By Shaylyn Austin
Editor-in-Chief
For my English class, I have been exploring the composition and meaning of “truth” through two different texts. Both come to the conclusion that the truth is subjective in nature and, therefore, incommunicable without fault.
This is a puzzling notion, seeing as in La Vista, we strive to impart the truth of every story we come across. Learning to scour the facts to get to the bottom line is one of the most valuable skills that La Vista has taught me. Yet, why does this matter when the unbiased truth will always be fogged by the subjectivities of those involved?
That is why a journalist’s responsibility is to investigate all opposing sides of a story and report only those that are legitimate, allowing the readers to come to their own conclusions, their own truths.
One lesson that has ironically emerged from this understanding is to know when I simply do not know. Because even when every piece of information is sitting in front of you, the answer may still not be clear.
The past few years, La Vista has witnessed a series of standoffs between the Costa administration and school board and the teaching staff, one of the most recent caused by the disbandment of Ed Council.
When first hearing of controversial disputes like this, it is difficult not to form reactive, headstrong opinions based on the source of initial information. When taking a step back, the situation of Ed Council really is one of the “I don’t knows.”
The two polarized viewpoints on the nature of Ed Council meetings are an ideal example of how there is no such thing as an objective experience. My lack of first-person knowledge inhibits me from forming a concrete opinion, so, to the question of who is right, I do not know.
The latest controversy is over whether or not the school board’s mismanagement of funds was intentional or a mistake. One can only hope that all invested parties take the time to hear out both sides and look at the facts, instead of coming to conclusions based solely on preconceived emotion.
The truth is a constantly-developing idea that is manipulated in more ways than one. Because of that, everyone can benefit from a bit of humility, the ability to admit ignorance. And that’s the truth, or is it?
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