We now know

We now know

Have you ever heard the phrase "we now know?"   I can't help but think, if you now know it, why didn't you know it before, and worst, if you now know something you didn't know before, then, who's to say that what you know now will be replaced with a new statement tomorrow?

I remember watching the Chicago Cubs in 1969 and Ernie banks saying, "The cubs will shine in 69".  It was his thing to create an optimistic phrase every year.  Furthermore, I remember that steaks were the protein of choice for the athlete working out and that a good breakfast was a glass of orange juice, eggs and bacon.  WE NOW KNOW that one egg supplies your daily amount of cholesterol, not to include the bacon, butter on the toast and that second or third egg.  That orange juice will spike your insulin because it's so rich in sugar.  Man, I NOW KNOW that I  really DON'T KNOW which plan to choose?  Atkins?  30/40/30, low fat?, low carbs?   It's even gotten to the point that psychiatrists/psychologists are the authorities on television telling us the way things are because "we now know". 

I'm sorry, I don't know that all things fall or fit into this class.  For example, I think it's always been wrong, is wrong, and ever shall be wrong to do certain things, like murdering someone, committing adultery, stealing, etc...  I'm not saying that I'm not tempted and or even failed.  I'm simply saying that I'm not willing to vacate the everlasting knowledge with the temporal knowledge.  If the truth is only what I perceive it to be then we've digressed though it appears to be progress. 

Now, I know that I've jumped from an empirical point earlier, (that knowledge is ascertained by a processes of theorizing something that is, and testing it) to an argument for the moral imperative, (that certain things are always right or always wrong regardless of supposed hypothesis, data gathering and conclusions put forth).  But, I think there's a connection.  I once worked with a Duke graduate who worked for a household name pharmacy company that told me she wanted to change careers to programming because of the pressures to pass drugs through and ignore apparent anomalies or false conclusions.  The point is, when theory, hypothesis, and conclusion also include an intention for data to come to a certain conclusion, the "we now know" is grossly overrated. 

When you see a doctor, he/she has protocol and this previously accepted knowledge is their guidelines whereby decisions are made and CAN affect you adversely.  For example, should you have a mammogram every year?  Recently, that apparent absolute and resounding "YES" is being questioned because .... you guessed it, "we now know".  Well, what about all those women who have been saturated with the negative effects of the radiation having followed the supposed FORMER "we now know?"

In conclusion, I've always known the love of my parents and siblings.  I've always known that I will die one day.  I've always known that this life is futile, limited, and unless an eternal perspective is factored in, well... less than optimal.  I've always known the love of a wife, the love of my children, the moral absolutes that never change.  I've always known that most people try hard and do their best, but the best thing to say is rather than "we now know" would be "we sure hope this is right" because if it isn't, you may be affecting us adversely.  Let us hope to find the things that have an eternal rather than temporal benefit.