Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Lacuna and Other Lies That are Told

So I finally got around to reading The Lacuna and was expectant that it would be a good read.  Sadly, it was not.  The first two-thirds of the book just trudged along and it was tough to stay with it.  Luckily, the last third was quite compelling and more up to speed with what I've experienced with Barbara Kingsolver in the past.  What was most compelling to me about the end of the novel was the light Kingsolver shone on the communist witch hunting that occurred in the late 40's and early 50's in the United States.  She revealed through story the insidious manner in which the public and the government went after people who they deemed suspicious of Anti-American activity.  Throughout her story you could see the ways in which those in power spun yarns against those they were accusing and how easily the public was swayed by compelling yet totally false "evidence"  against those accused.  One quote caught my attention.  "Most of them (those hunting out 'communists' and the general public) don't know what communism is, could not pick it out of a lineup.  They only know what anticommunism is.  The two are practically unrelated."  What strikes me about this quote is how relevant is it for the current rhetoric we face in the US particularly as it relates to socialism and Muslims.  With all due respect, my experience has been that most people who stand against socialism really have no real understanding of what socialism is all about.  They just know that they are against it.  Same with Muslims. Certain aspects of the media and other public outlets have drawn a hard line in the sand equating Muslims with terrorists and people seem more than willing to line up behind this ideology.  It's easier to believe what someone is saying rather than studying things for yourself.  But the problem with that is that much of what is being broadcast on the internet and on television isn't truthful.  This concept carries over into all areas of our lives.  I have become so disillusioned with news sources that I really don't know what to believe about much of anything anymore.  And sorry folks, Fox News is not a good source for truthful news.  It carries one of the most heavy biases in all of television.  When it comes to President Obama, I understand that people don't like his politics but what I don't understand is why people are still wondering if he's a Muslim when he has confessed to being to a Christian.  Why are people still wondering if he was born in the US when his birth certificate has been produced?  Critique his politics.  That's the American way.  But can we leave out the vitriolic rhetoric that often has no basis in truth?
The unscrupulous manner in which the novel revealed how the protagonist ended up in a web of accusation for being a communist was really almost painful to read because it felt too close to reality to be only fiction.  They took the words he had written in a fiction novel about a character that he created and attributed the quote to the author, claiming that these were his personal feelings about the government.  And the manner in which he was questioned hardly allowed for him to elaborate for they forced him into yes or no questions, such as, did you write these words?, which of course, he did, but as part of a character development for someone in a book who lived in Mexico many years ago, not as a personal political statement.
Anyway...the book got me thinking about truth, about why we choose to believe what we choose to believe, how one goes about getting accurate information, why personal attack has to be so much a part of our rhetoric these days, why we vilify certain groups instead of seeking to understand more fully where they are coming from, what we fear and how the media feeds that fear.
So, in the end, for a book I really didn't like, I have to say the last third got my juices pumping.

7 comments:

  1. I appreciate your perspective on this book, and the way it reflects so many things in US society these days. It pains me to see how so many things are being taken out of context or misconstrued by people in the U.S. I agree that Fox News is heavily biased, and there are people that take what is reported on that network as the only truth. I have been wondering where civility and the ability to talk and listen to one another even when there are disagreements has gone. It makes me sad to observe what is happening in the States.

    Thanks again for posting this review and commentary on what you read and how it relates to current events.

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  2. Thanks for commenting Pauline. Good food for thought...we must work towards great understanding even when we disagree and keep things from becoming so personally attacking!

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  3. Jodi- I loved the book :) although I do hesitate to highly recommend it because most of it took some time. I was amazed at the fictional character she developed among historical figures. I would have to read paragraphs over and over because I felt every sentence held so much weight and I didn't want to miss it. I was so sad throughout most of it and I was gripped by the ending.

    I was going to post on facebook that if people are going to vote they should read this book- because of what you wrote about in your blog. I wish we could go back to life before 24 hr. biased news. But I have to remember that those who report are just like the howler monkeys. They make a lot of noise and scare a lot of people. It is our responsibility to be like the main character's secretary and take a stand- make a difference in even the smallest way for those who are being accused by people that don't even know what they are talking about. They are just making noise. Sadly, a lot of people are listening.

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  4. Brita...I really appreciate your perspective on the book. Thanks for filling in some its other values. The howler monkey is a great metaphor. Thanks for your interest and engagement.

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  5. There are so many other compelling issues you brought up that I want to address. Maybe the biggest one is that the very thing you stand against...or are puzzled by...and I find you to be a part of .... and I admit I am guilty of...making judgements when you don't have all the facts. It is obvious to me you do not fully understand the Christian faith. ...and even more importantly you don't believe in it. The big question is...can we really have an open and honest and peaceful dialogue? Time will tell...I am willing to do my best to stay on task. I am willing to listen to your arguments for why you believe what you believe. This is, afterall, what I think we should all be willing to do. But the bottom line is that when we come to the bottom line we may find we disagree drastically. And then won't we be faced with the truth that each of us are going to live our lives in a manner that promotes what we believe? And if we differ drastically? What then? That is where the disucussion will become the 'reality' of life. I believe.
    Another seeker of truth....living in Oregon...aka Diane

    Please forgive my double post..hopefully you can remove the 'extra' post.

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  6. Diane,
    I accidentally removed the first part of your comment. Sorry. I have a copy of it on my email so I may try to re-post as I wasn't trying to edit, just get rid of the extra posts.
    Thanks for taking time to write. It's late in Sweden so I won't respond tonight, but I'll try to say more in the future. I have a very busy week-end ahead so not sure how much time I have to write.

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  7. Here's the first part of Diane's post that I accidentally deleted...
    I happened upon your blog a while back and saved it. My reason for saving it was because you are someone who sees things, for the most part, very differently than I do but you attempt to state things in a manner that is compelling. Let this be an encouragement to you...that there are many who strive fo understanding...driven by a desire to do the right thing.

    This particular blog compelled me to write. "Doing the right thing" in and of itself is such a relative thing...relative to what one believes...because, after all, we are what we believe. If we believe in nothing...we will fall for anything...right?
    So many 'issues' you touched on that beg a response from an 'otherwise thinking' person.
    First off.... how can we hold fast to any belief and not be biased? I hold fast to the Christian faith...so it is only an honest statement to say that I believe all other faiths are false...otherwise I would be a liar. I chose to be honest rather than a liar...even if being honest may bring assault, either verbal or physical, from someone who does not agree with me.
    I am going to take you at your word that you truly want to 'understand' those who don't agree with you...and so I am writing.
    I will use my Christian faith as an example ...since I know what God teaches in the Bible and what His truth is...but I use it as an example of how things can be misconstrued.
    There are many that claim to be Christians...but that doesn't make them Christians. BUT even in this one must, absolutely must, believe there are absolute truths. If you don't believe this I will admit I think our discussion will be short lived.
    The best we can hope for is the understanding of agreeing to disagree. But even here...what that means can be so varied.
    I am going to be completely honest and I hope you will accept that what I say I am willing to defend...and will not be offended if you question me...only if you call me names...well I won't be offended I will just not continue in the discussion.
    I don't believe President Obama is a Christian...saying it doesn't make him one...living it does...and from my own observation..he doesn't live it. Yes...yes yes yes...this is my opinion. And with that opinion comes my willingness to defend it so ask away.
    I think what I find amazing is that more people than not do not want to take responsibility for their words and beliefs. And yet from every corner of the globe that is what we see more than not.
    If you asked me if I am calling Obama a liar wouldn't it be ridiculous of me to say 'no'...because I did just that. But maybe a kinder way of putting it would be to say that I don't believe his idea of what a Christian is....(that good old absolute truth comes into play here)...and mine differ drastically.

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