The woman stood at the bottom of the hill and looked up past the building on the top into the far-away blue sky as she said to no one, “Is there but one truth or many?”
A man walking down the steps stopped and said, “It depends.”
She smiled and said, “That implies there must be more than one … if truth depends on any other thing.”
“It depends.”
“Don’t be exacerbating. Say what you mean.”
The man smiled and said, “People always accuse orators, fixers and politicians of speaking out of both sides of their mouths.”
“And is that what I’ll find at the top of the hill?”
“Many there do speak from very different points of view … but you’ll find philosophers, warriors, and dreamers as well as some who simply seek to use power for themselves and not for any other purpose.”
“That’s more like it … I want to see the dreamers and the warriors for the people in action. That’s why I’m here.”
“The thing I said about truth … it really is true .”
“What do you mean?”
“There is the truth that makes up the world in which we exist, the facts that occur no matter what a person’s perception might be. That’s what most people think of as the truth, and there is but one truth in that sense.”
“You mean like … I’m standing on a step leading to a white building on top of a hill and another human being is standing beside me. Those are true facts which don’t depend on anyone’s interpretation, right?”
“Yes, an earthquake occurs or a fire or a lightning bolt. Those are facts about the world around us that are not changed no matter what our emotions or perceptions might be. There is but one truth about these things. If it’s raining and I say it’s not, then I’m telling a lie. If I instructed my staff to investigate a subject and I say I did not; then I have lied about things for which there is but one truth.”
“I see.”
“But there is another way people use the word truth, and that form of truth is mired in the perceptions of the speaker. I might say clowns are scary … and that is a true statement for me, but it’s really about my perception and not the reality of the clown. My perception of clowns is that they’re scary horrible figures of ridicule. But you might think clowns are funny so that statement is untrue for you. In this context there can be more than one truth about the same thing. The same clown can be both funny and scary depending on the viewer’s perception.”
“Does it matter if we speak of the world in a manner that’s untrue ?”
“I believe you’re asking if we should always tell the truth.”
“I guess so.”
“That’s a tough question. Sometimes it’s kinder to at least omit the truth. Why tell an ugly man that he doesn’t look good to you?”
“The answer to that involves not only kindness but perception too. He might not be ugly to everyone.”
“Great point … that statement may be one that involves perception so you could call him something other than ugly without lying …”
She gestured to the light above on top of the hill. “You seem to be leaving the … “
“So you think I might be one of the fools on the hill?”
“Fools … no, I was just wondering if you’d experienced the things that happen there. What is the truth about that place?”
“It’s a place like many that have come before it, but it represents one of the greatest historical steps toward empowerment of the people. That is a truth.”
“Its intent may have been good, but it hasn’t always been receptive to the problems of women and minorities … face it, this place has been a place that furthered the goals of white men.”
“Certainly it has had many flaws, but it has evolved and it was born with more promise than any before it.”
“Why is it so important to you?”
“It is a thing that governs history and changes the world for many people. It’s a place where philosophers argue and warriors battle for their own truths … whether those truths are factual and unique … or those imbued with the qualities of their speaker’s perception. It is a place of power. Never forget that.”
“I want to make a real difference in the world to the people.”
The man smiled. “Maybe you can … but you are a woman. That’s a fact.”
“So?”
“Women haven’t had as much to say about what happens in the halls of power in the past. That’s also one of those facts that have but one truth.”
“So are you telling me to give up my dreams and fade into the shadows?”
“No … I’m the past. Forget about the frustrations of the past and think about our unfulfilled potential. Remember … you can teach old dogs new tricks if the old dogs want to learn. Make those old dogs want to learn.”
“My mother always said I should never underestimate my opponents, but I should never overestimate them either.”
“Sounds like good advice for one heading in the direction you’re taking. Remember to take your job seriously but try not to take yourself too seriously and you’ll have those old dogs eating out of your hand.”
“I don’t know … I always thought of politics as an extension of myself as a mom.”
He laughed out loud. “You go get ‘em, woman. But always remember that it‘s politics until six o’clock and after that you can be friends. That’s how deals really get made.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
He handed her a gavel and said, “Thanks for accepting the baton.”
“What did you say your name is?”
“My name is Thomas, but people call me …”
A bell rang and she glanced up into the blue sky above and said, “Thomas is that for me? Do I need to go?”
“Yes, that’s one of those truths … they’re going to need you inside those halls.”
She climbed to the top and was met by an aide who said, “I see you were getting a tip from the old man. Good plan.”
She walked through the doors into the chamber and climbed the dais. She pounded the gavel and said, “I believe the American Dream is all about freedom. Let’s make that true for every person in this land.”
I'm not sure why, but the ending brought a tear to my eye--a tear of joy. That's what a good writer does. Elicits emotion in the reader. And what a wonderful way to describe truth in all of its nuances.
I hope that this story gets wide readership because it covers a number of issues, not the least of which is the gradual empowerment of women to reach equality in all aspects of life through political efforts now over a century since women received the long-delayed right to vote. Freedom and equality go hand in hand. Without equality, some are more free than others. For this country, that has been true for way too long. For those that decry the reforms coming rapidly in the 21st century because they have lost their autocratic power over others, they will have to taste sour grapes until they see the benefits that full equality will bring to everyone.
Pecked to Death offers a refreshing perspective on managing the chaos of everyday life, encouraging you to take control and prioritize what truly matters.
