OpEd:
America’s Truth Delusion
August 31, 2009 by Kyle BradyTags: America, Facts, Gullible, Information Vetting, Lies, Politicians, Politics
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Modern America is a cesspool of misinformation, half-truths, and cracked belief systems that has reached the point of critical mass, and not only in politics. Within religion, healthcare, popular culture, and almost every other facet of the American lifestyle, millions of people hold so-called “beliefs” on topics which they know little about, yet feel empowered to not only share spiritedly with others, but also take offense when questioned or confronted with contrary evidence. This truth delusion, America, must end - Richard Dawkins would agree.
American citizens seem to hold on to the idea that they are not only allowed to hold personal beliefs on a broad range of topics, but that they are allowed to do so without outside challenge or questioning, implying that they can “believe” what they like, no matter its basis, or lack thereof, in fact. This simple ignorance of both truth and reality began with the Freedom of Religion, which morphed over time into its current form of hyper-tolerance, and grew in parallel with the culture of ignorance that eschews science for pseudoscience, fact for thin theory, and expert testimony for vocal proclamation.
The ongoing healthcare situation, which is hardly a debate, has proven this detachment from reality via the various groups and factions that have risen in vicious opposition: “birthers”, “deathers”, armed citizens claiming to exercise their “right to bear arms”, and more – this augmented reality continues with the vitriolic cable television hosts that continue to grow their audience at alarming rates. Outside of politics, religion has its own delusions in America, where many believe the United States to be a “Christian nation” and that the Freedom of Religion extends only to those which they deem legitimate – apparently not including Islam, Hindu, or Atheism – and consider Creationism to be a legitimate scientific viewpoint on the birth of the Universe. The litany of truth-ignorant topics continues, almost endlessly.
There is a simple fact that the majority of American citizens must quickly learn: simply because an individual holds an opinion on a given topic does not mean it is true - this opinion may not be even a close approximation of the truth, and questioning these opinions is a valuable, and necessary, learning exercise for both parties. Furthermore, the fact that an individual with an opinion is a public figure, holds a job in the media, or has an otherwise method of widely disseminating information does not necessarily qualify their opinion as any more valid, factual, or legitimate than those on the receiving end of the opinion in question, and should be challenged, analyzed, and investigated for factual basis just as much, if not more, than any other individual.
This concept applies most specifically to modern times, where newspapers, television "news" channels, and talk radio is no longer unbiased, fair, or even balanced. Cable news anchors, political pundits, talk show hosts, and a chorus of liars and conspiracy theorists have tainted the journalistic enterprise in a fashion that is both disgusting and disturbing – yet far too many Americans do not question these voices, instead digesting these visions of augmented reality as fact. Preachers, priests, rabbis, and sheiks are just as guilty of these horrible perversions of truth as are politicians, racists, cultists, and many others – there is no shortage of those disseminating propaganda for their own nefarious agendas.
In a culture that prefers mind-numbing entertainment over that which provokes thought or reflection, such a situation is not entirely surprising, but the growing trend of willful ignorance, made all too clear in the recent summer months, is a worrying trend that may lead to significantly larger problems in the very-near future. It is no coincidence that those individuals who hold steadfastly to personal beliefs, no matter how patently false, are also significantly less educated than those open to change, and yet it is, in all probability, too late to help them to help themselves.
Rather, action must be taken to encourage truth over lies, fact over fiction, and reality over fantasy, in all arenas of modern life: rational discussions must be had with the irrational, if only to discredit them in the eyes of outsiders; verifiable fact must be presented in a louder voice than those that shout conspiracy theories, if only to drown them out; opinions and beliefs must be challenged when necessary, so as to defend the honor and virtue of truth. This fundamental cultural change can begin from both ends of the spectrum: politicians, such as President Barack Obama, can begin by invalidating the lies, and well educated young adults can begin by enlightening younger generations.
This change will not happen overnight, nor will it happen in time to make passing healthcare reform, or taking action on climate change, easy. But given enough work, over enough time, future generations can be given a chance to once again live in a rational, intelligent, free-thinking society that previous generations have so thoroughly enjoyed – unlike the present.
An opinion is not truth, nor are the uneducated masses experts. Mass self-delusion is not a path to success of any kind, and should not be allowed to persist in modern America. Truth is truth, and fact is fact - there can be no argument.
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.
