“False testimony my be refuted, but once it is voiced, everyone repeats it” Proverbs 21:28 as translated by Rabbi Rami M. Shappiro

Ok, so have you visited social media any time recently? Or how about have you watch the news on TV or cable? Have you read the newspaper? If the answer is yes, then you may agree with me that it seems like there is no way to know what is true any more. Raise your hand if you agree.

I may just be speaking for myself, here, but I am really tired of reading posts or watching stories that are filled with “spin.” It seems like every person’s goal is simply to prove their own point of view without consideration for what is actually true or right or good or valuable. There are so many examples of this that it is hard to decide which ones to use. Here is one.

On a recent newscast a reporter declared that President Trump had contradicted his own leading scientists regarding the expected availability of a vaccine for the corona virus. They went on to play a recorded clip from the President followed by one from the head of the CDC as proof of the contradiction. They also threw in a clip from Dr. Fauchi to further support their contention. On the surface, it appeared their complaint was valid. But wait a minute…

A simple review of the larger context of the statements by all three people reveals that maybe the story is not quite so simple. It turns out that the President was talking about how quickly a vaccine might be available to distribute to a broad segment of the population that are most at risk from the virus while the CDC Director was talking about how quickly the vaccine would be available for the “majority” of Americans. Those are actually two very different things. And, to top it all off, it turns out Dr. Fauchi agreed with both the President and the CDC Director.

What bothers me the most here is not whether or when a vaccine will be available. What bothers me is the apparent effort by the media to twist the facts of the story (because after all, these are all facts) in order to promote a narrative that attempts to discredit the President. I know they don’t like him. I know they don’t agree with him. I know they would like to see him voted out of office. But this is a form of deception that is insidious and dangerous. It threatens our culture because it diminishes the trustworthiness of the free press.

What makes it worse, in my view, is the way so many Americans are quick to pick up on such a story and spread it immediately and without criticism across social media. In a world where fewer and fewer people actually watch the news or read the papers, social media has become the source of much of what we know about our world. It is a powerful tool for both good and evil and it is being used for both purposes. When people uncritically repeat so called “facts” in social media they often unwittingly spread falsehoods. And the industry “fact checkers” are no help at all. Their purported objectivity is so obviously biased that it is laughable to call it anything but censorship and propaganda.

Once a story like this hits the media, whether broadcast or social, it seems unstoppable. Solomon saw the problem thousands of years ago. A false story, once started, even if it is proved false, will continue to spread. And why is that? It is because people continue to repeat it without discrimination. If it fits their preconceived ideas then it is repeated and promoted without hesitation. And of course, if you challenge someone who posts this information, you are likely to be attacked, called a fool, ridiculed, and/or dismissed.

Don’t be fooled. As we move quickly toward what could be the most important national election in a century or more, I want to urge people to be discerning. Ask more questions. Be slow to accept and even slower to respond. Look past the spin no matter where it comes from and treat every story with a healthy dose of skepticism. Don’t think that you already know – remember what Solomon wrote, “Know-It-Alls display their ignorance.” Don’t be an know-it-all and don’t spread false reports.

Shalom,

Kevin