A Few Things I Believe In

I believe in the smell of fresh cut grass in the summer, and the feel of cold wet snow falling down my neck in the winter. I believe in staying up late to talk with old friends. And I believe that nothing purchased with dollars can be nearly as self-satisfying as a good deed, well performed.

I believe that in America the fanatical worship of professional sports qualifies it for religious status, and that throwing $100 million at Denver’s high priests of baseball is a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state. I believe that Magic Johnson is basketball’s greatest player ever, that golf is nothing more than high class bowling, and that there is no person more interesting to meet than a person who is interested in whatever is going on around him.

I believe that John Irving’s A Prayer For Owen Meany was a much better novel that The World According to Garp, though I loved them both. I believe that even though we can never know too much, we will never know enough, either. I believe that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit and is filled with God’s word, but that some things that we know to be “sinful” might be better thought of as “stupid;” I believe that God was providing us with helpful hints to make life easier - rather than rules to make life difficult. And I believe that God gave us potatoes so that we might someday invent french fries, and that to avoid french fries for health reasons is an abomination to our Creator.

I believe absolutely in the power of a good education. I also believe that students who drop out of school have a better grasp of the wretched state of the public education system than do the bureaucrats and politicians who run it. I believe that being successful is a good way for me to say “thank you” to my parents.

I believe that philosophy does not exist, therefore it is - and that the questions of “what is the sound of one hand clapping” begs the larger, more important question of “what is the other hand up to?” I believe that in theater, a good musical is easier to write than a good drama, but I would still prefer going to the musical, given a choice. I believe that movies on the big screen are nothing more than televisions shows for snobs. I believe I’m a snob.

I believe that big government is the enemy of democracy. I believe that anyone who has listened to the words in rap music could not have been too surprised by the riots in Los Angeles. I believe fervently in the line item veto as a means of reducing Congressional pork. And I believe that in hell the 24-hour muzak will be interrupted frequently by Tom Shane’s jewelry commercials.

Finally, I believe in getting teary-eyed at the happy ending of a dream come true, that Tchaikovsky overdid it with the cannons - but I still love his music, and I believe in the gentle solitude of a couple enjoying time together without even needing to talk. But most of all, I believe we are constantly faced with a choice of capitalizing on the present, or wishing for something else, and that with God’s help and direction we are capable of making the right choice.

Douglas B. May, CFA, is President of May-Investments, LLC and author of Investment Heresies.

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