In a letter to J. Norvell, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle.” He wrote that in 1807. And what’s the talk today? Fake news.
Jefferson didn’t take kindly to newspapers. In the same missive, he writes, “Perhaps an editor might begin a reformation in some such way as this. Divide his paper into four chapters, heading the 1st, Truths. 2d, Probabilities. 3d, Possibilities. 4th, Lies. The first chapter would be very short.” Gotta give it up for Founding Father humor.
So, today we know that anyone can say anything about anything or anyone, and that there’s little accountability for falsehood. It was true in Jefferson’s time; it is true today. And individually, we can’t do much to change what is said because, unlike Jefferson’s time, our time has more literate (and semi-literate) people with more avenues of expression.
We’re not going to change our circumstances. All those avenues—and probably more as yet undreamt ones—will continue to overflow like a river under spring rains after a snowmelt. So, what are we to do?
Look in a mirror. Do you recognize the person you see? Do you know his or her character? Do you know the truth? Nothing outside of that knowledge changes that truth.
Would the “fourth chapter” as Jefferson describes it, hurt? Of course. But then, you really don’t have to read any further than the first chapter with regard to yourself or to others whose character you know well. Chapter One is really all that matters.
Jefferson didn’t take kindly to newspapers. In the same missive, he writes, “Perhaps an editor might begin a reformation in some such way as this. Divide his paper into four chapters, heading the 1st, Truths. 2d, Probabilities. 3d, Possibilities. 4th, Lies. The first chapter would be very short.” Gotta give it up for Founding Father humor.
So, today we know that anyone can say anything about anything or anyone, and that there’s little accountability for falsehood. It was true in Jefferson’s time; it is true today. And individually, we can’t do much to change what is said because, unlike Jefferson’s time, our time has more literate (and semi-literate) people with more avenues of expression.
We’re not going to change our circumstances. All those avenues—and probably more as yet undreamt ones—will continue to overflow like a river under spring rains after a snowmelt. So, what are we to do?
Look in a mirror. Do you recognize the person you see? Do you know his or her character? Do you know the truth? Nothing outside of that knowledge changes that truth.
Would the “fourth chapter” as Jefferson describes it, hurt? Of course. But then, you really don’t have to read any further than the first chapter with regard to yourself or to others whose character you know well. Chapter One is really all that matters.
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