Swamppundit

Dear Salam,

This letter is about the importance of truth, so permit me to be truthful up front and say that this letter is meant to be subversive. This letter is meant to cause you to doubt your leaders, to doubt your media, and to doubt all that you currently believe.

While this letter is about truth, I will not attempt to sell you a particular “truth.” I want to sell you a process you can use on your own to ascertain the truth. I want to sell you on the importance of asking questions.

I believe you are intelligent, Salam. I believe your brain and my brain are the same. I believe you are capable of using your brain just as I use mine. Therefore I believe, Salam, I don’t have to tell you what questions to ask, or what the answers should be. I need only encourage you to ask questions, get answers, and then question the answers.

Hitler’s Germany perfected the technique of governing by use of the Big Lie. Say the Big Lie loud enough, often enough, and forceful enough, and punish any who question the Big Lie, and soon the population accepts the Big Lie as true. Salam, the tellers of Big Lies are not good leaders. The tellers of Big Lies may succeed in the short run, but in the long run, countries with such leaders come to ruin.

Salam, here is my Big Truth, here is the Big Idea that I wholeheartedly believe to be true. I believe that anyone who tries to win an argument by force, fear, or intimidation, as opposed to logic, evidence, or an invitation to faith, is wrong. I believe that truth, whatever it is, can withstand questioning, and can withstand doubters. I believe a Big Lie cannot withstand questioning.

Keep in mind, not all questions have answers; and sometimes there are reasons not to answer a question. Sometimes the truthful answer to a question is “I don’t know,” or “I won’t tell you.” Don’t insist, Salam, that your leaders have all the answers. Insist only that they don’t lie.

And insist on the right to ask questions. Honest, good leaders should welcome questions. Proponents of a Big Lie will punish the asking of questions.

And most importantly, proponents of a Big Lie will often answer questions with little lies. Here, Salam, is the second key to exposing Big Lies. Listen for the little lies. Big Lies are often hard to prove false, but many little lies are provably false. Test the answers, Salam, don’t just accept them. I am not saying you should disbelieve all you are told, I am just suggesting that you use your brain to question what you are told.

This letter is not about answers. It is about the process of asking questions. I have faith in questions. And I have faith in the freedom that permits questions, and in the freedom to investigate the truth of the answers.

A final warning before I close: I have seen your newspapers and TV, and I have heard your leaders. I won’t be specific, Salam, but you are being lied to, my friend. If you follow my advice and start to question, investigate, and question some more, then you are in for quite a journey.

Tread carefully, my friend. In a good and just society the truth is a valued commodity, and truthseekers are welcomed and honored. I fear a truthseeker in your society could come to a bad end.

With love,
Clarence