In the lead - head or heart?

Albert Schweitzer made 12 sojourns to Africa, eventually dying there in 1965. He discovered his philosophy of civilization there - reverence for life. He pondered the mystery of cruelty and pain that one creature causes another. He formulated the theory that those with the ‘Mark of Pain’ share a special solidarity. He believed that the enemy of morality is indifference or what Jesus called the attitude of the lukewarm. He wrote that true heart is rational; true reason has sensitivity. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and numerous other accolades. A genius like Albert Schweitzer with rarity, "comes to life and speaks out of a vacuum. Then it is silent, equally mysteriously," says historian, writer and philosopher, Paul Johnson. Inexplicable exceptionalism such as Schweitzer’s also manifested itself during the 300 year period from 1300 to 1600 in Europe, known as the Renaissance. Yet genius can erupt any time in history.

My flight into pondering the heights of accomplishment must be balanced with a visit to the real world of the ignorant as exemplified in Ohio. A high school student contributed an article to my local paper discussing the fact that 33% of girls and women in America are abused and seeking solutions. Also, a poll of registered Ohio voters showed that 86% felt the economy is "not so good or poor, " but less than ½, 44%, felt that their personal financial situation was "not so good or poor." Should we accept these percentages as facts? No. We should ask what is the definition of abuse. Who benefits from such an outrageous claim? How can the economy be poor for everyone but everyone not include the person questioned? The question should be asked whether ‘data’ reflects media biases designed to be ingested by gullible listeners and readers. Do numbers result from manipulation of questions framed to determine outcome? Reason should lead and hearts in the matters follow.

Unlike genius, ignorance erupts all the time in history. Politicians count on it.