I’m fully aware that many people within the United States (U.S.) have expressed displeasure with those of us who continue to highlight psychoeducational lessons which stem from the reaction to COVID-19 in the form of lockdowns and other such measures.
Nevertheless, I find utility in assessing this matter. In the interest of learning from past nonadaptive behavior, I maintain a COVID-19 blog category that contains information about pandemic beliefs which were illogical and unreasonable (collectively “irrational”).
When contemplating this matter, it’s worth knowing that belief is defined as a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing. Noteworthy, I posit that a human’s default condition is the experience of automatic irrational beliefs
For context, in order for a belief to be considered rational, it empirically must remain in accord with both logic (interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable) and reason (a statement offered in explanation or justification).
To demonstrate what I mean, let’s briefly explore the topic of racism—a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority or inferiority of a particular race.
Beliefs occur within one’s mind and aren’t observable. Although the product of beliefs may be apparent to others, such as speech or behavior, beliefs are merely a result of thinking in which conviction of truth regarding reality is based on examination or exclusion of evidence.
For example, I once worked with a white man who in his teenage years was severely battered by a group of black individuals. As a result of his beliefs about the incident, my former coworker concluded that black people were “no good.” Let’s unpack his belief through use of a syllogism:
Form (modus ponens) –
If p, then q; p; therefore, q.
Example –
If my former coworker believed that black people were inherently inferior to white people, then that individual qualified for the definition of a racist. My former coworker believed that black people were inherently inferior to white people. Therefore, that individual qualified for the definition of a racist.
I believe that my former coworker was racist. Using the above syllogism to illustrate the logic for my belief, the premises lead to a reasonable conclusion. It’s considered reasonable, as I’ve based the qualification of “racist” on the definition of racism.
Because my belief meets the criteria of a cognitive proposition based on both logic and reason, it’s a rational belief. Notably, I made no prescriptive or values-based judgement about my coworker (i.e., he shouldn’t be racist, or he’s a bad person for being racist). Do you understand?
Now, one of the major points of contention I had with the U.S. reaction to COVID-19 was that rhetoric supporting the response was based on irrationality. For instance, on August 24, 2022, I posted a blog entry entitled Repost: Revisiting Protective Measures in which I stated:
I observed [as] states across the U.S. began to lockdown as so-called experts advised that protesting was less risky than the ideology of racism—though not an applicable standard for protesters of all races or ideologies.
Having hatred in one’s mind for another race is not equivalent to a biological virus said to wreak havoc on one’s immune and other vital systems. This is scientism and fear at play, not science at work.
Do you recall the absurdity of the U.S. reaction to COVID-19? We were told “two weeks to flatten the curve,” “two weeks to slow the spread,” and were advised to maintain “six feet” of social distancing. That was unless people wanted to protest a belief. Per one 2020 source:
A group of health and medical colleagues has penned an open letter to express their concern that protests around the United States could be shut down under the guise of coronavirus health concerns.
The letter – which went on to draw more than 1,200 signatures – focuses on techniques to reduce harm to people protesting racial injustice.
“We created the letter in response to emerging narratives that seemed to malign demonstrations as risky for the public health because of Covid-19,” according to the letter writers, many of whom are part of the University of Washington’s Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“Instead, we wanted to present a narrative that prioritizes opposition to racism as vital to the public health, including the epidemic response. We believe that the way forward is not to suppress protests in the name of public health but to respond to protesters demands in the name of public health, thereby addressing multiple public health crises.”
Much of the COVID-19 federal, state, and local government messaging, to include non-governmental corporate narratives, was sheer, unadulterated, now-verifiable bullshit! Helpfully, those of us who were brave enough to call out that shit in the moment used rationality.
Face-covering was helpful to a limited degree and only for one who properly wore a mask. Gene therapy disguised as a “vaccine” was arguably never “safe and effective” when it wasn’t subject to the rigors of scientific testing. Now, more is understood about such audacious claims.
Still, I find it easy to understand how people irrationally believed that a plastic barrier separating them and a cashier at a grocery store may’ve offered protection against the transmission of COVID-19, although admittedly an implausible conclusion. I can comprehend that belief.
Yet, I find it more challenging to grasp how anyone fell for the illogical and unreasonable notion that racism—a belief—was more deadly than a viral infection. That’s an incomprehensible belief, presuming an individual at least attempts to use logic and reason when thinking.
Nevertheless, the champion of science and health put forth as a reaction to irrational COVID-19 measures, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, stated earlier this week:
Anti-Semitism – like racism – is a spiritual and moral malady that sickens societies and kills people with lethalities comparable to history’s most deadly plagues […] In recent years, the censorship and false narratives of woke cancel culture have transformed our great universities into greenhouses for this deadly and virulent pestilence. Making America healthy means building communities of trust and mutual respect, based on speech freedom and open debate.
What!? What part of “spiritual and moral malady” may be measured using the scientific method? What deadly belief has killed “people with leathalities comparable to history’s most deadly plagues”? What in the world is RFK Jr. advocating when expressing such bullshit?
Even socialism and communism, with the slew of dead bodies which have resulted in the wake of behavior stemming from these ideologies, isn’t deadly in and of itself. Likewise, racism didn’t kill anyone during the COVOD-19 lockdowns. This is because there are no deathly beliefs.
One would suspect that RFK Jr. would be more focused on anti-scientific beliefs (colloquially “scientism”) while advocating an anti-scientism posture. However, he’s apparently more concerned with anti-Semitism.
Per Merriam-Webster, anti-Semitism (also “antisemitism”) is defined as “hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.” Hostility and discrimination can be action-based. Alternatively, the U.S. Department of State uses the following definition:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
Perception (a mental image) and hatred (extreme dislike or disgust) are cognitive-based elements. Rhetoric (skill in the effective use of speech) and physical (having material existence) manifestation (a perceptible, outward, or visible expression) are behavior-based elements.
Thus, given the aforementioned definitions of anti-Semitism on which RFK Jr. appears to base his irrational claim, both psychological and physiological exhibition of belief and belief-driven behavior constitutes “deadly and virulent pestilence.” This is absurd rhetoric.
I’ll grant that my former coworker who despised black people would commit a crime if he uses his vehicle to deliberately run over black joggers. However, I wouldn’t agree that this constitutes a “hate crime,” because I reject the notion of belief serving as a “malady that sickens societies.”
As preposterous as it was for so-called “experts” to claim that racism killed people and that massive protests during COVID-19 lockdowns were therefore warranted, I can at least appreciate their advocacy for First Amendment protections. This includes advocating racist beliefs.
On the other hand, RFK Jr. appears to be making an anti-free speech proposal. I wholly reject his interpreted stance. Therefore, I agree with the position of one source that states:
Public-health officials […] needn’t get near debates about campus anti-Semitism. They are charged with stopping literal plagues and pestilence, and perhaps with mitigating chronic illnesses at scale, not with eradicating social ills that they metaphorically liken to a disease.
It’s literally not RFK Jr.’s job to police beliefs or the speech of U.S. citizens – which includes college and university campus protests. Besides, antisemitism isn’t a deadly belief. I bet Jew didn’t see that coming, did Jew?
If you misconstrue a joke, disagree with a perception, or reject hatred (or what you misperceive as hatred, which may merely be a difference of opinion), then I’m open to entertaining a discussion about irrational beliefs. However, there are no deadly beliefs!
In closing, suppose that my former coworker rolled over black joggers while yelling out the window of his vehicle, “I fuckin’ hate niggeRs!” Even then, it’s his behavior – not his beliefs – which constitutes deadly and illegal action. Belief would have killed no one in that moment.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
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