Truth (?) & Reconciliation

Why does our dominant culture? Still want to go straight to reconciliation and let the truth lag behind?

This week at West Hill Dave Patterson joins us to discuss this question.

First Reading

--from Ray Fadden’s talks:

Mohawk name: Tehanetorens

Christopher Columbus wrote these words, this letter to the King and Queen of Spain. This letter is still in existence. Columbus himself had this to say about Indians.

What they, the Indians, have they do not refuse to those who ask. With deep love they prefer others to themselves. They give much for little and bear with small or no return. When we landed, women and men, children and adults, youths and old forgot the fear that they had felt for us and pursued to see us. A great crowd fell on the road, some bringing food, some drink, but all affected by the sweetest love and an almost unbelievable goodwill.

But he goes on to explain that these people will be easy to enslave, since as few as [50] soldiers could easily capture or kill all of the inhabitants.

Second Reading

The second reading is a triplet of quotations from writers who addressed, and modeled, the subject of truth and truth telling.

The first is by Flannery O’Connor, an American author who wove themes of morality and ethics throughout her many works of fiction.

The second is by the author Eric Arthur Blair, better known as George Orwell, an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and social critic who opposed totalitarianism and supported democratic socialism

And the third is by the author William Faulkner. When the works of all American authors were banned in France during the Nazi occupation, and a black market was formed, it was considered a brave act of defiance to read stories by Faulkner and Hemingway.

In that order, here is what they said about truth.

O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”

Orwell: “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Faulkner: “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.”