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Truth.
A simple concept, that is yet, so foreign in 2021.
Like you, I spent most of yesterday watching the news in horror, disgust, disbelief and disappointment. My phone was blowing up, with every chat group I’m in, pinging messages of appalled bewilderment at the disgraceful and shameful actions of the extreme right protestors and rioters at the Capitol. Rioters. Peaceful protest is one thing…a good thing. An exercise of a constitutional right. But violent destruction of property and harm to people? That is not. That is deplorable to the core.
All day yesterday, I knew I was going to have to write a post about it today. And here it is 4:30 on Thursday, and I’ve dragged my feet in procrastination, because what could I possibly say of value to add to the conversation. I’ve been praying hard all day, asking for direction, and one word kept popping up in my head: veritas.
Which is latin for truth.
To be honest, the first thing I associated that with was, “In vino, veritas.” And so for a hot second, I thought the Holy Spirit was nudging me to get a little tispy and let the words flowwww, but I reeled that in real quick.
But in seriousness, one of the most concerning things that hit me today, was this question: Where can I turn for the truth?
And, though this is a Christian blog, in this instance, I am not talking about the “capital T” Truth, but rather, actual truth – straight facts – about news, politics, current events?
The news media, social media — every station has a bias. Every station, no matter if you’re watching the liberal media on ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, the View, any of the “Tonight Shows” — they all have a blatantly left slant to how they tell the stories, and which stories they tell. Whereas FOX news, The Daily Wire and other fringe conservative outlets, all have a right-leaning slant.
It’s impossible to get the straight story.
And on social media, it’s even worse! People (myself included) tend to follow likeminded voices, which thereby reinforce one’s own biases and viewpoints. You scroll through your feed, and you are continually affirmed and further indoctrinated by what you believe — based on the “facts” strategically given to you by a “power that be.”
Further to this, as we’ve witnessed in the last 24 hours here, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are making no bones about where they stand, silencing conservative voices, including the President. Which – is no surprise here. Facebook has been censoring my prolife articles for years, literally. Anything I have put out there, defending the sanctity of human life – banned.
So clearly, social media is just as bad, if not worse, than the media outlets.
I am, admittedly, a FOX watcher. Watching anything else, frankly, makes my blood boil, listening to how they spin stories, or omit news all together. (Hello, Hunter Biden?!) But yesterday I had a very eyeopening experience, witnessing how “both sides” were covering the nightmare on Capitol Hill.
Like I said, I spent all day watching FOX, and I felt I had a pretty good understanding of what went down. Then, I went over to a friend’s for dinner, and a significantly not-FOX station was on, and I was absolutely bewildered by the difference in narratives I was seeing. It was like a completely different event happened. First of all, they were strategically calling the protestors “MAGA supporters” – thereby painting any one who voted for the Republican party one of the protesting radical right wing delinquents — and by their own deduction, a white supremacist. Further, the entire dialogue was focused on how things would have been different had the protestors been POC, and the difference between the BLM riots this summer, and the events of yesterday. I don’t think I heard the left-leaning media mention once that a woman had been shot and killed. Nor did they give any more than a brush off of the President’s speech.
It was just wild how differently the story was portrayed, depending on which station you were tuning into. And I would have never realized that, had I not been “forced” to watch both.
Which leads me back to the word that was placed on my heart: veritas.
How do we know? Who can we trust?
We can’t trust the media. We can’t trust the politicians, clearly. (Remember being instructed to only wear a mask if you’re symptomatic at the beginning of Covid?) And we can’t trust the censoring social media, either. And it’s no surprise that the American people have lost trust in all three! The mainstream news media’s “credibility rating” has plumbetted since 2016, absolutely bottoming out in 2020. The senate has an approval rating of just 15%! Fifteen percent!! And conservatives are fleeing from Facebook like the plague, switching to the alternative platform: Parler.
We are in desperate need of truth.
Because each side is staunchly committed to their believed truth (myself included), while in actuality, completely ignorant to the actual reality. Nobody has both sides of the story. And as a result, people are only half informed, leading to their infuriation because they don’t have a balanced view of things.
This polarity, and lack of balance, coupled with the frustration over Covid isolation and restricted freedoms leads people to the boiling point. Add to that, the media and politicians purposefully feeding the split in the country: it is a perfect storm to create havoc in the country. And we witnessed that yesterday, and all throughout the summer.
None of it right. None of it justified. And yet, one can see all the contributing factors to such disgraceful unrest.
At the end of the day, nobody is willing to listen to the “other side,” and no one is willing to explore new opportunities. And therein, lies our deepest problem.
But without access to truth, we are doomed to be caught in the perpetual cycle of neighbor vs. neighbor, parent vs. child, “us” vs. “them.” And frankly, I don’t know how much longer we can sustain such a volatile and hostile social structure.
So. What are we to do? I am genuinely asking. Because the first step in seeking a solution, is a) recognizing the problem, and then b) having creative cooperation to do something about it.
What is veritas? And where, in 2021, can we find it? And most importantly, how can we bridge the divide and come up with real solutions to heal our nation that has torn itself in two?
I pray that we come together as a nation where everyone feels seen, heard, safe and respected.
May God bless you, and God bless America.
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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With the advent and continued capacities of “deepfakes”, and the centralized nature of Internet access, which permit some to control what others can view, it seems technology is only likely to make this problem of locating the truth harder to solve. Sometimes, the truth actually be just the conflicting points of view on matters. I think you were right to look at these polarized points of view, to perhaps get a somewhat better overall one.
The shortcut to avoiding being manipulated into hating each other is perhaps to refuse to hate each other, on principle. This is a Jesus statement! Maybe Jesus knew something about what was coming.
It’s also very important to teach our youngest generations about critical thinking, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and economics. They are quite capable of grasping these things, and it is their right to do so.
Spot on with this post- there is no clear, single source of truth in our media landscape. I doubt the media landscape was ever that; the Internet at least (and for now, at least) has given us the opportunity to discuss among ourselves what kind of world we have been living in.
I hold out great hope for the future, despite all the stuff going on in the world right now. It feels like a transition stage.
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Hi Mike, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. That’s true – Jesus definitely knew what was to come! And amen – those lessons are critical to pass along! Hugs and love xox
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Well said! A pretty consistent truth is that we can’t really trust the media or social media for giving an unbiased story. Prayer and critical thinking skills are both needed to navigate the multiple messages that are out there. Thank you for your post and for your courage. I have more opinions I could add, but I don’t want to clutter your comment with them. 🙂
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Thank you so much Tim! So glad this hit home with you. You’re right – prayer and critical thinking all the way! Hugs and love xox
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Love it… shared to my blog with this into… This young lady makes a whole lot of sense. I hope that you take the time to read the complete article. I like you am tired of being lied to by both sides. This is a blatant attack on our Republic, and we need to open our eyes, put away pettiness, and return to being united. We have always had differences in opinions and beliefs. However; this generation has been fed on hate and intolerance. Do a little research for your self on Cultural Marxism and Critical Race Theory. I think you will see that we have been duped. Only with the truth can we survive and undue the horrific damage done to American society.
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Oh gosh thank you so much for passing it along – I am honored! Our nation needs massive prayer right now! Glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
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What happened, what’s happening is beyond imagination and we need some clear answers rather than relying on mere speculations….oh and must say…you have glowing skin 👌👌
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Hi friend, oh gosh you’re kind to say that. And yes. It’s beyond comprehension that this could happen!! Hugs and love xox
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“What is truth?” as Pilate famously asked Jesus. I have found that we all have our own biases and perspectives, shaped by our experiences and our values. News stations, websites, social media platforms, blogs, etc. cater to those for obvious reasons. The best way to get at “truth” is to watch/read/consume as much as possible of the opposing views and then to form your own informed opinion. Your watching Fox and non-Fox was/is precisely the right thing to do.
Regarding what happened at the Capitol, it was obviously shameful. To me, it is a lesson in the dangers of playing with fire and gasoline and then seeming surprised at the eventual explosion. As Bishop Barron has stated, it’s time for a national examination of conscious. We have, as the best psychologists would say: “unresolved issues”… racism and our troubled past being chief among them.
The way forward is paved with understanding and forgiveness. That’s how Jesus answered Pilate.
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Hi Rey, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. You’re right – forgiveness and understanding is absolutely the way forward. Hugs and love xox
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Good point and honestly I’ve even been disgusted in Fox News over the past few times I’ve tuned in…I’ve determined to just tune into God’s word knowing it is absolute truth and the most important that matters, above all He is fully in control.
I know what I believe in and with a Democratic controlled nation (soon) I will be respectful but in that I 100% will absolutely not submit to anything that goes against my faith, hands down won’t do it!!!!
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Hi Ali! Oh thank you so much. Yeah – it has been such a hard press of negativity to turn on the news – even Fox. Amen! I’m with you 100% – i won’t be doing anything that goes against my faith either. It’s sad to think that we’re faced with that even being something we have to be concerned about. But alas…so glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
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It’s all about view point. Where you’re standing. What you’re thinking. As for TRUTH, I know of only one place to find it in the Bible. Nice article.
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Hi friend, thank you for sharing your thoghts on this. amen to that – the Bible is and always will be the only real Truth! Hugs and love xox
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I agree with the tenants and the motivation of hi article. There are many instances of evidentiary proof that it was not the “right winged” zealots that commandeered the Capitol Bldg. The overwhelming evidence, including confessions, that Antifa disguised as Trump supporters were the actual perpetrators. There are other theories, but if the right did this, this would be a first. Not so from the left, as rioting and occupying has become there Modus Operandae. The real truth will reveal this in time. It is our duty to net be mind controlled by the media, either political party but have patience and gather the facts.
As fat as truth is concerned, Jesus said “I am THE way, THE truth and THE life…….”. Apart from Jesus there is no real truth. There are facts that are real and there is the interpretation of those facts. Philosophy and then a spin off called Science were merely a search for the truth. Science used to be a search for understanding the world God has made. That is not what either of these disciplines are today.
When the Scientist peers over the realm of knowledge, he finds the theologian already there. Truth cannot be found apart from Jesus Christ. America has so turned our backs on God as a nation, we may never recover. And that is why we are in the mess we are in.
God bless you for your writings.
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Thank you Dennis for sharing your thoughts on this. I am in total agreement – Jesus is the ONLY truth. It cannot be apart from Him, and you’re right – our nation has completely rejected God and His teachings, so it is no surpise the mess we are ing. Hugs and love xox
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I sat almost hypnotic as I watched the events unfold from here in the UK . Having not drank for a year and a half now this was a point where I would fill a large glass with Rum and sit back to watch the madness. Doing so sober was challenging. Trump had egged these imbeciles on for weeks. He caused this and was unrepentant until he realised HE might get into trouble.
Once again this morning he was unrepentant.
He has proved himself to be dangerous. This was the price America has been made to pay for enabling him so long. I don’t see all MAGA supporters in that light. Much like Brexit in the UK there was a variety of issues that resulted in the votes going the way they did. Mainly because people feel unrepresented by those in power.
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Thank you. My parents are immigrants of the 1960s. My dad is now 81 and he said he no longer recognizes the USA. I now live in Burundi, Africa. This is the region where civil war rocked on in the 1990s (Remember Hotel Rwanda? Yes, this is the region.) and I lived through it. Violence is not the answer, the innocent end up suffering. My heart is turned home to the USA now and my knees are bent in prayer.
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Hi Lea, thank you so much for sharing your story. Wow, that is powerful. You’re dad is right – the USA is unrecognizable. SO true – violence is never the answer. Joining you in those important prayers. there is power in prayer! Hugs and love xox
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There’s never been a strictly human source of truth concerning the goings on of this world. Jesus stated that His kingdom is not of this world. Therefore the only thing that should matter to Christians is Christ and His spiritual realm. The truth about our Lord can only be found in God’s Holy Word. We must look for truth in the only place it can be found…
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Hi Rollie, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. you’re right – Christ is all that should matter! Hugs and love xox
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“Our society finds Truth too strong a medicine to digest unpolluted. In its purest form Truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder; it is a howling reproach. What Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions . . . they are the Ten Commandments. Are – not were.” Ted Koppel
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hi friend – wow, what a powerful quote. thank you for sharing that. Hugs and love xox
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Truth in MSM (Mainstream Media) is hard to find whether left or right leaning because their owned by large corporations who have bought politicians on either side of the aisle.
When Reagan (1981-89) deregulated the media, news was no longer constrained by rules serving the Common Good and went for profit instead. Before Reagan news outlets were held accountable by certain standards applicable to support news for the people along lines that had bias but the bias was held in check by government regulations. Reagan busted unions, deregulated hospital stays (actually a good thing IMO) and created conditions for the billionaire class to come to power.
Sorry to say folks – MSM, the Presidency, the Congress are owned by big money. I heard Ralph Nader speak in the early 90s. He said that in the mid 70s one could go to Washington DC and request a 1 on 1 with their Representatives and receive one – sometimes in the same day as the request. By the mid -eighties this became impossible because big-money PACs had consumed the reps time.
Since the 1980s government has been owned for the most part by corporations. The Corps are delighted with Dems and Reps fighting each other so that nothing gets done except for their agenda items. We The People don’t exist anymore and have been replaced by Big Money Interests that support both the right and the left. To think otherwise is an illusion created by MSM mainly through television – conditioning us as consumers. If you want to know more I recommend the book “Deterring Democracy” by Noam Chomsky. Its a logical argument regardless of his left wing stance.
Because I don’t watch TV news very often (BTW all the MSM news outlets reported that a woman was shot and killed by Capitol police). What has been circulating conspiracy channels which I tend to agree with in this case that Antifa and BLM people had infiltrated the MAGA protests and spearheaded the attacks on the Capitol Building, nevertheless the others followed and participated. The instigator was Trump, clearly.
I was horrified, saddened and not surprised.
To change and take our nation back we must get big money out of politics. We must sit down with people of opposing beliefs and explore our values based on our emotions and reach an understanding. This is what I try to do in my daily life. And we must remember that Social Media is not news, but filled with recycled opinions, gossip and rumors. The divisiveness is not just in media, politics and social media; its with everybody in the nation. We usually come in contact with those with whom agree with us and are insulated from others who don’t.
For more: https://psychesweather.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/media-the-end-of-civility-and-the-polarization-of-democracy/
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Hi Kai, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. very true – the MSM is a big corporate machine, and what’s the heart of that? making money! lots of powerful food for thought here. thank you . Hugs and love xox
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Very well—and tactfully—stated, as always. I agree about the confusion and frustration. At first, I wanted my candidate to win, then it was more, “I just want the truth! The actual trurh! No matter what it is!”
Thanks for this. I’m glad you listen to the right voice. This was well said, at the right time.
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thank you so mch William! right – truth is something that should be guaranteed, sadly, we found out this election, that is not the case. Hugs and love xox
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We are in the fog of war – and it is a war. I believe revelations are coming very very soon that is going to rock the whole world.
Great post!
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Hi H, you’re right, I’m afraid. If not actual, definitely spiritual. thanks for stopping by. Hugs and love xox
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I think one way to seek truth is to remove opinions from what you hear. Many people, I find, do not know the difference between an opinion and a fact. The fact is a group of people committed criminal acts the other day. Another fact is we have seen police treat other protests and its protestors differently. I think everything else is someone’s opinion, which is where all media have begun to go wrong. News media should report facts. Period.
I do want to add this…I think left-leaning media outlets should’ve mentioned the woman who died; however, the woman who died was also committing criminal acts, which is another fact.
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I also meant to say this is a good post. That’s my opinion lol
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hahah thank you!
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People should leave opinions alone. Opinions are never truth. Get the facts, farm with that. Opinions deceive, opinions divide, opinions promote false truths.
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I totally agree, and they have no place in the news.
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Journalism is immature as journo’s “create news” instead of reporting facts. You’re right; it has no place in the news.
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hi K! thank you for sharing this awesome insight. Yes – news media should report facts, period! i agree! Hugs and love xox
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I appreciate your honesty on this one. Watching what went on left me speechless.. it felt like I was watching the newscast of another country, not one in which we can have opposite views and still be civil. As to your question “what do we do” — personally it has required me to be willing to open a discussion with some people in my circle with ground we agree on, and then when we find something we do not, ask the question of why to understand how they got to that position. Being married to an immigrant who worked hard to put himself through college has given me a great deal of understanding and thought process that I never would have had otherwise. I can respect a position that has been well thought through, even if I have landed on a different one. But hearing the “other” — who some see as the enemy, requires a humble attitude and courage to go there.
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thank you Tama, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this. Speechless indeed. my heart was utterly saddened to see that that is what america has come to. Hugs and love xox
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I am completely stunned at how easily this mob got through. This is truly frightening. So many questions are unanswered. I just wish the media would stop using inflammatory language and just tell the facts of a story rather than spinning it to be an entertainment piece. People’s lives and livelihood are at stake. We never know who is watching these “news” events that are being spun by the professional news anchors/celebrities. Not everyone is mentally balanced. The mentally disturbed can be easily influenced. I just pray to the Lord that 2021 is better and cooler heads will prevail but I really don’t think that’s going to habit. I feel that we have taken a spin down the rabbit hole and we aren’t going to be able to turn around. . . Only God can save us. Blessings and prayers for peace.
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thank you Jenny for sharing your heart on this. Yes, absolutely stunned, saddened and frightened, too. joining you in that important prayer. Hugs and love xox
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Wow: That is something I have been thinking over the last few weeks. Twenty years or so ago, everybody agreed about what the FACTS were: Liberals and conservatives just disagreed about how to respond to the situation. Now, it seems like we’re living in two different worlds, with two different realities, and too many people demonizing everybody on “the other side.”
Even though I have a degree in journalism, I cannot think of a good unbiased news source. Finding one is a goal for 2021.
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thank you Michael for sharing your thoughts on this. I agree – the demonization of the “other side” has absolutely got to stop! Hugs and love xox
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Excellent, Carolyn.
We impact the nation and the world by what we do in our respective corners of it. I reach out to people of all ages and shades; asking questions, listening, making people laugh, praying (when it’s welcomed). 2020 provided a boatload of opportunities to connect with strangers. We’re all in the same frustrated, uncertain, angry, fearful boat; which translates to common ground. That makes conversation easier. We just need to be willing to engage.
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Thank you Roxanne, you’re so right – we can all do a little something to help change and put an end to the toxic society. Hugs and love xox
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Caralyn, you know better than to say “No one is…” It’s like saying “always” or “never” or “everybody.” Just doesn’t add up! You wrote “At the end of the day, nobody is willing to listen to the ‘other side,’ and no one is willing to explore new opportunities. And therein, lies our deepest problem.” Many of my friends join me in trying to listen to all sides, trying to understand each other’s stances, trying to reach common ground. I switch from one channel to another often in order to try and hear all “sides” and sift through the rhetoric. We have to keep trying, no matter how difficult. There is TRUTH out there in the midst of the confusion. Keep searching. Keep listening. Keep trying. Keep loving. Only when we all work together to try and seek UNITY can we begin to heal.
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Has anyone tried to understand God’s will? Obviously not.
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I’m working on it. It’s a life-long daily process!! Thanks for the reminder to include that in all considerations – and to put it at the top of any list. Takes discernment…
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Hi Jan, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. You bring up a great point, and I’m sorry for misspeaking. I guess in my bout of passion, writing this, I, too, was swept up in the “broad-paint-brushing” of highly intricate matters. I think that is beautiful what you and your friends are doing. Listening, and seeking understanding is what’s going to change this country, and we mustnt let the actions of an extreme few color the perception of the many. amen to unity! Hugs and love xox
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Thank you, Caralyn, for acknowledging that “we mustnt’ let the actions of an extreme few color the perception of the many.” It’s a good reminder for me, too. ❤
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for me too! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Our nation needs so much healing right now. I completely agree with what you wrote here: “This polarity, coupled with the frustration over covid isolation and restricted freedoms, leads people to a boiling point.” We are still dealing with the repercussions of covid, and everything just seems intensified and heightened because of it. We need to pray over our nation.
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hi Katie, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts onthis. amen – we need healing SO BADLE. yes – massive massive prayers are needed, and i will certainly join you in that! Hugs and love xox
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❤
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xooxo 🙂
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From across the ocean, it is easy to see the socialist-communist (and by definition Antichrist) “democrats” stealing the White House, supported by an equally diabolical media and a much deluded public opinion. Where communism is promoted, truth gets shot first, then people. It is a very sad day to see prophetic dreams and visions of a degade ago being played out. I am no prophet and neither do I claim to be, but I do have a prophetic anointing and calling. Seek Jesus Christ.
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thank you for sharing this powerful insight. All Wednesday, I was wondering how this would come across to those overseas. And there you have it. Truth gets shot first – wow, that is a terrifingly powerful thought. yes, seek Jesus! Hugs and love xox
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I grew up in a country where shots were fired, bombs exploded an a Nobel Peace Prize winner caused the deaths of well over eight thousand citizens, mostly defenseless civilians. He was never even charged for these atrocities and spent three decades in jail for sabotage and coercion. He did nothing to free anyone yet he became an international hero. The opinions of people, wrong as they are, can be powerful. In a career that saw me do forensic auditing, I learned to disregard opinion and hunt for facts. Facts are not what you’d expect to find in the media, sadly.
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oh my gosh wow. wow wow wow. thank you for sharing that.
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Hello friend ❤️ It is refreshing to see that we still have a free voice here on WordPress and that my Christian brothers and sisters are still writing and speaking truth during this crazy time of uncertainty and lies. When I first saw your post title I thought of Project Veritas. They unveil corruption in business as well as have uncovered the evil intent behind major news stations. We need truth seekers who go out and find it, but ultimately we need to seek a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit who guides us into greater truth. Thank you for sharing and holding fast to your faith! God bless
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Hi Riley, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this! you’re right – let’s keep our fingers crossed that WordPress doesn’t go the censoring ways of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!!!! yikes. Yes! we need the Holy Spirit now more than ever! Hugs and love xox
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For me, my husband is a solid source of facts and information. And he briefs me on most things. In addition to that, we both read both sides of the “news” and we have 3 questions for validation of the “facts” presented.
1) what is the assertion?
2) is it verifiably reflected in reality?
3) is it affirmed in Scripture/Christ?
For example, and this is an easy one:
1) abortion is healthcare
2) abortion is billed as a medical procedure and legalized in Roe v. Wade and several state legislatures.
3) (this is the determining factor) Thou shalt not kill Exodus 20:13;
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Psalm 139:13
Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. Psalm 139:16
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Genesis 1:26.
So, although the assertion passes the 2nd question, it fails when taken to God’s Word. It denies the Truth therfore, it is a lie.
You can repeat this process with LITERALLY every major assertion made by either side. I warn you though, it really demands that you pray for the Holy Spirit to help you accept the really difficult truths. Because this world is built upon the lies of the Enemy. And once you start unraveling them, the entire structure crumbles. And that’s a very difficult thing to process.
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Hi Eden – oh my gosh, wow. WOW WOW WOW. I am literally writing down those three questions as we speak. what an incredibly powerful and eyeopening way to look at the news and the reality of the world we live in. I mean, the example of abortion makes it all as plain as day. i am 100% going to start doing this, and asking myself these questions withliterally everything. thank you Eden. This is going to be such a huge blessing. thank you! Hugs and love xox
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Snopes is a web site that evaluates controversial rumours and reports. It reports whether the report is likely to be true of false together with a summary of the evidence. It seems to be quite impartial.
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thank you so much Penny for the great resource! i will absolutely check it out. i’m hunting for facts! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
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that is very true — and very frightening, considering where our country is, and where it’s headed! thanks Denine for stoppin gby! Hugs and love xox
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😊
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xoxo 🙂
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Oh, goodness, I resonate with EVERYTHING you wrote. Even the vino. Though I didn’t need the Holy Spirit to tell me to drink while writing my post on this subject. I just assumed it was needed.
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around all this as well. It’s like this quadruple knot I don’t think anyone knows how to untie. I was hoping you’d have all the answers. 😉
My two cents:
I feel like it comes down to the base assumptions people have about who they can trust and who they can’t.
When I see that the election was called for Biden, that almost all the court cases Trump pursued to overturn it fell flat, and even Republicans like Mitch McConnell give up, I have to say it’s over because I trust that no conspirator can orchestrate something that big. We have checks and balances for a reason. But good luck trying to convince my conservative friends (or those in the riot on Jan. 6) of that.
I wish so many would understand that once you start mistrusting that many institutions, you leave no one to trust anymore.
Another though, I don’t think looking at multiple media sources is such a bad thing. Like you said, we got two narratives from the right and the left. It’s not that one side is entirely right and the other wrong. I think we need both perspectives – maybe all perspectives – to piece the truth together. For example, it’s true that a lot of ordinary people “stormed” the capitol – including sweet old ladies and bewildered protesters. It’s also true that a few of them in the group came in with military gear and most likely the intent to take hostages. It’s no exclusively one or the other. The truth is somewhere in between – or both.
We have to assume the best of each other – or even the average of each other – and not the worst. I’m a conservative myself, but I understand perfectly well why Democrats promote the things they do. They do it for the same reasons I do: we want to help our country.
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a quadruple knot, indeed! thank you so much for shraing your thoughts on this. i agree – what’s that saying about trust? It takes a second to break, and a lifetime to rebuild? Seems about accurate. piece truth together – yes. thanks for this awesome insight! means a lot. Hugs and love xox
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It’s so sad seeing what’s going on in the world today.
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hi Amanda! it really is so sad, big prayers are needed for the country! Hugs and love xox
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I know praying doesn’t seem like much, but praying is action. It is the first action we all need to take. When we pray, we humble ourselves before God telling Him we are ready for His way. God’s way is the only way to bring healing to our country.
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you’re absolutely right – praying is action, and there is power in prayer! joining you! thanks for stoppin gby! Hugs and love xox
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I think news should be consumed like food. Only a few times per day at the most, and then a well rounded diet. Meat and potatoes are probably just as questionable as rigid vegan limits. You can have a snack occasionally, but only as a treat now & then. Otherwise, turn it off. Go do other healthy activities, like get outside, exercise, create something beautiful, spend time with people, etc. Too much food will make you ill. Too much news the same. – Oscar
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oh wow, Oscar, that is really powerful. You’re right a well rounded diet. I love this metaphor. (probably because i love food! haha) LOVE THIS! thank you for the awesome food for thought! 😉 Hugs and love xox
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When preparing those delicious meals, which you have been posting recently, turn off the news. Enjoy silence and the art of cooking, or at least put on some music. We spend too much time in our frontal cortex these days. (anyway, the act of chopping up stuff is good for all the turmoil inside and out). Happy prepping. – Oscar
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Oh that’s really great advice! Just focus on the joy and art of cooking! Thank you Oscar! I agree – therapeutic indeed! Hugs and love xox
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I wonder what God is thinking about all this? Thanks for your honesty, Caralyn, it is very much appreciated. I am concerned with the divergent opinions and having the ability to talk it out instead of escalating — I guess the word to use is — violence. -Jeff
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I have also wondered the same thing, Jeff. Thank you for sharing your heart on this. gotta keep praying! Hugs and love xox
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Do you remember in Anne of Green Gables when Marilla thought Anne lost her brooch? Anne denied having done it, but Marilla wouldn’t accept that as an answer, so Anne made up what she thought was an entertaining story about how the brooch got lost. When Marilla found her brooch and realized that she misplaced it herself, she asked Anne why she hadn’t told the truth. The real truth was that Anne did tell her the truth, but Marilla wouldn’t accept it because she thought she already knew what the truth should be and refused to be satisfied until she got the lie she wanted out of Anne, the one that fit the basic story that Marilla herself had already decided upon in her own head. Anne lied to her because it was what Marilla insisted that Anne tell her and simply wouldn’t hear anything else. If Fox news and their stories are the only ones that make you feel good (or at least not angry), I think it’s time to ask yourself what stories they’re telling you that you insist that you want to hear, the ones that you won’t be happy until others tell you the same thing, whether it’s a lie or not.
I challenge you to give up Fox news from now until the end of Lent. Read the BBC, AP news, and the Christian Science Monitor. Those last two are pretty centrist in their stances and have high accuracy and trust ratings on media review sites, much higher than Fox news.
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Hi friend, oh my gosh I actually have never read Anne of Green Gables! i know tragedy – but wow, that sounds so powerful. and definitely applicable. thank you for the advice and the resource reccomendations! will definitely check it out! Hugs and love xox
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Great question! I feel your pain. Problem is people only watch one channel – the one that agrees with their thinking, We are associating only with those just like us. I truly don’t trust CNN or FOX. Our pastor reminded us this week that we have to keep our eyes on Jesus – remembering that we have been called to be Christians before Americans. It breaks my heart as people are not only not willing to listen to the other side – they feel that anyone that does not agree with them is 1) evil 2) clearly does not know the facts 3) and is open for name calling. I fear for our country – and our church.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this! I agree – we are Christians first! That’s our core identity! Hugs and love xox
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So True!
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Thank you Jolie! Hugs and love xox
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I just started thinking this morning that I forgot to mention Reuters. They’re also an excellent news source with a pretty balance approach and very high accuracy ratings.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us
For a longer list of news sources that are rated as being pretty centrist, you can check out this list:
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oh that’s a great tip! thank you so much! Hugs and love xox
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Have a look at https://www.thetrumpet.com/
Warmest regards
John
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I certainly will. thank you John. Hugs and love xox
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Violence at any form should NOT be condoned. A riot at any form should NOT be called a peaceful protest.
I think that we can all agree that there passionate people on both sides of the political aisle. But what is clear, is that there is a double standard when the media reports such incidents. This is what is wrong with your country today – and you hit the nail on the head..The media refuses to report the truth or tell you stories that will make you question – the narrative that they are trying to make you believe.
Basically, the headline, doesn’t follow the story. They already have their headline and now they need to find a way to make the story fit it. What I am trying to say is, the media was going to call the protest in Washington a “riot” anyways.. They just needed something to happen to make it that way. Enter antifa.
With the current news coming out, it seems that there were Antifa people (pretending to be supporters), inciting the riots and encouraging those who are really “passionate” to go further.. The result is what you see there.
When DC was burning with fires all over the city with the BLM riots in the Summer, the media called it a peaceful protest. So yes. You hit the nail on the head.. The key word here is truth.. Not “your truth” or “their truth”.. No.. “THE TRUTH”.
We need to know “THE TRUTH” regardless of the way we feel about it. And we need to act accordingly on it. I don’t know of anyone on the Republican side that condones the riots on the capital and including the former president Trump.. But clearly the media is not going to report that..
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You’re right – violence is never the answer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this! Hugs and love xox
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