the only truth is that there is no truth

Skunks · 01-24-2009, 06:40 PM

Interesting NYT article about the difficulty of being a journalist in a conflict where both sides are so passionate and so polarized that anything but complete complicity with one side is akin to complete complicity with the other.

Quote:

No place, date or event in this conflicted land is spoken of in a common language. The barrier snaking across and inside the West Bank is a wall to Palestinians, a fence to Israelis. The holiest site in Jerusalem is the Temple Mount to Jews, the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The 1948 conflict that created Israel is one side’s War of Independence, the Catastrophe for the other.

Ethan Bronner, "The Bullets in My In-Box"

It's strange to realize that the only really objective thing you can say is that everyone is biased.

regular.joe · 01-24-2009, 06:48 PM

Everyone is biased and history is written by the victors.

tw · 01-25-2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regular.joe

Everyone is biased and history is written by the victors.

So what would the world look like if the side with the prettiest battle flag got to write history?

Beestie · 01-24-2009, 08:20 PM

Oh, there is truth. But we have no idea what it is.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-24-2009, 08:30 PM

Usually the truth doesn't tell you much.

The United States invaded Iraq. That's the truth but doesn't tell you a whole lot. Most people want to know more, but any more than that gets subjective. To overcome that you have to tell both sides of why, but there's not just both sides of why, there's as many sides of why as there are people to ask.

Besides, you can't handle the truth.

Radar · 01-26-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Usually the truth doesn't tell you much.

The United States invaded Iraq. That's the truth but doesn't tell you a whole lot. Most people want to know more, but any more than that gets subjective. To overcome that you have to tell both sides of why, but there's not just both sides of why, there's as many sides of why as there are people to ask.

Besides, you can't handle the truth.

I believe the truth is immutable and static. There are no "versions" of the truth. The truth is the truth regardless. Our perceptions on the other hand can be skewed by our experiences and philosophy.

I am starting with the belief that the government works for me, and I am entitled to know everything the government is doing, and as my servant, government has to be completely honest with me. I am also operating under the premise that only defensive force is appropriate force.

So when the government lies to the American people to start an unprovoked, unwarranted, and unconstitutional war of aggression against a nation that never posed any harm to ours, I know that the truth is my government is doing the wrong thing. When my government puts American soldiers in harms way without a legitimate reason, and without it being in the defense of our own country, I know they are doing the wrong thing. When my government openly spies on Americans, practices "rendition", eliminates habeas corpus, violates the Geneva convention, and locks people up who aren't guilty of so much as jay walking for years without access to a lawyer, without being charged with a crime, without any other due process, and while torturing people, sometimes to death....

I know the truth is my government is doing the wrong thing.

piercehawkeye45 · 01-25-2009, 10:24 PM

The truth is that you will always be wrong.

TheMercenary · 01-26-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

The truth is that you will always be wrong.

Actually the "Truth" is always somewhere in the middle.

ZenGum · 01-26-2009, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Actually the "Truth" is always somewhere in the middle.

Usually, but not necessarily always.

And I deride your truth-handling abilities!

TheMercenary · 01-26-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Usually, but not necessarily always.

And I deride your truth-handling abilities!

"You can't handle the truth!"

skysidhe · 01-26-2009, 12:12 AM

The truth! You can't handle the truth!

someone had to say it

xoxoxoBruce · 01-26-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysidhe

someone had to say it

I did.

Undertoad · 01-26-2009, 07:29 AM

This is now the "you can't handle the truth" thread.

wolf · 01-26-2009, 09:52 AM

This existential crap makes me nuts.

I'm happy it's become movie quotes instead.

Now there's a comment on the human condition.

Sundae · 01-26-2009, 10:11 AM

You can't handle my truth.
(but if you're lucky I might let you fondle my aphorism)

01-24-2009, 06:48 PM	#2
regular.joe Старый сержант Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NC, dreaming of large Russian women. Posts: 1,464	Everyone is biased and history is written by the victors. __________________ Birth, wealth, and position are valueless during wartime. Man is only judged by his character --Soldier's Testament. Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature. - Marcus Aurelius.

01-24-2009, 08:20 PM	#4
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Oh, there is truth. But we have no idea what it is. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

01-24-2009, 08:30 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Usually the truth doesn't tell you much. The United States invaded Iraq. That's the truth but doesn't tell you a whole lot. Most people want to know more, but any more than that gets subjective. To overcome that you have to tell both sides of why, but there's not just both sides of why, there's as many sides of why as there are people to ask. Besides, you can't handle the truth. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-25-2009, 10:24 PM	#7
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	The truth is that you will always be wrong. __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

01-26-2009, 09:52 AM	#14
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	This existential crap makes me nuts. I'm happy it's become movie quotes instead. Now there's a comment on the human condition. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

01-26-2009, 12:12 AM	#11
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	The truth! You can't handle the truth! someone had to say it

01-26-2009, 07:29 AM	#13
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	This is now the "you can't handle the truth" thread.

01-26-2009, 10:11 AM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	You can't handle my truth. (but if you're lucky I might let you fondle my aphorism)

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