I am becoming a cynic, just like the Captain. Much of this cynicism might have been influenced by the Captain himself, who often forces me to think beyond the borders, as it were. You readers have no idea of some of the royal arguments we have off this blog…. much on this blog pales in comparison.
I guess this cynicism came into play this morning when I saw a letter to the editor in the Newsday.
Much of the letter is irrelevant to the point I intend to make, so I will only quote applicable bits. The letter was written by one Simon Clement.
I feel the need to point out that the headline of the letter is quite misleading. The letter is not about the search for Noah’s Ark, but about the need for each of us to search out evidence and the truth for ourselves. Unfortunately, (in my opinion) the writer chose to liberally sprinkle his main argument with Biblical and other examples, thus squashing the objective he sought to focus on. The editors compounded the mistake with an idiotic headline.
That’s not the main point of my blog this morning though.
Mr Clement states:
What is interesting in that search for Noah's Ark is the dominant role of a male nurse anaesthetist named Ron Wyatt who became an amateur archaeologist, searched Koran and Bible amidst years of desk research, braved ethnic conflict and bullets from armed terrorists bent on kidnapping and murder, and organised a respected team of researchers who found the remains of an ancient three decked boat with 144 rooms/compartments and 13 stone anchors.
The truth exists. It may well be elusive to searches by one and all. Yet each diligent search involves the discovery of what is not true and this event and process eliminate some of the clutter hiding what is true.
He uses the example of the search for Noah’s Ark as one example of searching for the truth. I questioned the validity of this (I am always sceptical about Christian claims, no offence intended) so I went on to Google. Guess what?
Had he used Google (to search for the truth) he would have found out Ron Wyatt and his search for the Ark is a big hoax.
He proposes that each of us not rely on others to present us with the truth, but his very reckoning is misguided in that he himself did not do so. I am sure a better example would have strengthened his message immensely.
That being said, I add that I agree that we should question the information presented to us; all the lies, damn lies and statistics. Eternal vigilance!
2 Comments:
Interesting. I'll absorb more of the story over the next few days - as I'm rather tied up this week, battling the weather to keep one aspect of the machinery of justice moving.
However, I thought I'd comment on the business of debates and argument, and the 'truth' in general - based on my long experience with these things.
What I have extracted, is that differences of opeenion, causes one to re-examine one's perspective and thought processes. When those processes have failed me, it was usually difficult to admit - because it cut to the centre of my being i.e. it said something about 'me' -and I have to admit that I'm not as 'perfect' as I'd like to think. However, with the march of time, I make more mistakes of thought and it becomes easier to retrace my steps, where I've faltered. However, if not for a debate or an argument, I would not have benefited. However, even if I'm not found to have faltered, seeing another's perspective improves something in me.
Today for example, a non-clinical legal person(Person A) was informing me that people with OCD - frequently feel compelled to carry out certain rituals. Well no. Actually, that was knowledge of yesteryear. Many people with Obessive or Compulsive symptoms may not be aware that they are driven to do what they do - and many do not feel the need to resist any compulsion. So, kids who are obsessed and partially addicted to video games, for example, may feel no obsession, compulsion, or resistance - they just do as they do. All that is surely open to debate. But here's the point - this Person A - had a model of 'truth' in her mind, and I had another. In our respective minds, we had 'knowledge' that was consistent with some reference point (some authority say). So we each held a 'truth'. She conceded without much of a push - because I happen to be an expert on the topic (speaking factually). So amazingly 'the force of authority' has some impact on what we accept as our 'truths'.
But there have been many other attempts to define truth. I once read in Bertrand Russell's essays on The Truth - that it was basically what we chose to accept (a very subjective position). However, I'm not implying that Bertie's view of the truth was merely so narrow. For more on this start here: What is truth? - and related links. Bertie and many other philosophers, tried and created mathematical models to come as close to a different kind of truth i.e. the one that would exist, even if there were no observers in the universe. Difficult to contemplate, to say the least - but in essence, finding a reality that did not depend on human perspective or perception. Now that - my friends - is dee real truth; something that isn't clouded or coloured by our frail human existence, and our fallible interpretations of events.
Once you start to read a variety of reliable news rather than tabloids and fiction Captain Jumbie, you will not have to question the validity of such a claim & search on google. No offence intended.:-)
I'm not surprised about the misleading headline, nor about the missing foot note from the editor (letting people know, that the Ark has not been found).lol
I do rely on others to find truth, but never on a single person. Lucky for me, I do have a variety of different news sources available. It also helps to know that some news do reflect more or less the opinions of the publisher or government. So besides the mainstream news I like to read alternative news, if it's available.The internet is of course also a very valuable source but I do not use google exclusively, depending on what I need to know I use, specific directories or meta search.
It's better to question than to assume.
Post a Comment