Truth

I just finished watching Good Night, and Good Luck again, and it got me thinking.

I think common people love truth with a passion that borders on neurosis. They love truth because truth is eternal, permanent, lasting. They love it because truth never changes, never betrays, never fails or falters. They love truth because they love to surround themselves with others who also love it, to be surrounded. They love truth because it provides a purpose to their otherwise purposeless lives, and it provides this purpose by way of commandments to be obeyed. Yes indeed, common people love the idea of truth.

In contrast, exceptional people love Truth with a resolve that approaches ineffability. They love Truth because they know that Truth is a guide to direct them through the ever-changing paths of life, and to save them from the ever-mutating error. They love Truth despite the avoidance, isolation, ridicule, rejection, hatred, and condemnation it attracts from the common people. They love Truth because it is their purpose, and because it justifies their place as both the doers and the givers of commands. Yes, exceptional people love Truth.

The common love of truth is an exemplary manifestation of the consequence of sloth. Common people are lazy rabble, babes waiting still to be fed the poisoned milk because they tired too quickly in their quest for the prize, or never sought at all. Contentment and adaptation are their talents--they will resolve to forget their sins and guilt and accept and embrace what they are; they will adapt to their situation by becoming grotesque monsters capable of surviving, thriving even, on poison alone. Slothfully they will live out their pathetic lives, slowly chanting the same mediocre arguments for their cause, slowly trudging around in the same circle that they first transversed forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years ago, reassured perhaps that they have once more past the same old landmarks; after all, at least they are not lost. At least they are not lost!

I find that the older I become, the more I detest the common love of truth. This common love of truth is quite possibly the greatest evil in this world, and the greatest oppressor of Truth. Such has always been the case.

I ask, are you a common person, with a common love of truth? Do you imagine, do you dare to imagine, that you can put truth inside your suitcase, that you can tote it around like some unearned trophy? That you can somehow thus exalt yourself to a possessor of truth?

None can possess Truth. Truth can only be served. Truth can only be pursued, relentlessly, with great sacrifice. I speak to everyone. I speak even to myself.

And to the Christians who might read this, if they can bear it, I speak also, specifically (not out of bias but merely familiarity): I will not argue semantics of theology with you, though I could; neither will I condemn, though I could as well. Instead, I will ask only one question: What will be your legacy to the world to come, to humanity to come, to your children and their children to come; what act will you achieve that shall make the future better for them than this world was to this generation? I would venture to say that the answer to that question cannot be found in your truth--a truth that has long lost its power to change the world; a truth that has become common; a truth that denies any other the opportunity to surpass it, though others have; a truth that has palled upon these recent generations as the assertions of fools who did not even themselves discern the value within that which they taught. Your own prophets were persecuted for speaking the truth; your savior was crucified for speaking the truth. Why are you not persecuted! I tell you, truly, you are not persecuted because you have not the Truth. Truth has left you, and you have remained behind, clinging to old rags for comfort, dealing in dirty money and chipped coins for one more hit of your old drug. I tell you, Truth has left you. I believe it is time that you took up the pursuit again. Time that you resurrected the real values of your old creeds, casting aside the old flaws. Time that you again demonstrated to the world through action that you are worthy members of the human race, diligent, inspired, discerning; champions of justice, workers of mercy, servants of Truth. I tell you, now, you are none of these and the world knows that you are none of these. This is why they merely ignore you; this is why they simply shrug their shoulders in disappointment and tolerate you as just another religion among many. Because you do nothing!

These are my feelings. Answer as you desire.