British author and evangelist Charles Spurgeon claimed that: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Truth, a word seemingly no longer relevant in these times of ‘alternative facts’ or what has become the ‘post-truth era,’ is an elusive quarry. For many, ‘the truth’ has devolved into what they want it to be. As a parent and especially as an educator, this frightens me!
Alberta has revised its learner competencies. “Competencies are an interrelated set of attitudes, skills and knowledge that are drawn upon and applied to real world contexts” for successful learning, living and working (Alberta Education, August 2016). Communication, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Information Management are four of the eight competencies where having the skillset to determine truth from falsehood is key. We need our students to have open minds with deep understanding.
If we desire future generations to be discerning and objective thinkers, we need to ensure that our descent into post-truth reality halts and that we elevate our ability to reconnect with ‘truth.’ We need to examine sources of information, weigh their validity and come to an informed understanding of the broader implications and relevancy of the information.
We live in times of ‘fake news’ and extreme false advertising. Politicians and their spin-doctors can manipulate data to speak whatever hyperbole of alternative facts are needed to further their ideology. Some news agencies do not report the news; they seek to be the news. The number of hits, likes, or retweets, displaces the balance of fact and reason making the truth of an event the least relevant aspect.
Consider this hypothetical example: let’s say I have a concern with large trucks driving on local roads. Despite the actual numbers of trucks, I go to social media claiming how dangerous and annoying this is, simply because it bothers me. I start an online petition gaining several thousand subscribers. Next thing, I am interviewed on local TV, radio, newsfeeds etc., and ‘my truth’ gets traction, gains momentum, and before long morphs into a new truth which could be completely bogus – after all, I could just be some whacko with an axe to grind. The media is quick to add gas to these fires it seems.
When truth becomes what we want it to be – we run the risk of losing human reasoning. Purveyors of alternative facts sign off on legislation that would clearly be deemed regressive to the reasonably informed bystander and those who turn a blind eye or who are content to stick their head in the sand of complacency, will have to live with very real and all too often tragic consequences of their apathy and ignorance.
Charles Spurgeon, a Britain, lived in the 19th century and his quote about the proliferation of lies rings true to this day. Brexit, the U.S. election result, and painful examples of recent violence show how fibs and propaganda, once given the wings of alternative facts, carry us towards oblivion. We need to be better than this and ensure we provide our children the mindset and skillset needed to seek and discern the truth.
As George Orwell’s classic novel, 1984, climbs in sales, let us recall his profound statement: “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Let the revolution begin!
Tim Cusack is an educator, writer and member of the naval reserve.
