Courtesy of wikipedia.org
Some fears are learned, but fear itself is an innate instinct. From birth, an infant with little experience beyond being cuddled fears falling. Fear of the unknown is another common dread. Writer H. P. Lovecraft mastered the art of horror by manipulating that emotion in his readers. (“The Ancient Fear behind Modern Prophecies” by Masimo Polidora, Skeptical Enquirer, Sept/Oct 2025, pg. 19) And, because fear is with us from the cradle to the grave, humans have invented stories to explain its existence.
In ancient times, we supposed that bad events were the work of malevolent gods. Putting a face on our fear accomplished two things. It established a cause for the ills we encountered, and it gave us hope that these gods could be appeased. Imagination led us to believe we had some “control in a chaotic world.” (Ibid., pg. 19)
Over time, those stories have changed. Today, few would sacrifice a goat to Mars, hoping for a military victory. Nonetheless, storytelling remains at the heart of the unknown, and among its genres are rumors, conspiracy theories, and speculations. Unfortunately, these tools are no more honest or protective than the soothsayer’s habit of dipping his fingers into a bowl of entrails.
As Donald Trump and his sycophants lay siege to our democracy, many of us struggle to explain the destruction. How could a pack of wolves, in such a short time, dismantle the institutions that define America’s exceptionalism? Why has the light that once shone from Diogenes’ lamp vanished from our schools, libraries, courts, and financial institutions?
The truth is the truth, and the only way to avoid it is to close our eyes. Regrettably, Trump’s followers have done that. Some are religious zealots who believe he will bring about the Second Coming. Others bend a knee, not because they see Trump as God’s agent, but because there is money and power in the pretense. May they choke on their greed.
Even those who defend truth sometimes fall for distortions, spreading these inaccuracies on social media. A common claim is that the attempt on the President’s life was a hoax. “The stunt was meant to make people feel sympathy for him during the 2024 campaign,” one person wrote.
Possibly. But if that’s true, the shooter didn’t know about the hoax. He murdered one individual, injured others, and wasn’t stopped until a bullet killed him.
Just as a drop of poison in a glass of water makes it undrinkable, a lie told to defend the truth endangers that truth. Quoting Timothy Snyder from an earlier blog, If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power because there is no basis upon which to do so.
Lying to ourselves to soothe our fears prevents us from addressing those fears. If we are to reclaim our democracy, we need clarity, and to gain that, we must turn a gimlet eye upon ourselves as well as others. Otherwise, we risk becoming the evil we oppose.
For those who demand justice and the rule of law, we have but one rallying cry: We seek the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
BOYCOTT TESLA
