Dr Asangba Tzudir
The status of ‘truth’ today is such that it finds caught at a paradoxical threshold where ‘truth’ needs to be revealed but remains hidden. The paradox is also heightened by the fact that revealing ‘truth’ comes with its own moral implications, that truth lies hidden and is not allowed to surface for fear of the social and moral judgment.
Truth also finds sacrificed at the altar of ‘powers that be’ where speaking ‘truth’ also carries negative repercussions and the best way out is for ‘truth’ to be silenced and kept hidden. ‘Truth’ has for so long been made into a threat.
The need to speak the ‘truth’ or to the ‘powers that be’ is of paramount importance considering the status of the society today where hardly do we see the merit of ‘truth’ or where ‘truth’ is spoken freely without any fear for the other. This is happening on various domains of society.
This withering away of ‘truth’ has happened because we have failed to realize the empowering power that comes from knowing and speaking the ‘truth.’ A society that is in need of liberation continues to lie in chains.
While we talk about a better society and also creatively and imaginatively construct a better society free from the bondage of so many ‘untruths’, but because of the way ‘truth’ is treated it is difficult to freely and openly speak the truth.
On the one hand, there is fear of being targeted which also discourages truth-telling, and on the other hand, efforts to speak the truth collectively finds very scattered. It is time to own responsibility within a collectivity to boldly speak the ‘truth.’
How long are we to enslave ourselves by silencing ‘truth?’ The comfort zone in which we find comfortably nestled needs to be ruffled by the current realities that portray where the society is being headed towards.
To find the collectivity, a lot of soul searching is desired to ponder upon our moral responsibilities as a human being. This begins with the ‘will’ to speak the truth based on a collective faith, beliefs and convictions.
To speak ‘truth’ to the ‘powers that be’ is not only challenging but may rather seem daunting. This challenge is posed by the very nature of society and its social structure where in defiance the untruth rather finds propagated and within the opposing contests, truth is discouraged.
Often from comfortable confines, praise is heaped on anyone who dares or have dared to stick their heads above the walls against the ‘powers that be.’ And these are inputs to struggle towards a collectivity.
The empowering power that comes with truth telling comes with the acknowledgement of the shared-values and principles associated with truth, and where the collective good of the community and society takes precedence over one’s comfort and individuality.
‘Truth’ has a language and our society needs to learn to appreciate and value for what truth is and begin by learning to speak the language of truth. The choice is ours to decide whether we transform ‘truth’ as a source of power or a source of threat.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
