"They"... Who ARE They?

"They say...you shouldn't go swimming right after you eat."
"They say...we shouldn't have too much white flour."
"They say...humans only use 10% of their brains."
"They say...people tend to marry someone with an opposite                                        personality."
"They say...a baby should not have a pacifier." 

Who are these people?  Who is this collective "they" we hear about all the time? I don't know who they are, but I'd sure like to meet them.  For an invisible group of know-it-alls that no one has ever seen, they sure have a loud voice and large following in our modern society.  Evidently, I am not the only one wondering about them. Someone wrote a book called Coercion: Why We Listen to What "They" Say. And in the movie, Elizabethtown, two characters have a conversation that lasts all night and one of the subjects they discuss is what "they say", while questioning who "they" are.  Well?  Who are they?  If we buy into what "they say"  without questioning them, that's allowing "them" to make up our minds for us.  If "they" stay anonymous, how am I to check their sources and verify their evidence?

I'm going to do something in this blog that I think "they would say" is not politically correct.  I'm going to quote Hitler. (*loud gasp from all of "them"*)  One day while going through a gift shop I saw a little sign.  It read:
                   
                        "What luck for rulers that men do not think."
                                                                                                         -Adolf Hitler                             
It's a sobering thought that even Hitler understood the weak person was the one who didn't think for themselves, who automatically, mindlessly followed what they were told.  God gave us minds, to reason, to think and discern.  I don't want to be a mindless robot who can't think for herself, who goes around quoting what "they say" about everything - from what to eat to how I should raise my children. The important things in life God wants us to know, HE says in the Bible.

In my opinion, one of the main things affecting our country is that we've become people with no common sense. (Therefore, people need a Dr. Phil to tell them everyday common sense)  We've lost the art of thinking our own original thoughts.  If we hear something enough times, we think it must be true.  Why else would companies bombarded us with commercials on television and  line our highways with their billboards?  "They" think we'll just listen and believe what's said.  I get a little testy about this subject especially when it comes to my children!  I don't want any "invisible theys" telling them what clothes are acceptable, what deodorant is sexy, or what gum is awesome.  I pray my kids grow up to think for themselves!  My hope is that the children of this generation will take back their minds and be confident in their God-given thinking skills and learn some common sense. These are the kind of wise men  that founded our country - Deeply convicted, independent thinking, strong men who reasoned with good sense and followed God.  May we learn from their example, and think!  Think wisely!

          

"Get wisdom, get understanding; 
   do not forget my words or turn away from them. 
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; 

   love her, and she will watch over you. 

  The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. 

   Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 

  Cherish her, and she will exalt you; 

   embrace her, and she will honor you. 

  She will give you a garland to grace your head 

   and present you with a glorious crown.”

Proverbs 4:5-9