If you give a mouse a cookie…
“When we think of the past, it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We Want to believe it was always like that.”
– The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This week has been difficult to process with all the changes the new administration has been implementing. With change means new beginnings and for the people who wanted a blast to the past of greatness, I think they are in for a ride. For the record, I am not accepting that the past was great for everyone. My opinion of the the period of greatness can be told by George Orwell who said it best in Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
The words “alternative facts” have been circling my head over and over. Let’s be real! Who cares how big the inauguration crowd was?! Donald J. Trump is our president whether he had a large or small crowd. Does it matter how low his approval ratings are at the moment? No. He is still our president and commander in chief. He could have had small crowds due to rain, due to his voters having to work, the excuses can be infinite but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. President Trump is here to stay… unless he really screws up and gets impeached.
Picture from Washington Top Stories
Alternative facts was the answer Kellyanne Conway gave the media of why the White House lied about the crowd size. Yes, I am saying the White House lied. There are photographs to prove this as well as estimates from the metro use. Mrs.Conway stated they did not lie, those were alternative facts. Alternative facts… Why is this upsetting? A children’s book written by Laura Numeroff can answer this. “If you give a mouse a cookie… He’ll want a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he’ll ask for a straw.” This ‘white’ lie will have a snowball effect. The White House administration will escalate their small lie and later on get away with a ‘black’ lie. We can not ignore this.
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.” -Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale
Alternative facts is clearly referenced in ‘1984’, a dystopian novel by George Orwell. Ever since it was mentioned, the book has had sky rocketing sales. The exact phrase from the novel that shines in this moment is, “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” This is not the first time we hear the Trump campaign/administration use authoritarian phrases. Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff, used a Mussolini reference, saying he would utilize his personal connections with the speaker and others, to make the trains run on time.
“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” – To Kill A Mockingbird
Alternative facts will shape our country more than ever now. As a country, we will be manipulated to think and feel a certain way. We are being gas-lighted. If you are not sure what that means, you can follow this helpful link that describes the signs you should be noticing. There are several articles from respectable sources that can describe how it is a psychological manipulation that gradually makes the victim not trust their own beliefs. On Tuesday of this week, Trump’s administration ordered media blackouts for the Environmental Protection Agency. Why?! What is there to hide? Do you really want your government hiding this information? Currently 5 agencies are in blackout mode. If they have media blackouts, the White House can have unified messages. The information will be sorted out and given, if it satisfies their criteria. Do you think they will give us information that could be detrimental to them? We should be expecting some level of factual distortion or alternative facts.
“He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?” – Animal Farm
Briefly many people were laughing at the comment of alternative facts and using it in their social media hash tags. I get it. I laughed perturbed of what this woman was uttering. Laughing can be used as a coping mechanism and many of us use it to normalize a situation. When it comes to these alternative facts, why do we want to standardize this? Will we shift into gallows humor as a sign of hope or rebellion?
The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. – To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
We need to make our voices heard. Comments have circulated to keep quiet. He can implement martial law. No. I will not stay quiet and neither should you. We, as a country, elected these representatives. They have temporary power to make changes. Temporary. We elected them and we can UNelect them out of office. We, the people of the United States, can insure domestic tranquility. Speak out! Be active. Engage in what clearly will affect you or affect others.
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” – The Handmaid’s Tale
Many of us do not know how to get involved. There is a great CNN article in reference to this. You do not need to do all of the things they mention, though I would highly recommend: 1. voting 2. attending town hall meetings 3. knowing your representatives 4. Contacting your representatives and making them listen. 5. Donating to organizations you believe in.
“The thing is – fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream.” William Golding – Lord of the Flies
As for myself, I will be involved in many topics that speak to me in one way or the other. The National Endowment for the Arts, environmental issues, women’s rights issues, LGBTQ’s rights, etc. Demand answers to your questions but keep them to yes or no answers. It is harder for them to deviate the answers if they can only answer with one word. Keep your representatives in check. Do not normalize alternative facts. Alternative facts are lies. Demand the truth even if it’s ugly. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
– Aldous Huxley
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Oscar Wilde – The Importance of Being Earnest