My, my, is that a fact?

Back when I was teaching, one of the second grade objectives was to teach the difference between fact and opinion. That's not as easy as it sounds, especially when you're dealing with little people who sometimes believe there really are monsters under the bed.

I'm reminded of this during all of the political debate that's going on during this election year. I often read the opinion that one or the other party/politician can't be bothered with facts. It made me think about facts and how they relate to the nature of reality.

See, I'm very taken with the idea of perception. So while a fact is clear cut by definition --- (see dictionary.com below) ---- it might not be so black and white after all. Alas. Especially by one of the definitions which explicitly declares facts can be determined by experience or observation. Really? There's a lot of wiggle room in that. Just take a look at all the higher numbered channels on cable tv. We've got ghosts, flying saucers, conspiracies, unsolved mysteries ... those are facts, observable facts, to the people involved.

So you have a group of people who passionately believe they have the facts, who spend gazillions of dollars on ads that create nausea in some portion of the viewing public, and another group of people who counter those "factual" ads with facts of their own. Whose view of reality will prevail? The ones with the loudest voice? Deepest pockets? Most reasonable arguments? Facts may not have much to do with it.

When my son was little, 4 or 5, even though he dressed like Superman most days and flew around the house with his cape streaming along behind him, at bedtime he was scared of the monsters in the closet or under the bed. No amount of examining the closet, lying on the floor to peer at the dust bunnies, or reasonable and logical argument could overcome the fear. It was only when I gave him the weapon of a flashlight --- it runs in my mind it was a Mickey Mouse flashlight, which hardly seems like a fierce monster weapon --- that he was able to calm his fears and go to sleep easily. Then he had logic + power.

There are some pretty hoary old monsters under the bed this election cycle. For whatever reason, some of the crypt-keepers have unleashed demons from decades and centuries past, like birth control, religious liberty, family planning, (Anybody else remember the slogan "Every child a wanted child"? Whatever happened to that?) These are the side dishes, to accompany the usual liberal vs. conservative economic cant. It's like a really big state fair where the midway is nothing but freak shows. Where are the rides and cotton candy?

All right, enough mixed metaphors.

I have strongly held opinions based on what I like to think are solid facts: Women give birth. That's a fact, right? When women give birth, their bodies go through very intense physical changes. Fact? No disputes there? When a baby is born, it must be cared for or it will die. No argument there. Babies are not self-sufficient. They're not rugged individuals. Someone will have to feed them, change them, clean them, and hopefully hold, cuddle and love them. Otherwise they die.

Given those facts, and the fact that we (collectively) have available to us various means of preventing an unwelcome pregnancy, and therefore the birth of a baby who may not be well cared for, it should (here's the opinion, should being the operative word) be the woman's choice whether or not to go through those intense physical changes and take on the responsibility for keeping a completely dependent human being alive and healthy.

As for sex, which is inextricably linked up in here, human organisms --- yes, that's us --- are endowed with an inborn urge to procreate, just like other species. Otherwise we wouldn't be here to try to figure out facts and opinions. How that instinct is engaged is dependent on many factors, most of which are based in opinion, (Hello!--morality is opinion, not fact) but rest assured that it will manifest, because it must. Our continuation on the planet depends on it, and it is not going away.

BIG OPINION: I have no use for people who want to tell me what to do with my body. Never have, never will. Especially men. Especially old white men. Lay off! It's not a battle you're going to win and if you manage to piss off all the women, who are in the majority, I remind you, it will not be pretty. Carry it to its logical extreme --- blood running in the streets, men vs. women in mortal combat. That's not what you want. See paragraph above. So short of violence and mayhem, what are you going to do? Lock us up? Put us in burkas? Good luck with that.

We'll let you keep playing in our playpen, but you're going to have to learn some fucking manners. Got it?

If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. End of opinion.

fact

   [fakt]  Show IPA

noun

1.

something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears haveno basis in fact.

2.

something known to exist or to have happened: Space travelis now a fact.

3.

a truth known by actual experience or observation;something known to be true: Scientists gather facts aboutplant growth.

4.

something said to be true or supposed to have happened:The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.

5.

Law . Often, facts. an actual or alleged event orcircumstance, as distinguished from its legal effect orconsequence. Compare question of fact, question of law.