The Challenge of Truth

The truth is not always an easy "sell." When one puts forth untarnished facts, then a common result is that sincere and respectful conversation follows. While agreement may not be reached, mutual respect is established and people of honor behave accordingly. As a result, those involved in the discussion are the better for it and so, too, is the topic itself. People of honor recognize facts as undeniable reality that cannot be disputed. However, what can and often is debated is how it is perceived or interpreted. This, then, is what I mean by labeling "truth" a hard sell. While the facts may enjoy universal agreement, how they are interpreted often does not.   

 As I write this, a debate over whether the United States should initiate a limited military strike against Syria for using chemical weapons against its people is dominating the news. This is a most-serious topic worthy of discussion. President Obama is to be applauded for putting the question before Congress and the American public. What we are currently witnessing is the kind of national, roundtable conversation that showcases what is best about our nation. People are engaged over facts: Syrian citizens, including children, were gassed. Thus, we have seen very few examples of disrespect from persons on all sides of the issue.

From a communication standpoint, this debate over Syria showcases an interesting challenge that public relations practitioners often face. Much of what professional communicators strive to do is persuade various publics to take certain action or support particular causes or positions. They try to achieve those goals by putting forth the truth. But what happens when the truth is not enough? What happens when people are presented with unshakable reality and they still are not persuaded? The answer to those questions is often what distinguishes reputable communicators from those who are not. The good ones remain loyal to the truth while the others do not.