- It was while watching a recent TV Christmas commercial
it occurred to me that I'd soon have to provide a definitive answer to
a timeless question: "Dad, is there a Santa Claus?"
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- I've had several days to consider a few possible answers
which ranged from overwhelming public proclamation to the scientific. I
decided to settle on scientific validation.
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- What I needed was evidence which showed science accepting
the existence of something outside being able to directly observe it. Kids,
you need not trouble yourself with the scientific answer below - this is
for your parents. I, for one, understand children have always known the
"real" answer.
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- Enter the Higgs boson, A.K.A. the God particle. Dubbed
the "God particle" by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman
(I purchased his book), the Higgs boson is a controversial particle believed
to endow all other particles with mass. Lederman's hypothesis supports
the existence of the elusive God particle based on its effect on visible
particles (in close proximity to it) after a collision in a supercollider.
A simpler explanation would be to consider an invisible soccer ball being
kicked into a net. Although you wouldn't see the soccer ball fly or enter
the net, the bulge in the back of the net would prove the existence of
the ball - not to mention a goal.
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- In short, we have an observable cause and effect relationship
which science has seized upon to support its position that something unobservable
can and does exist. Remember, science is simply observing effects of an
unobservable particle, not the particle itself. Therefore, we need only
prove an effect is present to substantiate the irrefutable existence of
Santa Claus.
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- Enter Santa Claus, A.K.A. Saint Nic. Despite the fact
many millions of children have provided wondrous wide-eyed corroboration
of the jolly old soul's existence, grownups (who've drifted too far from
childhood) remain blind and deaf to such innocent, compelling and utterly
unimpeachable, confirmation - they should get a lump of coal!
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- Back to science. In our quest for immutable evidence
to Santa's existence we need only prove he has an observable effect - if
it's good enough for science, it's good enough for Santa!
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- Three years ago I was attending an old-folks home which
was about to welcome Santa Claus. The room was filled with gentle old souls
sitting at long tables which framed a circle of wheel chairs. A hush fell
over the group as they strained to hear the distant giggle of the merriest
elf.
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- As Santa strode into the room, several matriarchs exclaimed,
"Look! It's Santa!" His twinkling blue eyes fell on a motionless
figure slumped in her wheelchair, her sparkling name tag hung as immobile
as she. As Santa walked to her side, the room fell silent. His deep gentle
voice filled the room. "Oh, my dear Sara, how you've grown over the
years. Have you been a good girl?" Several gasped at what happened
next. Sara, who'd been silent and motionless for the past year, began to
move. Her eyes slowly opened as her bobbing head craned upward to find
his familiar face. Her emotionless face began to beam. "Hi Santa."
She whispered.
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- The noblest of elves began to laugh filling the room
with his booming roar, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" The rest of the group joined
in, nervously at first, then into full joyous laughter. I studied the face
of one nurse standing beside Sara (Nurse: Noun; earthly angel who has not
yet received their wings) who was crying then giggled in puzzled amazement,
her hand over her mouth.
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- Santa moved about the room addressing everyone by name
knowing something personal about those he spoke with. The nurses looked
at each other perplexed, their shoulders shrugged as they scanned the room
for a face with an answer - there was none.
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- After several minutes, Santa left. The room filled with
excited chatter as people started to recount what had just happened. Several
nurses surrounded Sara who'd slumped once again and gone quiet - they rubbed
her hands imploring her to speak, she would not stir.
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- Science? Well, if we need only prove something heretofore
considered not to be detectable only have an effect on something in order
to exist, then we have proved our case.
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- Some say angels walk among us - that we should treat
everyone with respect and kindness for we know not whom we entertain -
after that evening, I am compelled to believe them.
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