More on the Truth

My most recent blog entry focused on my concern for the future of truth in our country. In it, I pointed a finger at President Trump who these days seems to lie most every time he opens his mouth. I suggested because of the position he holds, Trump is a major contributor to the trend that being honest or telling truths is not nearly as important as it used to be. Instead, increasingly people seem to behave as if they have their own truths, thus making it all the more difficult for us to discuss issues since no one seems to agree upon basic facts. Despite the fact he has been President for nearly three years, a sizable portion of the population continues to assume so much of what he says is true simply because he holds the most revered office in our land.

Coincidentally, the same day as my blog the executive editors of The New York Times and The Washington Post were interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press. The topic was the same as what I wrote about in my blog. This does not make me any kind of genius or particularly smart-guy. Rather, it suggests that others share my concern. Those executive editors - Dean Baquet of The New York Times and Martin Baron of The Washington Post - are professional communicators. How well they and their papers adhere to the truth determines their success and credibility. Consequently, they take truth-telling as seriously as anyone.

Reputable media outlets such as the New York Times and Washington Post are not in the business of "spin." They exist to inform and enlighten. Ideally, they make it possible for the rest of us to let loose with our opinions when talking with friends and family. Generally, we base our views on the facts as presented to us by an array of sources, including reputable media outlets. But when the so-called sources such as the President of the United States do not communicate in a reputable way, then it leads to a breakdown in effective and respectful communication. It is going to be interesting to see whether this trend of playing loose with the truth continues in 2020. Hopefully the pendulum will swing in a much healthier direction. Whether it does, of course, is up to all of us.   

Moving into an Important Year

2019 is rapidly drawing to a close. With that, there is the irresistible temptation to summarize these past 12 months. For me, though there are just three days to go before 2020 steps front-and-center, I still feel too-close to 2019 to give it what I would view as a proper analysis. Given that, I will say one major concern that I have about this year and one that I will be carrying into the next revolves around a major aspect of communication: honesty. The truth. Without question, it has been very much under siege this year.

I readily concede this trend is something in which all of us share a level of responsibility. However, the bulk of the responsibility falls at the feet of the one with the loudest and most-listened to voice. Yes, I am talking about our President. His disdain for the truth is unprecedented. Unmatched. While our country has certainly had dishonest presidents in the past, we have experienced nothing like Trump. According to The Washington Post, since assuming office in 2017, he has told over 15,000 lies. Some even call him the Liar-in-Chief. Putting aside whatever psychological reasons there are for his pathological behavior, the fact is his dishonesty is having a significant impact on the country, particularly those that support him.

Whether his supporters include individuals, other elected officials or the media, the fact Trump cares little for being honest, then such behavior emboldens those that seek to back him up. Often they echo his falsehoods or, at the very least, ignore them. Week-after-week this past year this dynamic has carried on. As a result, what is true has not been standing on firm ground for far too long. Moving into the next 12 months, the act of being honest seems to no longer be as clear-cut as it used to be. This is why I see 2020 as being pivotal when it comes to the truth. This time next year the truth will either be totally knocked for a loop or back on its feet. No question, 2020 is going to be important.

"Variable Winds"

It was to be his final voyage. With his ship moving at full speed and in the proper direction, in 1872 boatman Charles Porter Low wrote, in part, "One who loves the sailing of a ship is always watching for the wind to blow and the wind is never in the same quarter for any length of time.........but in the variable winds, you must have everything ready for bad weather at any time." This wise observation is as applicable today as it was nearly 150 years ago. To paraphrase the full quote from Low, life can go smoothly at times but one must never stop preparing for unexpected turns, particularly ones that force unwanted adjustments and untimely setbacks.

How many times have all of us had plans at work or at home only to have unexpected circumstances occur that cause what we have so carefully set forth go up in smoke? While I have no precise answer to that, without question the number is extremely high. The unexpected represents the essence of life as does the reality that one's path in life is never a straight journey. One variable that helps define our level of success in life, regardless of what role it might be, is how well we have prepared ourselves for the unexpected. How well are we prepared if our child gets sick? How well are we prepared if our car has a flat tire? How well are we prepared if we are laid off from our job? 

Is there a profession or act to which Low's observation applies more than communication? I think not. So many of our days involve attempts to connect with another and then maintain that connection. That two-fold goal encapsulates public relations The PR worker is hired to devise strategies designed to generate the support of others: vote for a candidate, be loyal to a product or even support a cause. Game plans such as these can seem like sure-fire things. But then life in the form of the unexpected - "variable winds" - can insert itself and suddenly the plans are no longer viable or worth following. The better able the professional communicator makes allowance for them, the better able they are to serve their client.

Ida Tarbell

When it comes to solid writing and reporting, one of the very best magazines in the history of print journalism was "McClure's." Created by S.S. McClure in the late 1800s, at its peak it boasted an all-star team of writers on its payroll, including folks like Lincoln Steffins, William Allen White, and Ray Stannard Baker. Rounding out that "Murderer's Row" was Ida Tarbell. For starters, having a female do this kind of work tipped the scales in the "no way" category. But with the fact that Tarbell was an outstanding writer, relentless reporter and absolutely fearless when it came to tackling tough topics, her mere existence added all kind of layers to the term "unique."

A great example of Tarbell's doggedness was her series of stories on Standard Oil run by the powerful J.D, Rockefeller. Even her own father, according to Liza Mundy in the January 2020 issue of The Atlantic, pleaded with his daughter, "Don't do it, Ida." He feared Rockefeller would destroy her career. Of course, Tarbell did "do it." She observed the financial titan up close, uncovered a number of court filings against him and even interviewed his close associates.  The result was she shed light on secret deals Standard Oil had made with major railroad companies that ultimately led to the break up of this oil company's monopoly.   

Tarbell is worth remembering because of her uncompromising devotion to truth. Her efforts helped usher in industrial and economic reform in what historians call the Progressive Era, according to Smithsonian magazine. Not just wanna-be reporters, but even folks hoping to pursue careers in public relations should take note of Tarbell. As a professional communicator, she believed in facts and letting them dictate the essence of what she put forth in her writings. Truth is all the spin any and all professional communicators should need. Tarbell is a reminder that one can promote and attempt to sway others on the wings of truth rather deception.  

The Ultimate Non-Absolute

How do I define "absolute?" Easy. It is an act or truism where there is no room for doubt or misinterpretation. For instance, if one jumps naked into a swimming pool filled with water, the fact that they will get wet is an absolute. Punching someone in the nose is an absolute in that it is direct and an act of aggression. The age-old mathematical equation of 2 + 2 = 4 is an absolute. Adding those particular numbers and getting that result is an absolute because there can be no other answer. The great thing about absolutes is that they are so easy and rarely, if ever, generate conflict. They are universally accepted.

That means everything else that is not an absolute is subject to debate, possible conflict, and an array of interpretations. You wanna know a perfect example of something that is a non-absolute? Here goes: communication. It, you might say, is the ultimate non-absolute. Rarely does an attempt by one to connect with another result in unanimous interpretation. Here's an example: A husband wants to recognize his wife's birthday so he decides to buy her a dozen red roses. Surely anyone looking at such an act would view that as being a loving and selfless gesture. Not necessarily. Suppose the wife is allergic to flowers? Or suppose she does not like receiving flowers of any kind because of their limited lifespan? These variables raise questions about the purity of the husband's act.

With any act of communication comes multiple perspectives. Multiple perspectives lead to conversations that include disagreement and possible conflicting justifications, mistrust, and even lasting hard feelings. That communication is an non-absolute makes it an ongoing challenge for all of us simply because of the absolute that each of us communicates all the time, every day of our lives. Interestingly, this does not mean we communicate poorly. Rather, our acts of communication are never not subject to a multitude of interpretations.

A Quick Look at Progress

Progress is an interesting phenomenon. Often times, it seems so slow as to be imperceptible. Then, upon further inspection, the forward movement seems quite profound. Back in the 1800s, international trade was made possible by, at the time, traditional, slow-moving ships. These vessels, generally, were sturdy, yet built more for endurance rather than speed. They were the "norm" when it came to moving goods from one continent to another. Around 1840, clipper ships were introduced by a handful of American entrepreneurs who believed speed was the key to enabling them to significantly increase their profit margin in the trade business. They were right. Their vision proved to be one major reason why the United States became a major player on the international scene.

In terms of advancement, clipper ships were not unlike the telegraph. This revolutionary communication device made it possible for information to be shared in rapid-time like never before. Rather than having to wait for weeks or even months before learning of some major development such as the result of a presidential election or conflict between warring countries, the telegraph enabled folks to be updated on regional or even national happenings in quick-time. The telegraph was an amazing technological advancement that helped bring people from various geographic locations much closer together. The same was true of the clipper ship.

What these two innovations had in common was the fact they introduced speed to the populace. Because of them, people could receive needed goods just as they could receive desired and useful information much more quickly. As we now know, there was no turning back once these forms of progress were introduced. We also know, however, neither one eliminated conflict or disputes between peoples and/or nations. Progress, though welcomed, does not always and automatically mean greater congeniality or smoother collaboration.  

Magellan's End

The year was 1520 and Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet were well into their search for the Spice Islands and riches for Spain. At this point, after enduring much hardship and loss of life, the fleet had made it to the Pacific Ocean and was beginning to explore a number of small islands and the people that populated them. As a representative of the King of Spain and the country's hardline, uncompromising devotion to Christianity, Magellan saw his mission as being more than collecting riches for the "home team." He also believed it vital that he convert as many natives to Christianity as possible. This led to his ultimate undoing.

Coming up against the island of Mactan's chieftain Lapu Lapu, the two quickly found themselves to have opposing agendas. From Lapu Lapu's perspective, he simply wanted to ensure the Spaniards had a successful visit while Magellan wanted more: the conversion of the natives and to display the power of Spain by forcing themselves on the various villages in which the people lived. Not surprisingly, the two leaders butted head and violence ensued. It was here where Magellan met his end; here where this famous explorer suffered a violent and, to many, unnecessary death. As a result, Magellan himself never circumvented the world though a number of his crew members did.

Lapu Lap and Magellan failed to communicate effectively with each other. Both were stubborn men who were too headstrong to appreciate the other's perspective. Consequently, whatever listening either one did was not active. Both men went into their encounters with a focus on their own goals and/or desires. They had no room for anyone else's. Battle lines were drawn and before one could say "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain," fighting broke out and Magellan and several of his men were dead. The tragedy of this incident is but one of many examples of how failing to actively listen can have sad and unfortunate consequences.         . 

"You Gotta Want It"

Several years ago my one of my cousins and I drove to Vermont to do some hiking. We were looking to enjoy the White Mountains. We had a specific starting point in mind that turned out to be very much off the beaten-track. Looking back, it felt as if we spent more time looking for that place to park our car then we did on the actual hike. Driving around, I remember a comment my cousin made about the difficulty of beginning our planned excursion: "Boy, you really gotta want it." He was right. We did want it though I admit we were both fairly frustrated at the unexpected difficulty of reaching our destination.

In many ways, I think his comment can be applied to communicating effectively. You really do "gotta want it" if you are going to come even close to doing it consistently well over a sustained period of time. As was the case of our trying to find the lot for our car, interacting with another in a way that fosters free-flowing conversation and mutual understanding can be more challenging than one might expect. For instance, there is the matter of introducing information in a manner that is of interest to the other party. On the flip side, that other party needs to put aside distractions such as their cellphone or outside noises and listen actively.

Granted, this dynamic is routine as it is what occurs in every-day, casual conversations in which all of us take part. But that is only kind of interaction. Another category revolves around encounters that are more serious than simply commenting on the weather or the fortunes of the local sports team. Married couples have serious matters to discuss such as their finances or dealing with their children. People on the job have issues to cover that can and often do affect profits, customer relations, and their own security. To ensure these interactions are effective, all participants really do have to commit themselves to its success. Effective communicating requires nothing less.   

The Best Policy

How many times have all of us been told that "honesty is the best policy?" Whatever the number might be, my guess is it awfully close to the number of times we as adults have shared that axiom with our children. We seek to drive home the meaning of this statement because we believe it to be true. As a result, we want those who follow, including our children, to believe it, too. We want them to practice it and use it as a North Star in their own lives as they contend with life's challenges. No matter the circumstances, we want them to be honest and align themselves to all that is true regardless of how difficult it may be at times.

I express all this fully aware of the irony in which it is steeped. Let me explain. Communication represents the act of exchange with another via verbal and/or non-verbal actions. It can be done in a number of way, including words, spoken or written, facial expressions, or gestures. The act of public relations adds a layer to such a perspective in that it represents communication with a specific purpose. Generally, this purpose can be to persuade, inform, influence, or alter another's attitude. Given that, does communication or public relations need honesty to occur or, perhaps more to the point, be effective?

The answer to that is "no." Liars can be just as effective in their attempts to communicate as tellers of the truth. Perhaps even more so. In the realm of public relations, putting forth falsehoods is an effective way to sway others. Without question, this is most unfortunate. What is also sadly true is that efforts to purposely deceive or mislead occur all the time in our world. At times, even folks who are genuinely honest contribute to that reality. All of us, including those who are not what I term "professional communicators," need to continue clinging to that age-old best policy: honesty. It is the only way to ensure our acts of communication are as good as they should be.