Truth and politics
WE LIVE in a dangerous world where lies are more profound than the truth. People who lack goodwill thrive here and there. Their main objective is to confuse us, and their lies are difficult to detect. In the first place they do not believe that lies exist. After all, they argue, there is no truth but only interpretations.
Politics in this country and elsewhere is becoming more rotten every day. Is it the fault of one politician? Sadly, the answer is no. All of these started when people insisted that politics is the way it is. By insisting that politics is about strength and numbers – truth was set aside. What we are seeing right before our very eyes is the mutation of politics into a monster that is beyond our control.
It is true that everything is subject to interpretation. But are all interpretations truthful? What should be the basis of interpretation? Truth is the foundation of all interpretations. It is not easy to find the truth but there are principles that would guide us. One basic requisite in the pursuit of truth is goodwill. We will never find the truth even in the face of facts if we are always beholden to partisan interests and personal political agenda.
Modern man is like Pontius Pilate. He knows that there is truth but pretends that he doesn’t. “What is truth” (John
18:38) now becomes a political question. The question is asked not in order to find the answer. Rather, it is an insinuation of a suspicion that truth does not exist.
So political debates, quarrels and discussions will not make us find the truth. They are nothing but verbal gymnastics for the sake of freedom. Trolls railroad the people’s focus from one point to another. These trolls are not stupid. Many if not most of them are educated. But their motives deep within are twisted. One cannot expect an honest conversation with them. So when a concerned citizen presents facts, logical arguments, and moral reasoning, the trolls would counter with memes, pictures, and off-tangent issues. Instead of telling us the basis why we should not be afraid of rice shortage, they would respond and talk about Dengvaxia and the sexual abuse of the clergy. It seems that when confronted with criticism their bile would reach their eyeballs. They label all critics “dilawan.”
People who lack goodwill are the most serious threat to society. They are termites that attack the system from within. Instead of grounding their interpretations on the principles of truth, they would rather retaliate with fire and brimstone. They appear supportive of the one in power and thus of the country. Sadly, they are politically active because they are fueled by their subjectivism.
When we insist on the subjectivism of our interpretations we judge everything from our passions. And when we become subjectively passionate we lose clarity in thinking. We become angry without any reason. No wonder many Filipinos resonate with the president’s anger. They feel what father feels every time his teeth are gnashing. They want to be vindicated from their experiences of oppression and suffering. They see themselves in their leader.
One theologian said, “man does not find the truth, man must make the truth find him.” Many political supporters do not even know where their loyalty is coming from. They do not have any point of reference in their interpretation. They are lost and should go back and try to find themselves. Then they will find the truth. They will understand why they should not support “who” and “why.”*