The Truth About Truth

By Dennis Sidney Martin

Every waking moment of every day we all must sort through the slush pile of choices that stack up before us. How do we tell what is real or imagined, what is fake or genuine, true or fabricated? In this hodgepodge of stories, scenes, essays and poems the subject is explored, dissected and analyzed in a sincere effort to find, once and for all, THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365734403

Book preview

The Truth About Truth

The Truth about Truth: The Relevance of Truth in a Civilized Society

By Dennis Sidney Martin

© Copyright 2016 by Dennis Sidney Martin

All Rights Reserved This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal

ISBN: 978-1-365-73440-3

All characters created for the stories and scenes in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Dedication:

For my parents, Bonnie Dewey Martin and Laura Mae Mauldin Martin for setting an example in both words and actions in teaching me the real value of truth

To Begin…

Where does one begin in exploration of the age-old quest for truth? It is, after all, such an elusive night shadow, not easily recognized hiding behind and below so many layers of deceit, misdirection, varying belief systems, attitudes and agendas. I suppose it is easy to suggest that, in truth there are no absolutes since one person’s truth may be but a mere fantasy to someone else.

We all have our own truths to which we cling based on observation, basic knowledge, trust and desire; all things that can and do change over time. So much so that truth can become a phantom and yesterday’s belief mechanisms become obscured and unrecognizable as time passes.

Consider the newborn child entering the world with no concept of right or wrong, good or evil, truth or lies. A newborn has no truth except to instinctually know that he or she must breathe and take nourishment to survive. But these are biological truths, involuntary responses. Everything else is a simple matter of trust and dependence.

The mind of an infant is not equipped to process the difference between truth and lies, good and evil. These things must be learned over time through experience and the tutoring of those (usually parents) who take responsibility for their upbringing. It is also a process that continues for a lifetime.

Before we go too far, allow me to interject a small disclaimer. Throughout the pages that follow there will probably, no definitely, be some statements and claims made with which you will disagree. Some you may encounter with slight skepticism, others you may vehemently challenge to the point that you might hate me for even suggesting. I am here to say, that is okay. You don’t have to agree. We can, as they say, agree to disagree. Pardon the cliché.

Furthermore, throughout this piece you may find me repeating myself in certain situations. In this I pray for your indulgence. Truth travels in many directions often crossing and retracing its own path, causing repetition to be a given.

I am not here to try and change your mind or your beliefs. I only want to hold up a mirror and let you decide for yourself exactly who that is staring back at you. I am not an expert. I have no PhD, nor have I conducted scientific studies into the cause and effect of telling the truth versus lies. Those things are better left to pundits and philosophers with their own self-serving agendas. I am but a plain and simple human being who, just like you, is looking for answers.

So, what do you say?

Want to go on a little expedition? Let’s see if we can find a few answers. I can’t guarantee that, by the end of our journey we will have found the Promised Land, Nirvana, or Utopia. But perhaps we can clear away some of the fog of Avalon so we can at least see the shoreline.

Author’s note:

Truth has many faces. What follows is a series of essays, stories, scenes (short plays), poems and anecdotes that are intended to demonstrate how we, as a society, deal with truth and lies. Feel free to skip around as there is no logical progression of text and each piece is designed to stand alone.

Getting to Truth (poem)

Swoons in silent circles.

Hides in shadows

Dawn to setting sun.

Layered frowns of ups and downs

Reflecting choices one by one.

Subtle comment

Sudden conflict

Battle scar that never heals.

Time records

And hearts remember

Every lie the truth reveals.

Hidden behind walls of quiet,

Trampled by a thunderous heard,

Wrapped in rhetoric, overstated or

Vanquished by a single word.

Delicate on angel wings.

Balancing on tilted scale.

Market price?

Sold by the slice.

Sign in window:

Truth for Sale.

So it goes and

No one knows just

Where it grows from seeds of youth.

Its journey fair to bring it where

Bright beacons glow on golden truth.

What is Truth?

It seems like such a simple question. So, why is the answer so elusive? We can assign a dictionary meaning to it. The New World Dictionary of American English (Third College Edition) defines truth as:

The quality or state of being true. It uses such words as loyalty, trustworthiness, sincerity, genuineness and honesty to bolster its meaning.

There is more:

Correctness, accuracy, accordance with facts. The list goes on. In fact, they spend quite a bit of time and page space in trying to accurately describe all the attributes of truth. The truth about truth is that it can be a very complex and elusive animal to lasso and corral.

We all like to believe that we are virtuous in nature and that goodness usually stems from the supposition that we are honest, trustworthy and truthful. Alas, we are not perfect. From the dawn of creation, if you choose to believe the story, humankind has failed miserably to achieve the perfection for which it was conceived. Tested and tempted by evil, Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation and defied the edict of their creator, thereby losing the perfection of Eden forever.

I realize there are other stories from other cultures that follow similar lines to get to the same conclusion, but the story of Eden and the fall of mankind vividly exemplifies the point I am trying to make. As humans we are all fallible, we are all capable of lies and deception no matter how hard we try to resist. But the true mark of our decency dwells in how we handle the temptations that are thrown at us from every direction and how we respond.

At the end of the day we need to be able to live with our choices with a clear conscience, knowing that we made the right decisions under the circumstances. This can make truth a moving target, as we shall see.

True: A lie is a lie is a lie, unless it isn’t

Whose Truth is it? (scene)

A One Act Play

Cast of Characters:

FATHER MIGUEL MIKE MORALES, Mid 40s

ISAAC IKE HAIRSTON, Barber, Late 50s

FESTUS JINKS JENKINS, Vietnam Vet, Late 60s

HIRAM BUSTER BIGGS, Businessman, Min 50s

WALTER JELLY ROLL PLANK, Town Deputy, Mid 20s

Scene: A Barber Shop with two chairs

Setting: Fictional small town of Eagles Nest, North Dakota

At Rise: Father Mike is in the Barber chair where

Ike is finishing up with him, dusting

his shoulders with a brush. Buster Biggs

and Jinks are seated about reading

magazines and waiting their turns.

IKE

Well, there you go, Father Mike. All prettied up for Sunday mass.

(FATHER MIKE admires IKE’s work

in the mirror)

FATHER MIKE

Thank you, Isaac. Commendable job as usual. How much will that be? I can never remember.

IKE

For you, Padre? Let’s just say it’s my contribution to the church’s benevolence fund.

FATHER MIKE

Oh, no, no my son. I must insist you let me pay you. I wouldn’t dream of taking advantage of my position to receive free services.

JINKS

Take it Padre. It’s probably the only thing the church will ever get out of the cheap bastard.

IKE

Need I remind you, Jinks that any minute now I’ll be standing over you with a straight razor in my hand?

JINKS

I’ve faced worse dangers. Besides, Biggs is next in line. How ‘bout it Buster? Need a shave today?

(BIGGS stands and approaches the

chair vacated by FATHER MIKE)

BIGGS

Pass. Just a trim today, Ike.

IKE

Prices are posted on the wall, Padre. Just so you know, I did offer.

(FATHER MIKE hands IKE the

money, which IKE pockets)

FATHER MIKE

So noted. I’ll put your tip in the prayer box and light a candle for you. I will however have a cup of your free coffee before I go.

IKE

Help yourself, Padre. Pull up a chair and visit a while.

BIGGS

Could we get on with this, Isaac? I’ve got a business meeting in half an hour.

IKE

Sure thing, Mr. Biggs.

JINKS

Business meeting? Don’t you mean lunch, Buster?

BIGGS

Where I conduct my business is of no concern to you, Mr. Jenkins.

JINKS

If you ask me, you could stand to miss a few business meetings. A little time at the gym wouldn’t hurt either/

BIGGS

I don’t recall asking, but thank you for pointing that out. You are about the third person today to mention my less-than-flattering girth.

JINKS

Consider it a community service.

IKE

Now Jinks, you behave yourself. Show a little respect for Mister Biggs.

JINKS

Why? Has he done something to deserve it?

BIGGS

I’ll have you know, sir…

FATHER MIKE

Now, now, gentlemen. A little civility can go a long way. We are all friends here.

JINKS

Sorry, Padre. No disrespect intended. Not to you anyway.

BIGGS

Yeah, well, here comes Deputy Plank. Guess you’ll have to behave yourself now.

JINKS

Old Jelly Roll on patrol. See me shakin’.

(Door opens and Deputy Plank, AKA

JELLY ROLL, enters)

IKE

Well, say hey, Deputy. How are things in the wonderful world of law enforcement?

JELLY

Blistering, Mister Hairston. My feet are killing me.

IKE

Well, come on in and take a load off, Walter. You off for the day?

JELLY

Just finished my shift. Thought I’d have a trim and a cup-a-joe before I head home.

JINKS

Ain’t no doughnuts in here, Jelly. Bakery’s up the street a piece.

IKE

Now cut that out, Jinks.

JELLY

That’s okay, Mr. Hairston. I know he’s just fooling.

JINKS

Foolin’ a fool.

IKE

Jinks!

(JINKS makes a motion to zip his lips)

Walter, when you gonna stop calling me Mister Hairston. You ‘bout the onliest person in town don’t call me by my first name.

JELLY

Sorry, Mister H. Just seems natural to me.

IKE

I’ve know’d you all your natural life. Gave you your very first haircut.

JELLY

And every one since, exceptin’ when I was in the Guard.

IKE

Exactly. Now you’re in a position of responsibility, an outstanding young man. I’d feel honored if you’d call me by my first name.

JELLY

Yes, sir.

IKE

Yes sir what?

JELLY

Yes, sir… Mister Isaac.

IKE

Ike.

JELLY

Mister Ike.

IKE

Mister Ike. See that, gentlemen. You don’t find respect like that in young folks these days. Makes you proud, don’t it?

JINKS

I’m so proud I’m about to barf.

BIGGS

What do you know about pride and respect, you old warhorse?

JINKS

You wanna know about pride, you twit? You gonna talk to me about respect? You see these initials on my arm?

BIGGS

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, you were a marine. Big deal. Everybody knows that.

JINKS

Not was. Am! Once a Marine always a Marine, and proud of it. Why, I got more pride in the tip of this pinky finger that you got under all them layers of fat around your middle. And as for respect, I believe that’s something that has to be earned through a person’s actions, not measured by the size of his bank account… or his belt size.

BIGGS

Ooooh, so testy today. Tell me, what did I do to deserve such hostility?

JINKS

It’s not you so much as it is people like you. Folks who think the whole world owes ‘em somethin’ because they got money and status.

BIGGS

I’ll have you know I earned every penny I own due to diligence and hard work.

JINKS

And the gullibility of the poor bastards that buy that junk you park on your Daddy’s used car lot.

FATHER MIKE

Gentlemen, please. Let’s not get carried away.

IKE

Listen to the Padre, you two.

JELLY

Yeah. I’m sensing a lot of anger in the room. Maybe everybody should take a deep breath.

JINKS

I’m afraid of what I might smell.

IKE

Jinks!

JINKS

Alright! Alright! Cease fire.

(JINKS takes a deep breath and lets it out)

FATHER MIKE

Now, isn’t that better?

JINKS

Hell n… I mean, Heck no. Might as well cut a man’s throat.

BIGGS

Just so you know, Jenkins, my father and his father before him have been pillars of this community for longer than any other family. The Biggs family came here from Sweden to help settle the town of Eagles Nest.

JINKS

Stole it, you mean.

BIGGS

I beg your pardon.

JINKS

Surely you don’t think your people were the first ones here.

IKE

That’s right. You’re part Indian, ain’t you?

JINKS

Native American.

IKE

Yeah-Yeah. Dakota or something like that.

JINKS

Lakota. My mother was full-blooded Lakota.

JELLY

Yeah, and your Daddy was like a half-breed.

JINKS

Watch your mouth, young fella. My great Granddaddy was a medicine man. I’ll put a hex on you, make your pecker fall right off.

JELLY

You wouldn’t! Would you? Mister Ike, can he do that?

IKE

He’s just foolin’ you, son. Jinks, tell him you’re just foolin’.

JINKS

Don’t you worry, Jelly. It won’t really fall off, but the rash will burn like hell.

BIGGS

So, let me understand. You’re upset with me because my ancestors brought civilization to what was an untamed land occupied by savages.

JINKS

You stole the land, pigeonholed them to an ever-shrinking reservation, disarmed them and starved them and did everything possible to destroy their traditions and their way of life.

BIGGS

Poppycock!

JINKS

I’ll poppy your….

FATHER MIKE

Now! Now! Gentlemen, Please! I’m sure you can find some common ground here.

JINKS

What the hell do you know about it, Padre? You weren’t even born in this country.

FATHER MIKE

True. True, my son. I was born south of the Rio Grande. But I have an ancestry, too. My forbearers once lived in a part of Mexico that you now proudly refer to as Texas.

JELLY

You were born in Mexico, Father Mike? How did you end up here in North Dakota?

FATHER MIKE

I go where the Church needs me, my son.

BIGGS

So, your ancestors were really Americans.

FATHER MIKE

Oh, no. They were proud Mexicans. And then the white settlers began moving in, calling themselves Texicans, claiming the land as their own.

JINKS

They fought a revolution and a whole lot of people died to win their independence from Mexico.

FATHER MIKE

That is your version. The Mexicans were fighting to preserve their birthright.

JINKS

Yeah, and Sam Houston kicked that bastard Santa Ana’s butt.

BIGGS

For once I agree with Jinks.

JINKS

You do? Let me mark this day on my calendar.

BIGGS

As I was saying… It was meant to be. They called it Manifest Destiny. One nation from sea to shining sea.

FATHER MIKE

But Texas wasn’t fighting to become a part of the United States. They wanted to be an independent nation.

JINKS

I gotta give that one to the Padre. Manifest destiny was nothing more than a land grab. Old Andy Jackson was President then