August 31, 1939

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 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

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Our White Christian Nationalist (so far) “soft” Coup is in it’s final preparations for a full on takeover of the United States government. The German people didn’t know what was coming on August 31, 1939, but the next day would be the invasion of Poland and the start of World War 2. The American people don’t have that excuse as far as what is coming next.

We know where this is headed.

The question is now that we know what is coming, are we going to sit back and watch or are we going to call a spade a spade and fight to take our country back right now. This is it. This is the time to act. This won’t wait until tomorrow, next month or next year. This is the time. The time is now.

If you are going to join a group, stand on a picket line, write a blog, make financial donations I suggest that you do it now…with bells on. No more sitting back.

On the bright side, I have two names for you. Brian Tyler Cohen and Texas State Rep. James Talarico. Tyler Cohen is an author, podcaster and YouTuber with a focus on politics. Thanks to my friend Kelvin for telling me about Cohen.

Talarico is on a crusade to expose the hypocrisy of the Republican Party for not practicing what they preach. He wants Progressives to insert the real Christian message of how to treat you fellow man into its message being that they are the ones trying to implement Christ’s teachings into the world.

His interview today with Tyler Cohen on how the MAGA religious right has hijacked the party and replaced Jesus as their savior with Trump as their savior is worth listening to. See the underlined link above.

Be well, be hopeful and I wish you happiness, health and peace.