Saturday, March 1, 2008
Here's the thing:
Some of the comments we've been getting since Murder Creek came out have caused me to ponder a fundamental, albeit complex question: What is truth? When someone says, for instance (here: http://alabamaconfidential.blogspot.com/2008/02/shocking-non-fiction-book-about-brewton.html ) that only "5%" of what's in the book "may be true", I have to wonder, What in the world are they talking about? And, Why? I could answer (as I did) that I know of two errors in the book, insignificant errors, I would argue -- Mr. Caffey's education, which, plainly stated, just wasn't corroborated, and the precise location of Dr. Perry's office, the result of a misunderstanding, that's pretty easily explained -- but factual errors, nonetheless. Guilty. But I don't think the comment stemmed from a dispute over facts. I think it surfaced, instead, from a disagreement in belief systems. Here's what I mean: It seems to me there's very little legitimate argument about the facts of global warming, say, or the facts of evolution. There's considerable dispute, obviously, about the truth of either. The difference? Belief systems. What are the facts of Annie Jean's death? And what is the truth? In the system I prefer to operate in, truth can only be approached once you've accumulated all the available facts. That's all we tried to do with Murder Creek, and aside from those two previously noted, that's pretty much what we did. With enough facts, I think, the truth becomes obvious. Obvious truths are not always comfortable. Does that make them less true? I don't think so. All too often, uncomfortable truths -- like global warming and evolution -- are attacked rather than refuted. An alternate truth is proposed, and the necessary "facts" to support it are gathered together. But there's a name for that. It's called propaganda, at best. I'll discuss the facts of the book all day long, and will gladly retract any inaccuracies (although, with as many lawyers as there are out there, it's hard to imagine any writer getting away with a book that's 95% false). But if you don't like the truth those facts seem to suggest, I'm sorry, there isn't a thing I can (or would) do about that. That's the thing: Truth is, like it or not.
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2 comments:
I read the book. I read temple while waiting to get the book. Thank you Joe, Thank you Suzanne. You are brave to take up something like this when others will benifit so much more than you. I sure have. I have to say this though. Snowden is a Street not a Road. It was all I knew as a child so I know that. I grew up there.I walked it with my little white trash feet. And 29 that's 41 your talking about in some places. Haven't you heard "Ed Lee" by Grayson Capps. That's about all that I would be an expert on. Well and the produce stand is on Brewtons side. The line is clear it is distinct. I think I've been looking for yall all of my life. This is a happy day for me. I hope our paths cross soon. I still reside here on the out skirts of Brewton, in my own world, my happiness undetected. I hope to keep it that way and to educate this next generation in hopes of hope.
Thanks for the comments. I think I can speak for Suzanne, that feedback like yours, is benefit enough. We'd certainly like to meet you sometime: you know Grayson's playing at the gig in Montgomery tomorrow... Otherwise, we hope to get to other libraries in and around Brewton soon.
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