What Are "Alternative Facts"?

A new salvo in the war of words between
Donald Trump, his staff and well…. everyone else. 

You’ve no doubt heard yesterday’s comment by KellyAnne Conway to Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet The Press”, The comment was in response to Todd asking why Sean Spicer was sent to the White House briefing room to meet with the Media (what we used to call “Reporters”), and asked, presumably by the President to float a bold faced lie in response to reports that Trump's inauguration was poorly attended.  “The crowd was the largest ever. Period”. is how Spicer characterized it. Which was of course revealed as false seconds afterward across the globe, with images streaming on Twitter, Facebook and everywhere else, comparing the sea of Humanity attending Obama’s inauguration with the anemic turnout for Trump’s big day. 

Conway defended Spicer's comment by saying it represented "Alternative Facts". And consequently, she revealed that she, her boss and apparently the entire Trump administration are comfortable with projecting a sort of “parallel reality” , as long as the goal of obfuscation, subterfuge and distortion is achieved. 

Is that what we have to look forward to for the next 4 years? If so, we had all better bone-up on the meaning of “The Absolute Truth”  and learn to recognize when stupid, careless or malevolent individuals are trying to pass off some facsimile there of.  

What is the Truth?

Liars, scam artists, people with borderline personality disorders and apparently some politicians will try to convince us that there are various versions of The Truth. So, let’s be clear: The Truth is absolute. There is only One Truth. There may be people’s opinions about what that Truth is, but the fact remains, there are lies, versions, deviations, fictionalized accounts, people’s beliefs and then, there is The Truth. 

Now, the Truth may be revised, when new FACTS are presented, but again, there are FACTS and then there are, the now infamous inversions called, “Alternative Facts”.

Those with a Conservative and or Republican political persuasion will read my words and presume I am only pointing out this incident to further beat down and delegitimize their chosen leader. First of all, nothing I could say or do would further that cause more than Trump’s own words and those of his staff. But no. My intent here is to use this incident to point out that I, like many trusting people of conscience, have been victimized by unscrupulous individuals who operate from one Machiavellian mindset: 

“Whatever it takes to achieve my goals is right and just. My needs and desires exceed those of all others and I will have my way, regardless of who suffers”.

It is just this mindset that has empowered murderers, corporate thieves, terrorists, dictators, rapists, gold diggers, wife beaters and other scum of the Earth to subject their innocent and unfortunate victims to their particular brand of evil. 

I have struggled to understand this departure from civilized behavior and have concluded that those with integrity, compassion and empathy for others will never be able to fully wrap their mind around what makes this sort of creature tick. But I do believe that I have deduced one trait they all share, one unspoken credo that they all live by:

“If you’re stupid enough to fall for this shit, then you deserve to suffer”.

If you agree with me that there may be even a little veracity in that statement, then you have a responsibility to yourself and loved ones to be on the lookout for these imposters, obfuscators, liars and manipulators. They are all around you, not just in our political system, but lurking behind a telephone, making unsolicited calls; coming to your door, using this or that excuse to gain your confidence; on the used car lot; in the courtroom; on television; radio, as well as everywhere on the internet. You must be on the lookout for these predators, just as the Gazelle must constantly be wary of the lion or hyena.

So to conclude: When you hear anyone, especially someone who presumes to lead others, allow a phrase like “Alternative Facts” to fall nonchalantly from their lips, rest assured, there will be other half truths, outright lies and deceptions to come. 

"When we turn our back on the enemy, that is when we are most likely to we feel the cold thrust of the knife".

-Shane Eric Mathias