.  Who can tell?  If one thing is paramount in his beliefs it is that he will change those beliefs whenever it suits him and he will deny that he ever held another position. He certainly denies science when its’ teachings don’t work for him politically. He denies the science of climate change and mocks proponents with ridiculous analogies that have nothing to do with climate change or are misinterpretations of simple facts. He denies science when it is more profitable to allow pollution. He denied science when it warned him that the economy needed to take the hit and we needed to shut down non-essential businesses and begin social distancing to slow the epidemic.

Trump distanced himself by appointing VP Mike Pence to head the response team. Yes, this is the same Mike Pence who said in March of 2001, "Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn't kill."  It is also the same Mike Pence who allowed an HIV outbreak to get out of hand in southern Indiana by first closing down a Planned Parenthood clinic and then shutting down a scheduled needle exchange program. Pence’s moral beliefs trumped science. The Planned Parenthood clinic was the only one in the area that could conduct HIV testing and the needle exchange would have curbed the spread of both Hepatitis C and HIV.

Science denial affects public health, the welfare of future generations, and the fate of the planet. Science isn’t perfect. Science is sometimes proven wrong. When science is proven wrong, it is generally because science continually challenges itself and reevaluates its’ positions. It is always acceptable to challenge a scientific point of view, but you must use sound logic, reasoning, and facts when making such a challenge. The “because I said so” argument wasn’t valid when your mother used it and it isn’t valid now. Your mother won the day back then and the politicians will win in the short run now, but science doesn’t care. Plagues don’t come explicitly for one group or another; they don’t attack a population because it has gone astray; they’re neither a divine punishment nor a sign of the Rapture.

Protestors deny the science; note the woman with the sign proclaiming COVID-19 is a lie but wearing PPE

"Plagues don’t come explicitly for one group or another; they don’t attack a population because it has gone astray; they’re neither a divine punishment nor a sign of the Rapture."

The Scientific Method, the foundation of all science, uses experimentation to explore and answer questions. It is wrong to deny the science surrounding the current pandemic, ignore the scientific and medical evidence, challenge its conclusions, and then try to demand that science and medicine find treatments and a cure for the virus. You believe either that science is based on observable facts and testable hypotheses or you believe that it is all hokum and you should just go with your gut.  You shouldn’t cherry-pick those things in science that make your point and then deny all of the rest of the science that doesn’t fit some preconceived notion.  Some would use religious and moral beliefs to put self-interest above the best interests of others.  They are ignoring the teachings of their own faith to justify their own selfish actions.

Cries of fake news or fake science will never negate the truth. In the past, this president has been allowed, at least by supporters, to bend and twist the facts to suit his agenda. When it comes to a killer virus, the numbers of sick and dying will always win the argument. Just saying that all is well won’t make it so.  You can’t argue with refrigerated morgue-trailers filled with this pandemic’s victims.

Refrigerated truck morgues

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."
—Martin Luther King Jr.