For the Record - I am deeply committed to everyone's right to their own opinion.
But I am also committed to truth ... and in these days, half-truths, unverified truths, speculative "truths," conspiracy theories, distrust of scientists, and many ideological interpretations of our current events can cost people lives.
If I pass on something that causes people great hard by lowering their guard, then I am not loving my neighbor ... so I will not participate.
I believe the experts. I believe them most when their facts and findings are made available with their raw data and subject to press and peer scrutiny, the scientific method, fact-checking, and correction.
I am committed to a conservative approach to reopening our public places, use of precautions, and mutual sacrifice for the good of others.
Caution can save lives.
I have friends suffering from Covid 19 and in grave health. Some people I know and know of have died. They are not inflated their statistics. This is real. It is happening in our plain sight.
I know the medical people and hospitals that are making profound sacrifices and taking great risks. They are not doing it for money or to wield power over us.
My own non-profit has been virtually put out of business by this crisis. We have suffered and the people we serve have as well --- but I am not about to endanger their lives to save our organization or program. Things can be rebuilt. We have to share in sacrifice for the sake of community.
I am motivated by the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor and I know we all have to work out what that looks like for ourselves ... but I know it does not mean vilifying people who are trying their best to help and acting in courage to do so.
I am also motivated by logic and healthy skepticism and that skepticism includes looking with jaundiced eye and yellow journalism that calls legitimate journalism , "fake" because it does not bend in a particular ideological direction. I check multiple sources and research the background and that includes the credentials of authors and publishers I read.
This crisis is real. The sicknesses are real. The economic impacts are real. The deaths are real. There are real people working hard on this and, for my money, the mainstream press is doing an excellent job of keeping us informed and asking hard questions ... which is their job.
So, there it is, for the record, my position, or at least part of it. You can disagree with me and I will still love you ... and wear a mask around you for the time being.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16
And now, a little inspiration from some real heroes.
