The Trivialization of Truth
Robert Seiple Thursday, 1 September 2005
"My dad remembers big," a friend quipped to me in a conversation about his father's preaching style, which includes a certain propensity towards exaggerated storytelling. His stories "could have happened," he added wryly. I am just as fond of this preacher as his son, so our teasing was good-natured and light-hearted. The pastoral context of such storytelling allows for the occasional embellished illustration.
In a political context, however—especially internationally—all stories are important. Words have meanings and, once conveyed, those meanings have consequences. In public life, verbal and written discourse should be pursued with scrupulous attention to detail and with careful balance.
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