Introspection: A Frightening Journey Toward the Light
Guy T. Sturino
November 27, 2005
Recently, former Senator Bob Graham of Florida told us what he knew, as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence before we invaded Iraq. It was a lot more than most Senators and Representatives knew. Because of what he knew, he voted against the invasion of Iraq, but, unfortunately could not discuss his reasons in pubic, or even in private, with anyone not holding a high enough security clearance. (1)
Also recently, Vice President Cheney, in remarks before the American Enterprise Institute, said that critics of the Administration were engaging in "revisionism of the most corrupt and shameless variety" . . . "Any suggestion that prewar information was distorted, hyped, fabricated by the leader of the nation is utterly false," . . . (2)
The question is, which position best supports your pre conceived position? Which person will you quote the next time you are brave enough to discuss politics with friends? Do you really want the truth at all? If you had incontrovertible evidence that the position you held was in error, what would you do?
A serious problem facing our nation is personal intellectual dishonesty. Knowing the truth is one thing, accepting a new truth in a blizzard of pride, prejudice and denial is quite another. Pride keeps us from changing our mind because then we have to admit to ourselves that we were mistaken – a serious blow to our self esteem. Prejudice keeps us from accepting the truth from anyone outside our social community – we might lose the safety of our chosen group. Denial simply keeps us from thinking – we don’t have to deal with something that isn’t there.
How easy it is, for politicians and preachers alike, to use our pride, prejudice and denial to tear apart the very fabric of our democracy, our schools and our communities. Do you believe that there were serious problems with the counting of votes in the last two presidential elections? Do you believe that Intelligent Design is a contrary but legitimate scientific theory? Do you believe that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights and privileges as the rest of us? No matter what your position is, have you ever thought about how much of your belief may be based on pride, prejudice or denial?
Yes, intellectual dishonesty has been a problem since man began to think. And, it is not just the other person’s problem. We are all subject to pride, prejudice and denial to some degree. How long we allow it to cripple our thought process is a purely personal decision. Probably the most important thing to keep in mind is that intellectual dishonesty has a survival instinct of its own. It works tirelessly against our efforts to eliminate its impact.
There is one truth which virtually everyone will accept. Because of the overwhelming military and monetary power of the United States, its voting age citizens, by virtue of whom they elect to govern, who they choose to guide their moral character, and what they decide should be taught to their children, will impact not only the United States, but the entire world. So, the next time you’re having a congenial but heated debate about politics, religion or the nature of democracy, ask these questions out loud.
1. Am I defending my position simply because I can’t accept being wrong?
2. Am I refusing to accept new facts because of the reaction of my peers?
3. Am I ignoring any fact which may be damaging to my position?
The answers may be comforting, or they may not, but the answers to these questions will certainly tell us about us. There is nothing that could possibly instill more fear into the hearts of those who would lead us astray than for us to begin to know our own minds.
Do we have the courage to find out who we are?
Our fate, and quite possible the fate of the world, is in our own hands – and our hands are guided by our thoughts.
(1)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802397.html
(2)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/21/AR2005112100276.html
Also recently, Vice President Cheney, in remarks before the American Enterprise Institute, said that critics of the Administration were engaging in "revisionism of the most corrupt and shameless variety" . . . "Any suggestion that prewar information was distorted, hyped, fabricated by the leader of the nation is utterly false," . . . (2)
The question is, which position best supports your pre conceived position? Which person will you quote the next time you are brave enough to discuss politics with friends? Do you really want the truth at all? If you had incontrovertible evidence that the position you held was in error, what would you do?
A serious problem facing our nation is personal intellectual dishonesty. Knowing the truth is one thing, accepting a new truth in a blizzard of pride, prejudice and denial is quite another. Pride keeps us from changing our mind because then we have to admit to ourselves that we were mistaken – a serious blow to our self esteem. Prejudice keeps us from accepting the truth from anyone outside our social community – we might lose the safety of our chosen group. Denial simply keeps us from thinking – we don’t have to deal with something that isn’t there.
How easy it is, for politicians and preachers alike, to use our pride, prejudice and denial to tear apart the very fabric of our democracy, our schools and our communities. Do you believe that there were serious problems with the counting of votes in the last two presidential elections? Do you believe that Intelligent Design is a contrary but legitimate scientific theory? Do you believe that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights and privileges as the rest of us? No matter what your position is, have you ever thought about how much of your belief may be based on pride, prejudice or denial?
Yes, intellectual dishonesty has been a problem since man began to think. And, it is not just the other person’s problem. We are all subject to pride, prejudice and denial to some degree. How long we allow it to cripple our thought process is a purely personal decision. Probably the most important thing to keep in mind is that intellectual dishonesty has a survival instinct of its own. It works tirelessly against our efforts to eliminate its impact.
There is one truth which virtually everyone will accept. Because of the overwhelming military and monetary power of the United States, its voting age citizens, by virtue of whom they elect to govern, who they choose to guide their moral character, and what they decide should be taught to their children, will impact not only the United States, but the entire world. So, the next time you’re having a congenial but heated debate about politics, religion or the nature of democracy, ask these questions out loud.
1. Am I defending my position simply because I can’t accept being wrong?
2. Am I refusing to accept new facts because of the reaction of my peers?
3. Am I ignoring any fact which may be damaging to my position?
The answers may be comforting, or they may not, but the answers to these questions will certainly tell us about us. There is nothing that could possibly instill more fear into the hearts of those who would lead us astray than for us to begin to know our own minds.
Do we have the courage to find out who we are?
Our fate, and quite possible the fate of the world, is in our own hands – and our hands are guided by our thoughts.
(1)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802397.html
(2)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/21/AR2005112100276.html
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