Facts, Truth and Opinion

"I have one major rule: everybody is right. More specifically, everybody including me has some important pieces of the truth, and all of those pieces have to be honored, cherished and included in a more gracious, spacious and compassionate embrace" ~Ken Wilber

Truths, based upon facts, leading to opinions, make our conversations a lively and learning experience. Passion, based on respect, leading to understanding, make our families and communities a brightly colored kaleidoscope of efforts for the common good.

When did we forget that facts matter?

A whole industry has grown up to check our public speech, making sure our truths are based on facts. An industry we should be ashamed is necessary. Where is our built-in monitor for speaking clearly either facts or opinion; not confusing one for the other? When did we lose concern for the reverberations of our speech; for the impact of our words on others, in favor of our adamant grasping at the right to say what we want, when we want, as loudly as we want? How have we forgotten to listen?

Rotary, one of our time-honored service groups, has a simple and straightforward Four-Way Test:

"Of the things we think, say or do
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

Perhaps it is time, not just for every Rotarian, but every American to take up these principles and judge ourselves, our thoughts, our actions and surely our words by their light.