Trust Yourself First, ‘Experts’ Second

Trust Yourself First, ‘Experts’ Second

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I recently saw the very gruesome pictures of John F. Kennedy's autopsy. A little disturbing, but I think necessary if those interested want to put to rest the mysteries surrounding the late president's assassination. Although, as with other such phenomena, I don't think anything will ever put this specific American controversy to 'actual' rest. It is too steeped in our twentieth century culture and too savory for our sensationalistic hearts.
But can we at least attain a modicum of confidence in what we may call, 'The most likely of answers' with this, and other so called unknowable occurrences, concepts, or incidents that arise from time to time?
I look at these things, and the like, from a similar position with regard to Bibliology. If the Word of God makes an explicit statement, then I take it for what it is – unless of course it is clearly meant to be inferred as symbolic, parabolic, metaphoric, or otherwise. I tend toward a 'minimalist' take on that which I see as valuable or worthy of my notice or contemplation. How much am I going to have to give to a point at the outset? How much fat is needed for padding in order to embrace a particular idea or philosophy? I try to restrict it to a merely thin layer if any at all; at least, that's my hopeful notion for my own objectivity.
But we are easily caught up in such musings as they have a way of plucking the strings of our romantic fantasies only to later resound with discordant harmonies and shrill, plangent declarations of our fatuous gullibility.
A friend of mine once asked me about a news item regarding coffee. "They say now," he said, "That coffee isn't bad for you as was previously thought – in fact, there are some beneficial things that are being found out about it." He had cut down on his coffee consumption with the first report, and went back to his normal intake with the second. When I told him that I paid only mild attention to such so called, 'Studies have shown' kinds of media flashes, his consternation was evident.
"Well then," he asked, "Who do you believe when it comes to what's healthy and what's not?"
"Who do I believe? ME!" I replied.
I didn't say this out of arrogance or self-absorption, I simply said it because as I see it, it's the wisest choice one can make. One should trust oneself. Not that we should never listen to others, experts included, or refuse to sort through the facts of some such and such finding or report. Of course we should. Those experts have much to offer us, some of it bringing health and wellbeing.
And some of it bringing death and destruction.
Let us not forget that in the 1960's Europe approved a drug known as Thalidomide. It was developed and distributed by 'The Experts' and the result was thousands of babies born with terrible deformities of the limbs. However, 'The Experts' in America did not approve the drug, saying that it needed more study, and thankfully, we only had 17 occurrences of the same problem. The moral of the story? Experts can be wrong. I'm sure that those responsible felt terrible and were very sorry for their tragic mistake. However, they then went back to their healthy normal children.
The parents and their unfortunate babies did not.
The bottom line is this: We are responsible for our own decisions. It doesn't matter what someone with a white lab coat and PhD tells us. We are our own keepers. They may give the okay to certain behaviors or drugs or lifestyles, but we suffer with the results. After we've acted upon their highly educated and erudite opinions, like guinea pigs, we squeak and screech at our wounds and watch as they shed a sometimes genuine, sometimes insouciant tear for our situation, then move on to the next Federal Grant subsidized research project.
So I guess, man up. Take charge. Listen to those who have many hours of study in the field of whatever it is that you are checking on. If it squares with logic and reason, take it. If it doesn't, always remember: God gave you a brain too. And often, it works better than The Experts.

Keck