The sky is green.
Off we go into the wild green yonder.
Let’s green-sky that idea.
The sky is green.
Don’t look so perplexed. It’s not a difficult concept to grasp.
Say it with me: ‘The sky is green.?
Say it again.
‘The sky is green.?
There, that’s not so difficult, is it? Kind of rolls off the tongue.
‘The sky is green.?
Why this strange exercise? Call it an experiment in social engineering. It is the desire of this columnist to impact the culture for years to come.
The sky is green.
Say it to your friends and acquaintances. Be sure to say it several times so it will be embedded in their memories. Share with them our intent to be on the cutting edge of cultural evolution.
The sky is green.
Foolishness? Perhaps not. After all, there are several similar statements already accepted by many educated, rational people in modern society.
For example:
? ‘Separation of church and state? is in the Constitution of the United States.
? Science has proven evolution of the species.
? Homosexual behavior is biologically normal.
None of the above statements have historic or scientific basis in fact. All, however, have come to be common beliefs.
How? Primarily through repetition, based on oversimplistic reasoning or selective presentation of information, usually accompanied by a degree of passion.
It helps when such statements can be repeated by people of some prestige and respect. People in the legal and psychological fields have been especially helpful in some of these areas.
(‘The sky is green, according to a recent study conducted by the Foundation for a Free-Thinking Society.?)
Gradually, these beliefs become so accepted that anyone who dares question them is seen as ignorant, illogical, insensitive or any combination thereof. Rather than make waves or run the risk of seeming ‘intolerant,? many folks quietly accept such statements.
(‘The sky may not be green for me, but it’s OK for the sky to be green for others.?)
Then we pass them on to our children who, given no other option to study, accept them as truth.
(‘The answer to question #3 is: The sky is green.?)
Abbott and Costello are most famous for their ‘Who’s On First?? routine. Another, almost as brilliant, has Costello arguing that seven weeks of room rent at $13 per week equals $28. Using a chalkboard, he ‘proves? this through addition, multiplication and division.
The creative math is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Even absolute truth (the existence of which is questioned by too many these days) can be twisted if we’re not careful. So it is with too many of today’s cultural assumptions, and one bad conclusion inevitably leads to others.
Unfortunately, that’s not funny.
The sky is green.