“Three things cannot be long hidden- the sun, the moon, and the truth.” I enjoy that quote, often attributed to Buddha. But I’ve also seen it attributed to Confucius, and others simply suggest its origins are unknown. Wow; a quote about the truth, and we can’t even agree on its truthful origin.
As for the moon, I realized its power when trying to comfort crying toddlers decades ago. Simply take the tot outside at night, point up and say, “Look, the moon!” Sure, it’s a diversion, but it usually works wonders to calm the teary storm. We now hear talk about revisiting the moon, perhaps colonizing it, or even Mars. Ho-hum. Perhaps we should first figure out how to make this mortal coil more habitable before we start planning escapism into celestial realms. Talk about getting away…
The sun is life-giving, of course, and after coaching a tough soccer defeat, I would query my AYSO soccer tyke teams by asking, “Hey team… is the sun going to come up tomorrow?” Perhaps confused or at least (again) diverted from their sadness, they’d all nod affirmatively. “Good,” I’d say, “because as long as the sun rises tomorrow, we’ve all got a chance…” whatever that meant. Looking back, I realize that perhaps my most profound pronouncements worked best with two- and nine-year olds, surely easier groups to cajole or compose than tainted adults.
We see, feel and celebrate the sun and moon; and then there’s the truth, which has taken a beating of late. Opinions are like belly buttons- everyone’s got one. Politician/philosopher Daniel Moynihan once said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts.” Alas, that seemingly pragmatic, rock solid truism has been sorely tested. Mark Twain presaged today’s reality when he allegedly said: “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”
Which brings me to our upcoming 2022 local elections that become reality in mid-July, when mail-in ballots will be sent out statewide. Now would be a good time to search for the real facts via objective candidate observations on issues which matter to you. Go beyond perennial posturing, pontificating, and pandering, and search for substance to help you make educated choices.
Hmmm… somehow I’ve now transitioned this treatise from referencing a possible classic Buddha quote to suggesting that we all study up to be ballot-ready. Must be the full moon.
Think about it…