Thursday, November 14, 2024
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Tucker Carlson’s Latest Stirs Controversy, And Why It Shouldn’t

The truth is the truth is the truth.

Is the truth.

And ad hominem attacks do nothing to deter that. Neither does setting up a false dichotomy that establishes a warring of “sides” in a debate, a debate equally false because of its ignorance of nuance.

One fantastically encouraging aspect of this information war is that more and more people are recognizing the trap of the false binary that has bombarded our airwaves for decades. This is still unquestionably an issue, sure, but by and large it is clear that the fog of brainwashing is clearing, little by little.

Then every now and then you get a not-so-little splash that illustrates exactly what cognitive attack we have been under for decades.

One such splash is this post by Laura Loomer, a commentator I have nothing against as we seem to agree on most issues. But she can, like all of us, fall prey to the pathos-induced binary that is only meant to do the very thing she and so many others are working against.

Here is a recent post on X:

Obviously Tucker Carlson has more clout than Loomer, so this is not a good look for her. Carlson is known to interview anyone, as far as I can tell, and the result of those interviews is sometimes great, sometimes not. He gets flack for not pushing his guests far enough at times, but on the other hand, he is also known to probe stories that the mainstream will not touch. Generally speaking, understanding that no one can be perfect, I believe Carlson is trying to do right by the American people. To take it one step further and perhaps say it more accurately, whenever Carlson puts out an interview, listeners are sure to get unique perspectives–perhaps even bottom-line truth–from voices that have been squelched by the Mockingbird media for too long.

From my observations of him, he presents the interview/story, offers his perspective on it, and allows the viewer to decide what their take is. That is supposed to be how journalism works.

But as we have seen, perhaps most notably with Julian Assange, that is not always accepted. And it’s not always accepted not just by the government-media apparatus that appeals to the Left, but also by Right-leaning commentators who seem to be interested only in transferring their audience’s brainwashing from one end of the spectrum to the other.

I even have to guard against it, so I am not condemning Loomer here.

In this case, Carlson presented a side of the story not often talked about–the persecution of Christians. It is something I and I’m sure many others do as they decide on one of the many stories they could present on any given day–what can I present to my readers today that maybe the world needs in its bank of knowledge and discourse? In this case, perhaps Carlson saw a gap in the discourse. We have gotten an influx of stories concerning Muslims and Jews over the last couple decades, but have we explored other realities that Christians must face? Truth is truth is truth, and if there is a side to the story not being told and a side to the story being used as propaganda over and over again, a responsible journalist will venture into the new ground every time.

In relation to seeking truth and insuring that unnecessary discord is avoided between such “tribes,” I think of the following Proverb:

“Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

The truth is the truth. The story Carlson released is a reality that does not stop here with Palestine and Israel. It is a reality that all Christians have to experience, that their churches and statues and general faith is scorched and burned to the ground while the media machine ignores it. Spotlighting Christian hate should not subtract in any way a Jew’s or a Muslim’s experience in this life, nor does it subtract from the absolutely evil things terrorists have done in this world. That includes Israel. That includes Palestine. That includes Ukraine. That includes Russia.

That includes America.

We are learning that even in all of these cases–the above interview with the pastor included–there are so many more layers of the truth beyond the simple tribal binary. Carlson’s exploration of one religious man’s experience does not at all ignore Muslims and Jews, but that is the false dichotomy Loomer is setting up here. It is exactly the foundation Mockingbird has set for us for decades on the Left. Pit dog against dog in a cage and invite the ensuing carnage. As one social media commentator stated it, such reaction to the Carlson interview is like featuring a cake recipe and being accused of ignoring pies.

Whatever Israel’s (and every nuance inside what “Israel” is defined by) attitude is toward Christians is the truth. It’s one piece of it. And if truth is there, it has the dignity of being shared, no matter what it flies in the face of concerning one’s personal beliefs or experiences. I have to personally exercise this muscle with myself even as a Traditional Latin Catholic. I cannot get wrapped up in false dichotomies of Trad vs New Order or Catholic vs Protestant. For as I have been studying with more vigor in recent weeks, perhaps the most pressing union of binaries I may need to start praying for is a healing of the rift between East and West.

And even this rift involves so much more nuance than simply the number “two.”

When members of a society tuck themselves away inside the comfort and safety of their respective tribes, they make themselves susceptible and frighteningly willing to protect any sort of lie. That includes myself, and I invite everyone to try seeing it this way. It doesn’t remove the conviction and faith you hold; it only makes that faith and conviction more honest.

Carlson may be right. He may be wrong. I may be right. I may be wrong. But no one who honestly seeks truth–as individuals presenting this information on the electronic battlefield are doing–are obligated to protect anyone’s biases or feelings.

Truth is truth is truth. And the world, while it is indeed waking up to the reality of nuance, still needs more members. We hope Miss Loomer reflects on these things and realizes that Carlson’s work is nothing personal against her.

May everyone named directly or referenced indirectly ask forgiveness and do penance for their sins against America and God. I fight this information war in the spirit of justice and love for the innocent, but I have been reminded of the need for mercy and prayers for our enemies. I am a sinner in need of redemption as well, for my sins are many. In the words of Jesus Christ himself, Lord forgive us all, for we know not what we do.

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