The current attack on truth
by the Trump administration seems unprecedented, but upon review it was and is
a tactic used by dictators and ‘dictators-in-the-making.’ The gospel story in John, Ch.18:38 relates
that the Roman governor Pilate asked, “What is truth?” then attempted to erase it with a calculated execution with
plausible deniability.
Children are most
adept at distinguishing the true from the false. Truth
is distilled from fact in the form of make believe or fairy tales. Kids understand.
It is more difficult for adults to define truth when they are fixed on questions pertaining
to truth:
What are the causes? – these are the realists;
What is the really real? – these are the
idealists;
Why me and not nothing? – the existentialists;
What works? - the pragmatists.
Answers must
be certain to protect individual and group identity. There is no compromise with groups with
different questions and different versions of truth.
WHAT TRUTH IS NOT
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George Orwell went beyond such questions with his ‘make
believe’ tale for adults with imagination– Animal Farm. In Orwell’s story the animals take over the
farm of the oppressive capitalist, Mr. Jones.
In time, after an impressive beginning the animals are more exploited
than ever by the animal dictator Napoleon – a pig.
Napoleon secures his power through a public relations campaign based on lies through his spokesperson – Squealer. Animal Farm defines truth by pointing out what it is not – Fake News.
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| Napoleon |
Napoleon secures his power through a public relations campaign based on lies through his spokesperson – Squealer. Animal Farm defines truth by pointing out what it is not – Fake News.
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| Squealer |
WHAT TRUTH IS
The Christmas story defines truth in presenting an image of what it is. Friends and ‘compañeros,’ Pastor Joe Ellwanger and his wife
Joyce, write in their Christmas letter:
The Truth of Christmas is worth celebrating year-round with lives full of
radical love and courageous work for justice.
After all, the Son of God became a human being in the
poverty of a cow stall. It is clear all
human life matters.
Truth is here; we just need to recognize
it and distinguish it from Squealer’s lies.
Artwork by Monique, 3rd grader.
Artwork by Monique, 3rd grader.
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