Debunked, or Denial?

When we think about the political establishment, big corporations, mainstream media and the entertainment industry, we can all too easily get that sour, swampy taste in our mouths and feel our stomach churn.

This article will not focus on any specific people or institutions, but will simply be a call for independent journalists and the public at large to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our collective quest to expose any dark deeds of those in any position of power.

What I observe is that the breaking news of this week becomes the dead end of the next week. Stories are broken with sensational fanfare and quickly summarized and packed away until they are deemed relevant in a future news cycle. Heartbreaking events happen, are reported on, and conclusions are drawn, and yet we never seem to have the full picture.

Think back to a year ago. What were the big news stories going on then? Who was being accused of what, and by whom? Did the public receive complete and satisfactory information about each case?

Fast forward to today. What news story most piques your interest at the moment? What issues are not in the current news cycle that you may still be curious about? In a world of instant information and gratification, it is easy to get lost in various data points without connecting seemingly separate people and events to a larger global narrative.

Pay close attention to when it is said that something has been "debunked." My skeptical journalistic critic usually translates that to the word "denial."

If something has indeed been debunked, there should be satisfactory proof that stands up to independent research and rigorous investigation.

The inverse of this is when claims are made to imply guilt without due process and people or groups are sentenced to trial by public opinion. Again, can we investigate relevant leads and examine the data for ourselves, putting our sociopolitical biases aside?

Draining the swamp is not easy when the ones promising to do the job may well be adding their own noxious odors to the quagmire. That is why it is up to us as citizens of the world to be our own authority, to reclaim our sovereignty and not be bullied into how we perceive reality.

If we have niggling questions in the back of our minds, these are worth listening to ahead of whatever narratives may be masquerading as the absolute truth. If all my friends agree that something is true and I disagree, can I risk social estrangement in service of my truth?

I have yet to speak to anyone who denies that the swamp is real. There are extremely corrupt and disturbing behaviors committed by individuals and people around them who are complicit or in some way enable wrongful actions to take place. The key to draining the swamp is to be the light that shines in the dark corners. Rather than get sucked into the negativity, we can rise to a new plateau and see the world from a lighter perspective.

Swamp creatures will fight amongst themselves, but will never solve the problems that they are creating. It really is up to each of us. We are not meant to be passive observers of this insane but true reality show that is transfixing the world.

The higher calling is for our collective morality and yearning for the truth of things to call us into inspired action. Our creativity and curiosity can lead us into unexplored avenues both in our personal lives and in understanding the world at large.

If we reflect on what makes us happy in life and begin to act more according to our passions, we automatically become forces for positive change. Negative and incomplete news stories are not about the swamp, they are part of the swamp. By committing to live our lives according to our highest virtues, we may lose interest in negative news stories, because we are so busy creating lives that are truly worth living.