A Facebook Caveat Emptor -- True Story

A friend of mine supports Senator Sanders. Actually, more than one, but one in particular inspires this cautionary tale. (Because it’s irrelevant I’m going to obscure the friend’s gender by using the {newly accepted} “they” as I relate this to you.)

On their feed was posted a(n alleged) link to a Washington Examiner story claiming polls showed that only Bernie Sanders could defeat President Trump. My simple response, “You know the Examiner is a right wing source, yes?” In other words, like their hero, President Trump, the Examiner would prefer to have Senator Sanders as the opposition, and their polling source might have its own agenda. However, I don’t even know if the link was bona fide because I didn’t open it.

My friend responded later with a text, with these exact words: “Don’t know where that article came from, I don’t remember sharing it. Thanks for pointing it out!!!” Wow! You can’t even trust Facebook! (sarcasm, btw)

Those of you who actually vet or fact check your sources (and don’t just share memes and links that fit your world view) probably don’t need this warning, even if you are horrified by the anecdote, but be skeptical of EVERYTHING on Facebook. The poster may not even know what’s being published under their name – especially if it’s shared content from a third party, or a meme, or a link to or from a biased source.  Not only may it be untrue, it may not even come from the person who seemingly posted it. That there are bad actors out there spreading misinformation cannot be denied.

Random notes & observations inspired by the above:

• I don’t know a single Sanders supporter who wants free stuff. Not.a.single.one.

• Political parties care about one thing, and one thing only: power for the political party. Neither (none) holds the keys to either heaven or prosperity.

• While there was no perfect candidate, none of my top 3-4 choices on the Democrat side were probably ever really viable candidates, but….

• I would vote for the dish sponge we forgot to rinse out prior to our trip before the incumbent president, because with some effort, the dish sponge could be cleaned up, salvaged and made useful.

• It’s honestly difficult for this ex-English teacher to do the “they” thing, but I understand the rationale.

• Speaking of ex-English teachers, I know one who tried to teach his students that the adverb “very” was the product of a weak vocabulary or a lazy mind, and exemplified poor writing. Oh, wait, that was me (probably among others).

• Speaking of lazy, political memes are for those too lazy to express their own thoughts and ideas. Memes are, by definition, simplistic and misleading. Just.Stop.

Please, Please, Please, Let George (Washington) & the Boys (other founders) Rest in Peace

  Everybody wants to co-opt the writings of the Founding Fathers to justify their own opinions, even if it means cherry-picking, editing beyond recognition or even fabricating something they wished had been said or written. I understand that our venerable (and venerated) founders are viewed as almost divinely inspired (they were men, remarkable to be sure, but mortal and fallible nonetheless). If you truly want to honor them by quoting their writings, you owe it to them (and to those who may read what you’re saying) to at least be accurate in your choices of citations, thorough in your research, and honest in not taking their words out of context.

The Founding Fathers were not in agreement on everything; some weren’t in agreement on anything. Some couldn’t stand the others, either personally or politically. For every argument you pull from one founder, even a little research can find a counter-argument from another. Neither were the founders even always consistent within their own writings. So how did the Constitution ever get written? Key word: compromise.

Oh, and by the way, the irony of attributing support of one amendment or another to the authors of the Constitution: they thought it was fine WITHOUT the first ten amendments; those were added essentially to garner support from those reluctant to pass the document without additional protections. I'm not saying they didn't support them, once added, but they weren't the crucial pieces some today would like to believe. And that Bill of Rights? Those first ten amendments didn’t even apply to state laws fewer than 100 years ago, until 1925 (Gitlow v. New York), when an “activist” Supreme Court expanded the power of the federal government. Those who yearn for the “original intent” of the Founders (as if they were of one intent) tend to ignore these and other inconvenient bits of history.

My point is this: like quoting the Bible, you can find whatever you want to make any point you want, but it’s intellectually dishonest to claim that because you’ve quoted (or misquoted, or misattributed, or taken out of context words from) George Washington (or Thomas Jefferson, or Alexander Hamilton or….) those words are now Gospel or engraved on stone tablets. It proves nothing and gives your side (whichever side that may be, because it’s common practice) no claim on truth, justice or the American Way. As far as I’m concerned, an edited, made up or inaccurate quote detracts from your argument.

So I beg of you, if you’re going to handpick a quote from one of the founders (or pass along one that somebody picked for you), please do at least of modicum of research and make sure it’s accurate and not conveniently edited or “enhanced.” George and the boys must be spinning in their graves, and they were no strangers to dirty tricks and mendacity in politics. Let them rest peacefully with the words they actually wrote, not ones created for modern political gain.