“There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism. ”
― Alexander Hamilton
As citizens of this great country, we have a duty to dissociate from willful ignorance and become informed. Informed of what? The lies that are frequently spread by a select few of our fellow brethren, the media and those in power. If we don’t, we will lose what we know as self-possessed freedom.
Some people in power, have since the beginning of time, used their power to persuade, coerce and control the masses. They do this by using fear tactics through controlled media sources. Many social media platforms and users, news channel producers and podcasters are on the payroll of big corporations and politicians. If you don’t know this already, you are in the minority and have been living under a rock.
The dissemination of lies is made possible because those who spread them have learned that the average person is willfully ignorant and downright lazy when it comes to fact checking. Each person must take responsibility for believing what they are told, if they fall for it, hook, line and sinker, they can’t blame the source of their information. This isn’t Oz, and Dorothy doesn’t exist. People lie. Why? For self-promotion.
We need to put on our critical thinking hats. Critical thinking is you being like a detective. A detective is very curious and eager to learn and get to the bottom of complex issues and problems including things that are hidden from the public or the average person. Detectives ask a lot of questions! How does a investigator think and work? They 1) gather information from multiple sources in order to solve complicated and difficult problems. They 2) review the information 3) and analyze it ) weighing the merits or faults of the information. And then they use 5) logic, not emotion to come to a decision or conclusion. According to Entrepreneur magazine, the most successful people in the world ask questions constantly. Investigators are always asking questions and oftentimes skeptical of the information they see are or told. Are you always asking questions and sometimes skeptical about what you see and read on social media or what you are told by your friends, family members and colleagues? If not, you should be. Critical thinking is not taking anything at face value and leaving it that. Nor is it limiting your research to just one source. And it definitely is not basing decisions on emotions or how you feel. Objectivity is the key.
Without critical thinking, false, fear-based information can permeate society and go unchecked. It is how people’s sense of safety and well-being get altered.
Don’t let the media, big corporations and politicians ‘pull your strings.’
When you agree with information that is fear based, distorted and untrue, you are damaging all the parts of you – your mental, spiritual and emotional body.
The media have developed algorithms on how best to increase sponsorship, viewership and sales. They do so by preying on your emotions and weaknesses. If they don’t get you to be angry, hungry, or fearful, they aren’t doing their job. You can resist becoming a puppet and a victim of an algorithm. You do this by recognizing the ‘science’ behind the messaging as well as the motives and then taking a proactive approach to your well being. Namely, guard against such garbage intruding upon your mind.
Individually and collectively, we have the strength, intuition and ability to discern the truth. We can all do our part by researching the truth and then speaking the truth and not living like addicts to the media and to the fear it promotes. Truth and light can prevail over the darkness if you do your part and don’t join the camp of the willfully ignorant. You do this by taking personal responsibility for the influx and
