Look Behind The Words
It’s hard to believe anything these days when outright and obvious lies are so often treated as fact.
Few seem to have the interest, time, or ability to check to see what is actually true and what is fantasy. Much of what is said these days is so outrageous I’m unable to understand how so many accept it as truth. There are millions of people, for instance, who think climate change is a hoax perpetuated by climate scientists for some nefarious purpose. Even as they’re overwhelmed by 500 year floods every year or two.
Much of this neverending barrage of lies comes from those in positions of power. Politicians flood the media with falsehoods on numerous issues and commentators nod their heads in agreement, the leaders of global companies pass off nonsense to defend their compensation, share price, and illegal actions, and religious leaders try to downplay horrific actions taken by their colleagues and explain why it makes sense to hate those of differing beliefs.
On a smaller scale, the dishonesty and lies can come at you in daily conversation. People tell you things and ask you to do things that seem reasonable. You take what they say at face value without ever looking beneath the surface. While not outright lies, their words were chosen in such a way as to keep you from asking a follow-up question. A question that might drill down and uncover something they hoped to keep hidden, something they don’t want you to know about them or the truth about what will happen if you do what they’re asking you to do.
As Lyndon Johnson offered, “The most important thing a man has to tell you is what he’s not telling you. The most important thing is what he’s trying not to say.”
These seemingly innocent conversations and requests are a form of misdirection. A way to lull you into doing something you might not want to do if you took the time to think through the implications.
In an instantaneous world, taking the time to evaluate what you hear, investigate the truth of what you hear, or even stop and just think about what you hear, takes too long. After all, every second something else tries to grab your attention. So we take the easy way out. We accept what we hear and move on.
Do yourself a favor. Slow down and think a bit more about things you’re told or are told to do. Slow down and think even longer about things you’re told that don’t seem quite right, reasonable, or realistic. It’s your responsibility to do what you can to help uncover deceit and corruption. After all, the thing those misleading you fear most is the power of a shining light that reveals the truth.
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