“Love Has Already Won”

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

Composer Jason Shelton’s song “Love Has Already Won” is a valuable song just in it’s title let alone in the song’s lyrics. I’m going to be spending a considerable amount time in this blog examining the topic of Love.

“Love Has Already Won”
Words and Music by Jason Shelton
Keyboard Processing, Engineering, and Vocals by John M Ector
Copyright © 2017 Jason Shelton

1. 
In the flash of hate and terror
In the sinful lie of fear
There’s a yearning deep in ev’ry soul
A longing to hear:

Refrain: 
Love has already won,
love has already won,
just as sure as the day greets the morning sun.
Love has already won,
Love has already won!
Be not afraid, love has already won.
2. 
Will this violence break our spirits?
Will this pain tear us apart?
There’s an answer deep in ev’ry soul
This truth in our hearts:

Refrain: 
Love has already won,
love has already won,
just as sure as the day greets the morning sun.
Love has already won,
Love has already won!
Be not afraid, love has already won.

3. 
Let us rise in love and justice
Let us heed the prophets’ call
May the faithfulness of ev’ry soul
Bring hope for us all
Refrain (last time): 
Love has already won,
love has already won,
just as sure as the day greets the morning sun.
Love has already won,
Love has already won!
Be not afraid, love has already won.
Be not afraid, love has already won.
Be not afraid, love has already won.

Events over the past several years, more specifically since Donald Trump stepped into the political arena and somehow managed to become President of the United States, I have been forced to examine more closely what the word “Love” means. Where did the word come from, why is it important, what does it look like, how does it affect us, how it applies to our adversaries and much more I’m sure.

This piece begins my examination of Love. Thanks to the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, Jason Shelton, John M. Ector and the technical wizardry of the FUCSJ Tech team for sharing this piece at the multi-platform service of March 20, 2022. The next posting will be centered around another musical offering by John M. Ector. This piece is titled “Love Is.”