DIRTY HANDS

I used to post a lot of opinions on Facebook, a lot of political stuff. I used to find articles to correct people when their sources were inaccurate. I don't do that so much anymore. Most people aren't interested in an exchange of ideas and only a few have interest in accuracy.

So why do people post about causes and political ideas on Facebook? There are probably a multitude of reasons, but the one I want to explore is this--that it is easy. It is much easier to talk about an idea or view on the Internet than to actually get one's hands dirty and doing something.

I first became aware of this fact during Hurricane Katrina. I used to frequent a message board in those days. People were all upset because "no one" was doing anything to help with the refugees. I finally posted the question, "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing," they replied, defensively.

I shared that I was a volunteer at my church. We were filling an 18 wheeler truck with supplies: water, diapers, and toiletries. I spent my Labor Day weekend trying to be a part of the solution.
 
Needless to say, a lot of people ganged up on me, after that, as people on the Internet are prone to do. It was the first time I began to examine the motives of people who say, "Someone should do something." It is sometimes a code for, "I want to be on the politically right side, but I don't want to get my hands dirty."

Here's the thing, posting an opinion is nice. It is also easy.  If you want to improve the world, you have to get off your behind, turn off the computer, and go out and do something.

Maybe you can't do something dramatic, but you can do something. Maybe you can volunteer at a senior center, a crisis center, or at one of your church's benevolence groups.

Talk is cheap--even Internet talk--work lasts. Get your hands dirty.

WHAT IS TRUTH

It is getting close to Easter and there are many profound character, twists, and turns to that story. The one that often comes to my mind is where Pilate and Jesus meet. Philosophical banter ended with the most intriguing question. Pilate asks Jesus, "What is truth?"

I guess I've become the cynical type. I find truth elusive. I double check and triple check the sources on everything I see on the news and read, especially on-line.

It is a common thing to twist the truth. A public figure can answer questions about dog breeding and the newspaper headline will read "Mayor Discusses His Pregnant Bitches."

 

A half-truth is the same thing as a full lie.

Fanatics with a cause often misquote their enemies or quote them out of context. They will dig up something an individual said or did 20 years ago when the person was of a different mindset from the person they are in the present. 

There are those who believe that a lie that furthers a good cause is fair game. Propaganda is what it was called during the Cold War times. It was said that "If you tell a lie long enough, the general population will accept it as the truth."

Truth is not a relative term. There are not a multitude of truths. There is only one truth. 

Don't be deceived.