How do you tell the difference?
A recent post I saw said something along the lines of (yes I forgot to tag it and now I can’t find it ;P) “A lie that confirms your position is easier to believe than the truth that dispels it”. I posted back that I thought it was more complicated than that. I felt I needed to make my own post on the matter.
If you are brought up to believe in/about something, and your whole world is centered around that, is it even possible to have any kind of information that could counter that? Now I am talking about your belief system, your values, or your whole way of life. Religion and Politics are the two biggies that come to mind. And sometimes those beliefs stem to other things, like the outlook on life and the people of the world. The role that women play or the merits of someone’s skin colour or place of birth.
Now, I am a women of colour who grew up in a white family in a suburb of Vancouver, BC, Canada. I mention this so that you may have some reference on where I COME FROM. My father is a Baptist minister who taught me to find my own path. I consider myself, spiritual, not religious. I believe in a higher power that is all about LOVE and acceptance, not vengeful. That that higher power has many names including, but limited to: The Creator, God, Allah, Jehovah, Shiva, and many many more. I believe that everyone is created equal, regardless of their background. I believe in peace and that it is achievable. I believe the biggest reason that we have not been able to achieve peace is because of bigotry and racism.
I know, and have met, people whose believe system is the exact opposite of mine. I am not going to go through all the ways that I have been the recipient of bigotry or racism, just know that I have. I know the feeling of wanting to hurt the person that believes the opposite of me. Then I think to myself; am I not the same as them? Wanting to injure this person in front of me for not believing what I believe?
And that, I believe, is the TRUTH. We all have been brought up to KNOW the TRUTH, one way or another. The truth is just what we believe. There is no scientific way to prove any of it. Even the scientific community can not decide on one version of the truth, each discouvery brings forth another layer of what is ‘real’.
I also want to make it understood that I am not talking about fake news here. Things either happened or they didn’t. However, how those happenings are portrayed is completely up to the teller. History is, after all, told by the victors.
Another notable fact… we can change. If the transgender community has taught us anything it is that you do not have believe what you are born into. You can find your own truth.
