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?