We aspire to be rational, fact driven humans who occasionally submit to emotional pulls on our decision-making process.

 No. Not even remotely true. We’ve always been emotional beings who occasionally submit to facts, experience and good judgement, when advantageous to do so.

 Rather than confess to our duplicity, we chose to think truth is messy, subject to poor vision, misleading first impressions and irony.  Irony can turn any first impression upside down.  In “Irony World,” there is wiggle room between different versions of truths. It is irresistible, even obligatory that we choose the version complying with our self-interest, or self-image.  We spend huge sums on tobacco alcohol, sugar snacks and illicit addictive drugs that injure our judgement and health.  We spend far less on vegetables, fruit or gym membership. These are not the choices of a rational population.

If truly rational, we would lean towards equality, diversity and reward only the best.  But then we’re reminded of our tribe, our kids, or political party and duplicity looks good again.  Take the extreme case of our Christian Messiah. You don’t go far as a Messiah by showing up in the conventional way. Our Savior arrived with credentials: Angles, a great star over his birthplace and, get this, a virgin birth.  Despite persuasive evidence to the contrary, we sing and celebrate the miraculous arrival of our Masah and the helpful message he brought. If an immaculate conception lends credence and solemnity to the message, we accept that. Virgin births in other circumstances get no songs and smack of duplicity. What does this say about the exalted standing of intelligent beings on earth? Can we still, with a straight face, defend our superior grasp on truth? Chimpanzees, wise owls, and other life forms look on us with condescending giggle, thinking? “These big-brain humans are drinking too much booze and sniffing too much weed.” You could forgive them for believing Nature created humans who could believe anything, in error but never in doubt. If so, congratulations to Nature’s evolution. Mission accomplished. I, however, will continue with unbounded belief in my own children, raise a glass of champagne at Christmas, and sing carols with them