I have been
lately pondering a Children's Classic written and published in 1837 by Hans
Christian Anderson.
It really
is not a children's story however. It's a tale of our society and world.
"The
Emperor's New Clothes" tells of two weavers who promise an Emperor a new
suit of clothes that is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions,
stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new
clothes, no one DARES to say that he doesn't see any suit of clothes until a
child cries out," But he isn't wearing anything at all!"
Leave it up
to an innocent child who would unabashedly shout exactly what he saw.
Imagine the
fear and the reluctance of the citizenry in this story to tell the truth. After
all, an open declaration that the Emperor was naked would reap the accusation
of being "incompetent, stupid, or unfit for any position". And who
knows what would happen to the poor, honest citizen then?
Sound
familiar?
This story
is relevant today. The truth is constantly skewed. Repeat a crazy explanation enough times and it
will eventually become a valid fact to the ears of the receivers. No matter how
ridiculous the tale may be, it eventually becomes palatable, either because the
hearers are worn out from hearing it, or because they have forgotten how the
original tale began.
There's
nothing new under the sun, is there? We keep falling for the same tricks.
Whether it's
an exaggerated lie of the press, a defensive position of the those in
authority, or simply one of your kids making up a ridiculous story to explain
what really happened? It's all the
same.
Any one who
chooses to speak TRUTH risks being verbally maimed, defaced, or accused of
stupidity.
No one
wants to be judged as incompetent, stupid, or unfit!
We are in a
stupor. (That's where the word "stupid" comes from) Or we are
cowards. Or we are just plain ignorant of what is going on.
Never have
things been so crazy and skewed. Up is
down, right is wrong, wrong is right, good is bad, and so on.
We have all
heard the lion story…over, and over, and over. People are in an uproar!
On the
other hand, human babies who could survive out of the womb , are being
extricated from the womb, carefully destroyed as to not damage their organs,
and methodically cut to pieces.
And we hear
hardly a peep over that atrocity. Oh, but funding the atrocity? Yes, by all
means!
Or how
about this? 23 American veterans commit
suicide every day. No one cares. One lion gets killed and people are rabid.
What is the
matter with us? Have we believed the constant barrage of mind altering logic
telling us that animal life is precious while human life, created in the image
of God, is worthless and cheap? Or do we
acknowledge in our hearts that the system is naked, and blind, and off track.
Could it be that we do not want to speak up
because we might be accused of stupidity, simple mindedness, or incompetence?
We once lived
in a society where respect for human life, and using common sense was the
pervasive argument for our policies. Sure, doublespeak and corruption went on,
but the general public ran on solid, moral values.
Is there a
child among us? Hey, child! Will you shout the truth?
Maybe the
national news media will notice his cry and tell it like it is.
I hope so.
Co
