What is Truth?

I usually attempt to stay away from heated political conversation. Not really because I am the type who has little to no opinion (quite the opposite). But, because I have realized from my study of conflict how interesting it is that people so easily believe what they hear or read (news, articles, professors, textbooks, google) and take it as fact (if it supports their previous opinion). And then exert unnecessary energy arguing to defend that position. But, when you unpack the information that you see on the news, read in articles, hear professors or other experts share, the truth is that majority of the time you are believing someone else’s opinion or theory which may or may not be true. You are choosing a conglomeration of narratives (some being culturally chosen for you) and letting those narratives make up your worldview. Think about it for a moment, why do Americans see pancakes, bacon and eggs as breakfast food? Why is it that when restaurants in America say: “breakfast served all day” we immediately assume that those items will be available? Why can’t it be beans and rice served as breakfast food? Or lasagna? Or meatloaf and mashed potatoes? Has it been scientifically proven that pancakes and eggs can only be considered breakfast food? Here is my point: pancakes and bacon are only breakfast food because our culture has deemed them so. There is no truth behind it. There are no facts or studies involved proving that it is the superior breakfast food. Someone at some point decided that they liked eating it in the morning and a new cultural narrative was born. We are surrounded by narratives that constitute our “truth” or “facts” without even knowing it. Here are some other examples: shaking hands when making a new acquaintance; raising your hand in school; a man opening a door for a woman; wearing a suit and tie to work as proper dress code…the list could go on. All of these are cultural narratives that we have deemed right and proper and when someone does not abide by these narratives they are viewed as rude or improper. Now let’s take that to the next step and discuss politics. There are two (or three, or four, or one hundred) worldviews on what it means to be a democracy and on how to run our country. All of these are derived from groups of individuals with opinions. Some have done studies (which as someone who has done multiple research studies knows – it is impossible to do an unbiased study). Some have read books and articles (written by other people with their own biased opinions). Some others have witnessed events (through the lens of their own perspective and opinions). And yet, we take these people’s words as truth, many of them strangers to us and argue against family members, neighbors, and schoolmates, ourselves convinced that they are wrong when they are simply listening to different narratives than the ones we are. My point? Conflict is contagious, and before you engage in it ask yourself this question: What is truth?

What Are You Willing to Sacrifice for Peace

It was the first day of my first class in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. The air buzzed with enthusiasm as we were introduced to each other and introduced to some of the theories and practices that would be our companions for the next couple of years. I was surrounded by do-gooders, like myself, who desired to make a positive impact on the world. Before us stood a professor, who had already left his mark on the conflict resolution community and had turned to teaching to motivate the next generation of practitioners. Towards the end of the class this professor stood before us, with tears in his eyes, and asked us this question: "what are you willing to sacrifice for peace?" He began to tell a story of a Dutch man named Dirk Willems who had been condemned by the Catholic Church and arrested for following the Anabaptist church. Dirk had eventually escaped from prison by tying fabric together to make a rope and then using it to climb out of his prison window. As he was running across a frozen moat to his freedom, he saw the guard that had been pursuing him fall through the ice. Instead of continuing on, he turned around and saved the drowning man from death. As a result of this act, he was taken back to prison where he remained until 1569 when he was burned at the stake. He had sacrificed his freedom to rescue one of his captors. When the professor had finished relaying this story the once boisterous room had turned silent. Our professor, choked with emotion, emphasizing each syllable asked: "What are YOU willing to sacrifice for peace?"

Years have passed since that time but I have never forgotten that moment. It is a question that has replayed over and over in my mind. I have not fully decided to what extent I am willing to sacrifice for peace. But I know that I can give my time. And I can give my voice.

I want to devote this blog to be a place where crucial conversations can occur. I want to talk about things that are hard to talk about because they are painful or controversial. I want to carve out a space where every side of an issue can be shared without political agendas or personal gains. I do not want this blog to be a place to air grievances or share contentious deeply held opinions. This is meant to be a safe space, free of judgment or shame, where the purpose is to think through what needs to happen to resolve the conflicts that we are witnessing in the world around us. And hopefully as these topics emerge and take shape more people will be led consider that poignant question asked of me years ago: "what are you willing to sacrifice for peace?"