This system is not in our best interests, but an
alternative is out of the question. For many of us
it is impossible to accept that the truth is an area
which is large and grey. Yet, we constantly find
through lived experience that, despite compulsive
efforts to make things simple, the answers very
rarely come in "yes" or "no".

Grey/truth is the product of knowledge, not sys-
temic value, and we fear knowledge because it
lacks rigidity and structure. Learning takes effort,
it causes pain and resentment, it forces an indi-
vidual to be aware, and it takes responsibility.
Many of us shy away from knowledge and it's
responsibility because it requires commitment:
once you know, you can never go back. This is a
commitment to change.

Of all fears we fear change the most. This is why
we are so resistant to learning, contenting our-
selves with the line: "That's just the way things
are." But is it really? Or do we shield ourselves
from knowledge for sheer personal comfort? |
think we do. How else do men continue to have
privilege over women, whites over minorities, rich
over poor, straight over gay, able-bodied over dis-
abled and adult over child?

The answer is ironically simple. We see no bene-
fit in equality, only a fear of personal loss.
Capitalism has succeeded in raising a hermetic
cult of the individual, fed by trademarked lies:
"Product of North America". And so it has been
made clear by the man himself, that we prefer our
lies spoon-fed. We don't want the truth. We
can't handle the truth.

Heather Olsen-Seabourne ()