Words, Narratives, and the Truth

Words have meanings. (Thanks Sir Obvious!!!)  But words and their meanings are relational to time and context.  They tend to evolve over time and change as a result of a variety of cultural circumstances.  Sometimes this evolution is very organic as opposed to deliberate.  This can be a result of its use in art, literature, or entertainment that gets woven into the vernacular.  For example, when I was young, a thong referenced a flip-flop sandal, however when a person says thong now, it usually is referencing a style of women's undergarments.  I think this song had something to do with it.  At other times, it is very deliberate and not organic.  For example, the word gender has evolved from its original meaning to something quite different through a concerted effort of activists and academics.   

When meanings to words are deliberately changed, it is usually in service of creating a narrative to challenge the currently held belief system.  Narratives essentially are the stories told from a particular perspective and packaged as the truth.  In reality, this story usually contains partial facts, elements of truth, and, typically, a clicheic phrase that sounds intellectual or profound.  Both individuals and societies build narratives as a mechanism to understand the world, but to also to rationalize our place in it.  For example, one might say that his high school football coach denied him rightful opportunity at a college scholarship because he didn't start.  Or, immigrants are taking all of the jobs away from Americans.  As you can see, some narratives can be more trivial in nature and have very little impact on the individual and others with whom they have relationships.  Other narratives are deeply held and powerful.  They are more than just a lens or how we see the world, but rather a processing system that takes all incoming information and orders it in ways that align with the narrative.  When information we receive begins to conflict with our narrative, we seek refuge from the dissonance by searching for anything that will force that new information into alignment.  That is why most people retreat to the friendly confines of their own ideological media, patiently awaiting the "pundits", the talking-heads, and the wonks to explain why their narrative is still "true" and the other side are the real heretics.

To redefine words and create narratives, there are a number of strategies to employ.  The first and most widely used is the constant use of the word in the new and intended way.  Many people will notice the misuse of the word and usually shrug, some might push back and say "You keep using that word.  I don't think you know what it means."

Overtime, people stop arguing over the use of the word and move on to the substance.  However, when that happens, it is an acquiescence of the word's meaning.  Similar in this approach, but mostly in relations to narratives, is the "big lie" theory which states, "Tell a big lie long enough and people believe it."  Repetition is the key.  Eventually, it becomes accepted as a fact.  Another strategy to change the meaning of words or to change the narrative, is to attack and shame anyone who attempts to challenge the new meaning or narrative.  The tyranny of the majority or mob, can inflict much pain and anguish on those who challenge, just ask Grant Napear who had the audacity to say "All live's matter" as opposed to "Black Lives Matter."

The consequence of all this is that truth becomes the victim of the narrative.  Truth becomes, as Al Gore might say, inconvenient.  But this creates a problem, because the truth does not stop being the truth regardless of how you package it, wrap it, or sell it.  Truth is ever present, lurking, waiting to rear its head.  Truth pushes back and forces people to expend energy trying to contain it, control it, and minimize it.  It doesn't matter...eventually truth emerges and exposes the failures of those who attempted to believe in something that was not.  The failure to acknowledge the truth only leads to destruction.  

When a society spins a narrative about a complex social issue with many layers, and attempts to reduce that issue to a singular cause, it often creates a solution that not only fails at fixing the problem, but exacerbates it.  The failure leads to new words and to new narratives, as those exposed seek cover from a vengeful truth.  Once the new narrative is created, new solutions are developed, which again fail.  Rinse, wash, repeat.  

So here we are in 2020, and all sides (maybe just the two major sides) are pushing narratives about our racial issues.  I have seen the words "violence", "protester", "peaceful", "looting" liberated from their common meaning.  I have also seen a president with seemingly minimal morals appear with the Holy Bible in a clearly transparent photo op.  I have heard narratives about "systemic racism", "white supremacy", "white privilege" , and police brutality.  There are truths to some of this, but I fear not in its entirety.  Without which, we will only find ourselves hear again.  

I am not sure if there are any interested in the truth or solving problems.  And here is the deal, the relationship between the truth and solutions is inseparable.  Solving problems, whether personal or societal can only come with an acceptance of the truth.  It's like my fat-ass trying to solve my weight issue by blaming in it on my thyroid, when in actuality it is the extra 1000 calories or so I eat everyday.  I think the white community needs to re-evaluate their narrative and see that their are ways we can ensure a more just society for all.  But to white liberals, their narrative is that they are not the problem...it is all the other white people who live in "red states" and own guns...But the problem with this is obvious, Minnesota is by no definition a "red state", nor Minneapolis a "red city."  The black community should also look at their narrative and measure it against an objective truth and address issues of which they have control.

 I am not sure many are interested in the truth as they are in promoting their narrative over their adversary.  In the end, truth is the victim, and we all pay the price.