The truth will stand when the world is on fire
Summary
A version of this statement is often passed down within families. It comes from a variety of sources. One is Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”: “The truth will come out.” In Ephesians 5:9 of the Bible, a modern translation fits the statement: “The light within you produces what is good, just and true.” Essentially, it is the little voice in our heart that tells us right from wrong. The world is on fire when enough people don’t listen to that little voice. Yet time and time again, even when the world is on fire, enough people have listened, combined, and acted for the collective good. Another quote: “When evil men combine, good men must associate, else they will fall one by one, a merciless sacrifice in a worthless fight.” Credit Edmund Burke, an Irish political philosopher, for saying something we all know to be true.
tests of our character
It tends to occur in small groups. Someone does something out of place. What are the others doing in the small group? They generally tolerate the act. So, the antagonist believes that his activity has borne fruit. It happens again. The group will most likely take note, but not get involved. A psychologist among them would have the opportunity to conduct a case study on what has become a group dynamic. For everyone else in the group, this could be the initial shock of misery. This is the tyrant in the office, the bully in the schoolyard, the one who breaks the rules and gets into mischief. What if someone in the office realizes, after repeated interruptions, that he must confront the tyrant? Indeed? If a good person takes a stand, the rest of the group still has to do something. Usually they do nothing. “Let Human Resources handle it.” “Discipline is the master’s job.” These moments are a test of character for everyone in the small group. If someone stands up for what is right and is alone, the strongest personality will win. Very often the strongest personality belongs to the tyrant. An emboldened tyrant will dominate, much as a sheepdog dominates sheep that outnumber the dog, perhaps 200:1.
The citizens
People predominantly live their lives as members of a human society. In some parts of the world, those societies are still called tribes. In industrialized countries, citizens often form around towns, cities, villages. People identify themselves as part of a district, a state, a region, and a country. In addition to geography, people are formed around their family ties, their religion, their sports team, their school, their earned educational designation (society of engineers, local union). In all of these examples of shared human ties, the rule of law is necessary. Someone must lead. He/she is expected to promote the welfare of society through government. Here too are tests of our character. The same people who won’t listen to their inner voice, who won’t stand up for righteousness, who won’t support whoever does, probably won’t contribute to society either. They will not lead or volunteer to support. They will not vote and will not communicate with the one who was elected. When problems arise, they expect the police to take care of them. When your child misbehaves in public, they will not be corrected. His country could have been born of sacrifice. Others, before them, may have given their lives to guarantee the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens. However, in times of need, during crisis, and even during safe times when voting for the best leader is so important, many will shirk their obligation to their ancestors and to the needs of today’s society. They will not listen to their inner voice. “Let someone else vote.” “Someone should say something to that lady who lets her dog C*** her on her lawn.” “I don’t have time to respond to that senator who asked me how he is doing in Congress.” “Those poor hungry people in the earthquake zone, someone should organize food for them.” “Where is the world going? Those people have just taken over another country. Don’t they realize their leader is a tyrant? I hope we stay out of it.”
The truth
The rule of law only works when society enforces the rule. Many will argue that there is too much corruption and crime in the world, too many different points of view to reach a consensus on what is right, great geographical distances and greater personal risks today make it more difficult to take a principled position. However, neither argument has the strength to withstand public scrutiny or self-examination. When we don’t take a stand, we don’t stand for anything. Edmund Burke is not remembered for being right about the positions he took. He is admired for standing up. Any of us who have done that in our lives, look back at the moment without the stinging rebuke of regret. Those who stand alone against the tyrant and the bully stand their ground, even if they lose. They are the ones who will not be with him/her, the ones who allow themselves to pass the test of character, the ones who look down at their shoes in the presence of the one who was sacrificed. Target, cheer up. Some of the good and most admired people in societies were lazy for much of their early life. One day, they looked up and stood up for what was right. That became his habit. The truth will remain when the world is on fire. The truth is revealed by people who will not tolerate evil. When they stand, they are the rock. Those who are with them build a stone wall around that rock. There are never too many of them to extinguish a moral fire. There may be very few. Stand!
