Edmund Burke, an Irish political philosopher said, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men to do nothing".
I like Facebook...I'm not gonna lie! I love seeing all of my family and friends, silly pictures, news articles from the outlets to which I subscribe; it allows me to feel a bit connected on days that are busy and I feel it is an easy way to find interesting reads. And like any diverse person I have FB friends of different backgrounds, values, beliefs and affiliations. I, at least once a day, see a story posted with which, to be blunt, I do not agree.
One of these posts was the other day. It was a sob story about an elderly man denied a b12 shot in the dr's office because Obamacare didn't cover it anymore. The posted story was then further elaborated on to say a named Judge Kithil from Mable Falls, TX was doing everyone a "favor" by cataloging controversial specifics of the "new law" (the specifics then also included in the post....insert "the sky is falling!" here).
I tried to find a link to post for you to see this letter, but it seems the websites that initially "reported" it have since taken it down....
However, after actually taking 10 seconds, seriously...that's it...just copy and past, to look for MYSELF, I found that the letter, though truly written by Judge Kithil in Marble Falls, TX, was an opinion piece without any education or investigation into the mentioned bill, which NEVER even passed into law.
You see a LOT of these online and you can very quickly find if they are true or just scare tactics. And that's what gets me. The fact that individuals read it and instantly believe it as truth! And THEN go on to continue to spread it!!
So, my question is this: "what do you do?" Do you point out that the posted story is false? Is that treading on the individuals Right to Free Speech? Or do you say nothing, let it slip on down your newsfeed and let the "shared" post garner MORE circulation and comments creating mounting hate and fear?? Isn't the point to stop the lies and stop the fear?!
I'm not one to get started in an FB comment scuffle so usually I just allow the individual their belief on the subject and continue on my day... but I feel a time is quickly coming when I might say "enough is ENOUGH! I do not care to challenge your opinion on this subject but I can not allow you to continue to spread these stories that are lies."
And don't get me wrong! Just because I see a story on a page that I subscribe to does NOT mean I believe it. If its something that grabs my attention, I further investigate. In short, I question EVERYTHING.
As Albert Einstein said, "The important thing is to not stop questioning." But we, as a society, have stopped asking questions. We are taught that because someone has a "title" that makes them an expert...well, it does not. We need to grow and encourage curiosity! You see this in children, they start off as SOON as they can talk and ask LOTS of questions!! But somewhere along the way they have been told enough things like "That's a silly question," or "Because I said so," or that questioning perceived authority figures is rude. We need to be less ashamed of asking questions!
So, I will leave you with this, a Chinese Proverb that I love (but don't really think the five minute thing applies): "He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes, he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever".
And don't get me wrong! Just because I see a story on a page that I subscribe to does NOT mean I believe it. If its something that grabs my attention, I further investigate. In short, I question EVERYTHING.
As Albert Einstein said, "The important thing is to not stop questioning." But we, as a society, have stopped asking questions. We are taught that because someone has a "title" that makes them an expert...well, it does not. We need to grow and encourage curiosity! You see this in children, they start off as SOON as they can talk and ask LOTS of questions!! But somewhere along the way they have been told enough things like "That's a silly question," or "Because I said so," or that questioning perceived authority figures is rude. We need to be less ashamed of asking questions!
So, I will leave you with this, a Chinese Proverb that I love (but don't really think the five minute thing applies): "He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes, he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever".
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