Who can we trust?
Don’t read this. TRUST ME!
But, why should you trust me? Have I earned your trust? Why or why not? Who am I? I’m nobody important. What makes me think that my opinion should have any bearing on you or your life? Well, that’s exactly what this letter is about. Why is one person’s opinion more important than another’s?
Slowly, over the last few decades, we’ve all been conditioned to believe that what each of us say, matters. And, that if we use our “freedom of speech,” our voice should be and would be heard and heeded.
At least, that’s how most of us were raised. There are exceptions, however. Don’t trust criminals, or liars. But, why not? Some people labeled as criminals have been proven innocent after conviction. And, sometimes, truth is subjective. So, who can we trust? News outlets are reporting current events. And, because of freedom of the press, they should all be non-biased, honest, and trustworthy. Right?
Well, not always. I’ve learned through my years of growing up, that sometimes you don’t always get the whole truth. And, because a popular phrase has come into our lexicon, there’s now something called “fake news”. But, what makes it “fake”?
Someone called it fake, so it’s not legitimate. Or perhaps, it may be fake because it’s delivered in a lighthearted or satirical way. So, is it up to me to decide what is real and what is fake? Should I be reading an article or watching a news clip, and thinking “there is no spoon”?
Or, perhaps, our news outlets should come with attached warnings.
“May contain nuts.” “Possible Scam Call.”
It used to be that we knew who to trust. It used to be that we, as a community and country, had role models. We had those people whom we could collectively say, “I believe this person, or these people to be trustworthy!”
However, we’ve become so divided with our opinions, in our society, that I’ve got to ask… Do these people still exist? Who are our role models? While I struggle to find these answers for myself, how am I supposed to raise my children when they’re asking the same questions that I have? How can we teach something we don’t know?
History teaches us that we can’t and won’t learn from history. Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our fathers?
My kids are screwed. “Consult owners manual to avoid injury.”
Surely, we can trust our law enforcement officers. Well, until one, or a few of them do something illegal or immoral. Then, they’re all tainted. The many because of the few. Half the population saying “Back the Blue” and the other half waving signs saying “Black Lives Matter”. But, judgement comes swift. No matter the legality or who is right or wrong.
We can always put our faith in faith, religion, of course. Well, until someone has a different belief structure than yourself. Then they’re wrong. Plain and simple. No need to argue that. Why do we even have a Freedom of religion? I’m just not going to trust anyone with a different faith than my own.
But, what if someone isn’t forthcoming with their personal beliefs? Should we just start requiring people to wear a badge or a pin stating what they believe? Maybe a star? Or, maybe we just make everyone wear a certain color? For example, I will implicitly trust anyone who wears yellow socks. If they don’t have yellow socks, they’re no good. And, I will use every last breath in my body to tell all my yellow sock people how awful those other sock people are. After all, I’ve got my freedom of speech and I’ve got the opinion that my opinion matters. I’ll just start to blame my problems on those people who don’t wear yellow socks!
The Vikings lost out on the playoffs again this season?!? I blame the white sock people! (and the Packers).
We yearn for controversy, and in that we steal our ability to trust others away from ourselves.
We used to trust each other. Now, we constantly are waiting for the other shoe to drop. We’re looking forward to the moment when someone we once believed in, proves themselves unworthy of our faith in them. All so we can tweet out our opinion or update our status and say that we knew it all along. We are justified in our behavior and our opinion is qualified.
Until, of course, inevitably, we prove ourselves unworthy of the trust that others have in us. Or, the trust that we have in ourselves. If you’ve made it this far, you made the decision to read this mess. Now, who do you trust? Why?
Where have all the heroes gone? Are they now forgotten? Do they lie in unmarked, unknown graves only remembered by silent whispers because of their faults and mistakes?
What is it that makes a person good and are the kids alright?
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.”
Thank you for attending my TED talk.
JASON STEPHENS TRACY
