Authority

This was written on October 10, 2003. It was in response to an e-mail that lamented the fact that reason did not appear to work with people. The letter was talking specifically about the Southern Baptist Convention by a former member, but was applied to the lies told by George W. Bush as well:

I fully agree with this. At times I've been torn between waiting for the "total social collapse" and planning to help pick up the pieces then, or between trying to help with an end run around the collapse. (I think I need to be prepared for both.)

It is an unfortunate fact that our schools do not prepare children to question authority. I could relate specific instances were the authority of the teacher should have been questioned, but I would tend to believe any child who did would have been greatly ostracized. Questioning the teacher is not allowed, we are taught. Later, this develops into "questioning the boss" is not allowed, and "questioning the government" is not allowed.

Therefore, children grow into adults who think to question is to reject. That is, "if I question the actions of the United States, then I reject the United States, that is, I am not a patriot," is commonly expressed.

In general people have been dehumanized to the point they no longer dare to think for themselves. G.W. says cutting taxes as he has done stimulates the economy, even in face of the fact that the economy is in shambles after three years. Yet, he blames Bill even though people were much better off when Clinton was president. The conclusion is wrong, and the reasoning obviously faulty, but people have been taught not to question authority.

I fault the press. For example, a few days ago Israel bombed a site in Syria which was said to be a terrorist training camp. Syria said it wasn't a terrorist camp. How many journalist tried to go to see? Syria should have allowed it if what they said was true because it would really bolster their position in getting the UN to do something. If they refuse, then I would tend to believe Israel, unless some pretty strong evidence could be presented on the other side.

If the press would critically report what is happening, then maybe the stupidity would be so obvious people could see it. But instead we have to wait for left wing books to be published by authors whose right wing credentials are more than suspect. They have an ax to grind.

One more thing. There are several books written about right wing lies. We need to be careful that we don't fall into the same trap. It is possible to lie on the left as easily as on the right, and when people become so devoted to "the cause" it is easy to miss those lies. That is, when a lie supports what we already believe, it is difficult to realize it is still a lie. (That is part of the reason the hard core right don't see the lies.)

For example, I saw a post a long while ago on this list claiming that when the bill of rights was presented to congress there were actually twelve amendments presented (true) and that one of them dealt with curbing the power of corporations (not true). This is a left wing lie, as I pointed out at the time so that it didn't grow. I could see lies regarding affirmative action being common, although I cannot point to any. That is, affirmative action is not "the" solution to the racial problems in the United States, it is one means, one attempt, to solve that problem. A critical analysis would show problems as well as successes.

It may be a religious belief, and I realize many people are opposed to that, but I think the truth will win out in the end. I just don't know where that end is.