Is there a Santa Claus
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?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lea MacDonald inventor@adan.kingston.net