To the Journal editor;

What is happening in the world today and what is our part in shaping it? Versions of this question were asked of me by my high school history teacher and college professor in the 1970’s.

My high school teacher posed the question to the class while discussing disinformation’s negative impact to mankind since recorded history. He believed future technology will make it extremely difficult for future generations to determine the truth, and it will be vital for us to listen to each other, question each other, and reason with each other to arrive at the truth.

Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” was shared by my college professor while discussing mankind’s vulnerability to propaganda. From Wikipedia, “In the allegory, Plato describes people that have spent their lives chained in a cave facing a blank wall. They watch shadows projected onto the wall by objects passing in front of a fire behind them, and they give names to these shadows. The shadows are the prisoners’ reality but not accurate representations of the real world… the prisoners are released. A freed prisoner would look around and see the fire. The light would hurt his eyes and make it difficult for him to see the objects casting the shadows. If he were told that what he is seeing is real instead of the other version of reality he sees on the wall, he would not believe it. The freed prisoner would turn away and run back to what he is accustomed to.”

It’s vital we question our version of reality, and what our eyes and ears are seeing and hearing in the search for truth.

To unbiasedly assess the different shades of light shining from others, then remove the wheat from the chaff to either validate or alter what we individually believe is the truth.

Today, America’s beacon of hope is being cloaked by shadowy information projected on our social media/TV screens not accurately representing the real world, causing many to run back to their like-minded groups out of fear. As American’s we need to unshackle our cynical chains and listen, question, and reason with each other.

Our Founders broke free from Britain’s monarchy and national religion chains of oppression to create the Declaration of Independence and The U.S. Constitution. Creating a framework to peacefully seek consensus without fear and oppression, a system with agreed upon guard-rails to make it extremely difficult to slide back into the darkness.

Hope in each other illuminates our way forward, but hatred cloaks our minds from seeing each other as equals with differing ideals. What is your part in shaping America’s future or are you more comfortable following those who project shadows?