But What -Really- Happened?

The definition of truth is, according to Merriam Webster,

:the body of real things, events, and facts: actuality
:the state of being the case: fact

...but I don't agree. To compare the truth with a singular fact is to imply that there can only be one truth. Realistically, I see it as important that we realize there can be multiple, true versions of the truth. Different people have different biases, feelings, and beliefs, that can unintentionally distort stories to make it their own. It doesn't necessarily make them liars, per say, but rather makes them human. 

I think we can all agree that reading Song of Solomon this week was quite the rollercoaster. However, it revealed to us the importance of recognizing that there are two sides to every story. Admit it: when it was first revealed that Dad-Macon saw Ruth "laying next to [her father], naked as a yard dog, kissing him...his fingers in her mouth," we all immediately jumped to the conclusion that Ruth is simply a nasty necrophiliac. And just before that, when we saw how abusive Milkman's dad was to Ruth, we hated him with a passion for abusing that poor woman. And later after? We learned how Dad-Macon tried to kill Fetus-Milkman in the womb, as Ruth had merely "kneel[ed] there in [her] slip at his bedside and kiss[ed] his beautiful fingers...the only part of him" that was not afflicted with disease. It's like everybody's story is constantly fighting with the other..but isn't it possible that both Milkman's father and mother could be lying, or that both could be telling the truth? Not necessarily does just one person have to be the liar, or the one in the wrong...

Relating this to our real lives however, I think their weird necrophiliac-incestuous problems can tell us something. We should not be jumping to conclusions or putting all of our faith in one side of the story, because truly, the truth is never concrete. These characters, just like people we form relationships with every day, have different perceptions and outlooks on life that may alter how they may see a situation. To sit there and beat yourself up over who's telling the truth and who's right and who's wrong has no use. Sometimes, you're never, ever going to get a straight answer, as everyone has justifications to their actions or things they wish they could hide--to continuously ponder and wonder who to point fingers at is just unhealthy. Part of growing up is simply accepting that the line between what's a truth and what's a lie is blurry. Really blurry.


Comments

  1. Connor LevittOctober 21, 2018 at 2:59 PM

    Abby, I love how you added the actual textbook definition of truth to start your post and how you explain that there really cant only be one truth with anything. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jessica GeislerOctober 21, 2018 at 5:16 PM

    Wow this is really amazing!! The connections that you drew to Song of Solomon were very well thought out, and very impactful. I love how you talk about truth being a blurry line because that is such an accurate way to put it. I think life would be a lot easier if we were to just realize that we could never know the truth based on biased opinions. Really well done!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Izzy MeremOctober 21, 2018 at 7:01 PM

    Abby, this is, yet another, an amazing post! I love how you related Song of Solomon to our daily lives! I agree, we constantly are jumping to conclusions way too fast. We need to understand that there are always multiple sides to one story!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jessica YouOctober 21, 2018 at 7:15 PM

    I really enjoyed reading your post! It's really interesting just how easily we create assumptions and conclusions about others just from one story. Thank you for sharing this amazing post!

    ReplyDelete

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