WHO KNEW ?

 

WHO KNEW?

 

162 years ago this week, Abraham Lincoln gave us the Gettysburg Address. As you might recall he also gave us this famous quotation, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet”.

That quote may very well be false, but these days who knows.

They say that history is written by the victors, which may very well be true, and this is what is causing all of us so much anxiety these days. The folks who conquer countries or nations get to write their story as they like to without any opposition.

It is virtually impossible today to know what is or what isn’t truth. The advent of so-called AI or artificial intelligence is leading us all down the primrose path to eventual stupidity.

Who can tell what is real or not these days?

You might recall a Greek philosopher in about 300 BC named Diogenes. He was reported to be searching for ‘an honest man’. I sincerely doubt if he could find one in those troubled times. Anymore than he could find one in this day and age. Lots of luck doing that.

But isn’t that what we all are trying to do in this day and age. Looking for something to be honest and truthful? And it seems to be harder and harder to accomplish each and every day, isn’t it?

Now we have to question each and every piece of information we receive and try to determine if it is true or just make believe. The other day, for instance, I saw this NBA basketball game being played atop a stadium built on top of this very tall skyscraper in Dubai. The quotes from people included one that stated, “you could actually feel the building swaying.” Now the graphics and effects were very realistic, and I started to look into this only to find out it was all make believe.

My question, is why go to all of this trouble? They weren’t selling anything or pushing me to subscribe to anyone that I could see, so what is their purpose?  For fun? Who knows?

Anyway, rather than getting my panties in a wad, I have decided to view the news and internet the same as I do a novel. Pure fiction until I can prove otherwise. I will trust but verify anything I read from now on. Those ‘feel good’ blogs and ‘reels’ that show lost kids who become brain surgeons and save the guy who gave them a sandwich thirty years ago or the lost dog that pulls the children from a fire. I will read those and cogitate upon them for what they are or might be. I will view those with a grain of salt and smile or laugh or cry in the right spots. But I will not be consumed by something that I cannot verify. News or not.

Maybe real, maybe not.

Who cares, it could be real, it might not be, so why get all upset over it and ruin my perfectly good day? There you have it for this week.

See you next week…Peary Perry