"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth ...?"
How many times have we all heard this phrase?
Recently I watched a documentary about eyewitness testimony. Most juries put a lot of stock in it. Turns out, it's not quite as reliable as people believe. In the passionate quest for justice, the brain can be a fickle beast. Before DNA testing, eyewitness identification was often the overwhelming evidence that convicted the accused.
Is it possible that sometimes the truth is just a story we've told ourselves so often it has become the truth in our minds? Is there such a thing as the absolute truth?
My opinion is my truth. But, I know it's fallible. My memories of events are my truth. But, I've often been challenged and even (gasp!) proven wrong.
There's something noble about the pursuit of truth. But I'm going to remind myself that it often depends on your point of view.
"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
