Worldwide, of those killed by firearms, 91 percent of the children under 14, 90 percent of the women, 92 percent of the 15 – 24 year olds, and 82 percent of all victims, were killed in the United States. This is according to a study published in 2015 in the American Journal of Medicine that included the following 25 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland) and the United States.

I am shocked. I am embarrassed. I am angry.

I don't want to rehash previous thoughts on gun control. But I do want to explore connections. What does this say about us as a country? Is there a common thread that stretches, (beyond our inability to understand the danger inherent in our negligent, nearly nonexistent gun laws), and helps to explain our inability to understand reality across multiple spectrums?

Regardless of evidence to the contrary, those who fervently believe that guns are good also believe that those who disagree are wrong. I believe the common thread is fervent belief. Too many in this country take a stand for a fervent belief and will not move away from that desperate entrenchment for fear of showing weakness; for fear of being left behind; for fear of being left out; for fear of change; for fear of progress; for fear of being wrong; for fear of losing faith. Reason does not stand a chance against ardent, devout, impassioned, emotional, heartfelt, devoted certainty; no matter how ignorant that certainty may be.

I may have angered some with the word “ignorant” above. If so, and you're still reading (or listening), then that's okay. I want a reaction. In fairness, ignorance for me is defined as not knowing and/or incapable of knowing. And a large part of this week's thought revolves around a recognition of the inevitability of individual ignorance. I don't know far, far more than what I do know, and what I do know I am not sure of. Those who fervently believe would likely fervently disagree, especially with the second part of that statement. Stop for a moment, choose a personal belief, and ask yourself if you can say these words about that belief: “What I do know, I am not sure of.” When a belief becomes an unyielding conviction, the individual becomes a quiescent and condescending guardian of a possible truth perceived as The Truth. Constant questioning tests and strengthens faith.

And this is supported by the definition of belief: “confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof.” Why are we so afraid of rigorous proof? Why are we so afraid to be skeptical? To ask questions? To admit to uncertainty? Amongst all the believers, I don't know how to choose. Amongst all the options, I don't know what is best. Amongst all the disagreement, I don't know why it must be so divisive. Amongst all the factions, I don't know who is right. I do know what I believe in this moment but I don't know if it is what I will believe in the next moment. Without rigorous proof I will constantly, in each moment, question myself and question my beliefs. I will listen to and study differing opinions. I will defer to rigorous proof from those I believe (in this moment) to have more expertise than what I possess. I will continue to raise my personal standards for rigorous proof. I will know that I don't know, and even then, I will question that. Some would call this indecisive, cowardly, weak and/or ineffective. I call this a recognition of reality and a desire for interdependent learning and progress. Immovable, unchanging certainty will only keep us where we are at. And as I look around, where we are at is not a very nice place.

I have talked to fervent believers who agree it is not a very nice place; but rather than work together to learn and change and progress and survive, according to the overbearing and unsympathetic judgement of a fervent believer, it would be a much nicer place if we would all just drink the kool-aid.