https://newslit.org/ Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link). How to Debunk: 1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories. 2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information. 3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help. 4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers. 5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.
"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news. "Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive." "Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda." Sander van der Linden Social Psychologist University of Cambridge Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021
Be the light. What epic words those are.
Be the light indicates to me that light is what we all need right now. At this time of the year when light, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, takes a back seat to darkness, it is of more then just theoretical importance
The December Solstice has passed and daylight is slowly, minute by minute each day, beginning to seek equality with the darkness. This light of the world of Science is the movement of energy from atom to atom, molecule to molecule, vibrating electron by vibrating electron until it reaches light sensitive sensory neurons of life forms that can detect changes in light.
The light that Lea Morris is referring to in “Be the Light” is not the light of the physical world rather it is the light of the soul, the spirit, the mind. The darkness that Lea refers to is the darkness of the soul, the spirit, the mind.
The brightest light emerges out of the darkest dark. In the physical world it is theoretically possible for light to be trapped in never ending darkness simply because the force of gravity is so strong that light cannot emerge from the darkness. I am referring here to the “Black Hole” of astrophysics.
The Black Hole of astrophysics does not have an equal in the non-physical light of the soul, spirit and mind. Light cannot, and I will boldly claim, will not be trapped by darkness in the world that humans have the ability to change.
The soul light will emerge out of this time, a collective “dark night of the soul” for all of us because that is how it is meant to be. How do I know that it is meant to be? Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. However, I believe that I instinctively know that we will emerge from this dark period based on the paths of man-made evil and darkness from the 20th and early 21st centuries. The darkness of Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, and Milosevic appeared in their times to be inescapable.
It must seem to many of us that the past five years has matched the level of darkness from the times associated with the above names. Yet, the periods of evil that we as imperfect beings are bound to experience based on our imperfections, have their moments in time and then are ultimately exposed by the greater light of the true human spirit and the light of goodness outshines the light of evilness simply because…
Maybe this is nothing more than unsubstantiated hope. Yet, I believe in unsubstantiated hope. In religious circles, it is called faith. I am a person of faith therefore I believe in hope. I believe that out of hope comes that human construct called love. I believe that love wins.
In the physical world light energy can temporarily disappear. In the human world, the light of the mind, spirit and soul will never disappear. It is timeless and forever.
Listen one more time to the music of Lea Morris as performed by my small but mighty church choir. Music speaks louder than words.
As we emerge into 2022, may this be so and may the new year be a happy one as we emerge from the darkness.
May it be so!
Love the ideas in the posting, and the wonderful choral presentation! IMHO, it might be even cooler with actual finger snaps.
Cliff,
Agreement on the finger snaps!
Bruce
Musical arrangement was a beautiful use of harmony between the men and women. As a simple Lutheran I can appreciate the sentiment even if I get a little lost in the depth of your description. Very nice use of words and music.
Happy New Year!