WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced a resolution with Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02) recognizing May 4th as a “National Day of Reason” in America. The resolution is a call to celebrate reason, empirical inquiry, knowledge, facts, and science as the guideposts for democratic progress.
“When the framers of the Constitution advanced a Bill of Rights, they knew that freedom of thought and reason would be the essential preconditions for progress in government and society,” said Rep. Raskin. “Right now, authoritarian despots from Moscow to Mar-A-Lago are promoting conspiracy theories, bigotry and propaganda to undermine the habits of critical thinking and logical reasoning that are central to our democracy. We need to combat the flood of disinformation and lies in order to restore truth and reason to their rightful place in our democracy. I’m introducing the National Day of Reason Resolution because the quest for truth is interwoven with strong democracy.”
“Designating a National Day of Reason to celebrate the importance of critical thinking and reason is an important symbol of our values as a country,” said Rep. Huffman. “Every problem we face today will be a test of our ability to reason through complex challenges including combatting climate change and bringing the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. Reason is also central to our American identity – our Founders specifically protected the right of free inquiry, speech, and thought. We must continue to defend reason and rationality as the bedrock of our collective progress.”
“The National Day of Reason is an important and necessary opportunity to recenter reason and science as guiding principles of society. The complicated issues we face as a nation require rational solutions founded in reason,” said Nadya Dutchin, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “We're grateful to Representative Raskin, Representative Huffman, and all cosponsors for introducing this resolution today.”
The National Day of Reason Resolution will make May 4th the “National Day of Reason,” which will be dedicated to the advancement of reason, science, the rule of law, human rights and empirical inquiry. This day will encourage all Americans to remember and celebrate the central role of reason, science, common sense, empiricism and logic in the success of our institutions. The text of the resolution can be found here.
The National Day of Reason Resolution is endorsed by the American Humanist Association.
The full list of original cosponsors includes Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13).
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