Pontius Pilate’s query to Jesus, “What is truth?” from John 18, was part of the scripture reading in my church last week. Those words took me in a direction that I’m sure my minister wouldn’t have suspected or hoped for. Instead of its biblical ramifications, I began thinking about our current resident of the White House and his equivocation with the truth.
In the fantasy world of Donald Trump, the truth has a certain amorphous quality. Included among his many alternative takes on the truth: The Finns don’t have destructive fires because they rake their forests; immigrants pose a greater threat to our country that [sic] the Russians or Chinese, climate change is a hoax, Mohammad bin Salman had nothing to do with brutal assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and if he did, so what? These beliefs are not merely false; they are potentially dangerous.
Those citizens more grounded in reality believe his denial of many truths put forth by respected scientists, intelligence agencies, economists, and many other learned experts constitute a threat so enormous in scope that the United States and the world will take years, at best, from which to recover.
If you are a member of the cult of Mr. Trump, keep in mind that millions of Germans put their trust in Adolf Hitler and we know what he delivered to his people, the world and the Jews of Europe.
The Congressional elections of 2018 were a start. Let’s hope the majority can discern the “truth” in time to do even more in 2020.
WILLIAM RICE
Butler
