May 31, 2020 we have reached the 76th day of shelter in place, and there is so much bad news of deaths, injustices, and fake news exacerbating it all. This is not an easy post to write, nor to read. So, you can choose, whether or not to engage. I don’t propose a quick solution to the heartache, but share some long ago insights and some recent findings, that might help us all a bit.
In part one of this two-part blog, I discussed recent news, and ended with 1) abolitionist Theodore Parker’s quote “The arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice” made famous by MLK Jr; and 2) the discovery that foreign agents are leveraging real issues in the USA to sow greater divisions among citizenry, through fake news, in advance of the election. Everyone must hone their critical thinking.
Please see part one of this blog for reflections on the news and keeping hope. This is about figuring out what is real and what to focus on. Understanding what is real is necessary to helping us address the very real issues behind current events.
Related to point #2 above, and foreign agents using real issues to create bigger divisions in the USA in advance of the elections (using disinformation), here’s a warning from March: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/politics/russian-interference-race.html
And here’s an example from yesterday of Russian disinformation operatives being active in urban areas of unrest. (Have you heard of deep fakes? If not, Google it– scary stuff) https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1266746187752681474
My own experience at the marches was of thousands peacefully, emotionally, powerfully walking and chanting together, often with the police. Here are two amateur videos (recorded by me, no editing — I lack that technical expertise) of the gathering, and a 3rd recorded by a friend of friend. Video #1 of peaceful protests https://youtu.be/7dULrRsGshA . Video #2 of peaceful protests https://youtu.be/oNvd6O13Prc . Video #3 of police and protestors peacefully together, in body and spirit https://twitter.com/derek_m_norman/status/1267279241177112576?s=19
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Apologies for the simplicity of the below in this thought-full group, but perhaps it can be an easy copy/paste for you in your own circles.
For ready reference, remember the concepts of journalistic ethics (summarized below), take a few deep breaths (to calm the amygdala & become less reactive, more thoughtful), and ask yourself these 5 Qs:
- Does it feel especially angering or warm fuzzy? (trolls have techniques to cultivate online communities) If so, check veracity before sharing.
- Check in with my gut– does it seem unlikely but/or plausible? Check veracity before sharing.
- Do you know anything about him/her/it? Does this outlet have any particular slant or axe to grind? How does that affect what and how it reports on things?
- Are any major outlets (with journalistic standards & code of ethics) reporting it?
- What do the non- partisan, truth researchers say? the best known are snopes.com and politifact.com, and wikipedia has a good and quite comprehensive list of fact-checker websites around the world.
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Fyi, summary of those journalism ethics = Report the facts. Offer some interpretation without (with minimal) spin. Cite your sources. If you’re going to state a claim, get it verified by two or more independent sources. Anonymous sources are only when it would put the source in danger.
Everyone can make mistakes. The major outlets will, however, follow the standards above, and will issue retractions or corrections on details they get incorrect.
Critical thinking is more important than ever, both to justice and to a continuing democracy. It’s time to connect with our values (spirituality, whatever it’s name and structure, that helps us be the best versions of ourselves) and “be the change you want to see in the world.” Let’s be kind with each other, and be careful what we share.