Congressman Jamie Raskin and Congressman Jared Huffman have introduced a bill to declare May 4 the National Day of Reason to recognize and celebrate science, common sense and logic as essential preconditions for progress in our government and society at large. (They are the co-founders of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.)
“At a time when authoritarians, demagogues and hucksters around the world are promoting conspiracy theories, irrationalism, bigotry and propaganda, it is more important than ever to defend truth and reason, which are central to a strong democracy,” said Rep. Raskin. “A National Day of Reason will bring our nation’s founding tenets of empirical inquiry, knowledge, facts and science to the forefront. These governing principles, central in the framing of our Constitution and to our democracy remain crucial as we navigate surging political extremism and a new digital landscape rife with mis- and disinformation.”
What exactly is reason? Reason: ‘To form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.’ What if everyone did that, just for one day? Reason and knowledge informed the founding of the United States and in that process, the separation of church and state. Reason and knowledge supported the numerous scientific and technological accomplishments that have made this country successful.
Please use our Action Alert to ask your Congressional representatives to support May 4 as our National Day of Reason starting next year.
Your advocate,
Scott MacConomy
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Secular Coalition for America
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The Secular Coalition for America works every day to defend the separation of religion and government and to fight anti-democratic ideologies like Christian nationalism. Your support for this work is vital.