a Conspiracy of Illusions

I recently finished watching a series of 5 docudramas entitled Chernobyl.  It was an event from 1986 that I remember when there was an explosion in what is now Ukraine, but at the time was part of the Soviet Union.  I suppose I always just thought it was a problem and it caused a large area to be evacuated and remain evacuated today, but never realized exactly how close a majority of the population of the Soviet Union and Europe came to be wiped out.  It was a thought provoking, profound, and enlightening (albeit sobering) 5 hours. 

There is a quote from one of the main characters, who in the series helps mastermind the solution and cleanup.  I've gone back and listened to it a few times because it's rather profound.

"What is the cost of lies? 

It is not that we will mistake them for the truth. The danger is that if we hear enough lies, that we no longer recognize the truth at all. What can we do then but to abandon the hope for the truth and content ourselves with stories?  In the stories it doesn't matter who the heroes are. All we want to know is who is to blame."

After I finished the series, my friend who had recommended it, suggested I also listen to the NPR Podcast on each one of the series that was an interview with the author/writer/producer.  I did listen.   In retrospect, I wish that I’d listened to the podcast at the end of each movie rather than all at the end.  

Without going into a description of all the narrative, I can say that at the end of the final podcast, the author was asked by the interviewer, what exactly was the one single point that he had learned from the entire experience which he had so carefully researched and documented.   The series covered many things, but the primary was the lies the Soviet Union told the world, themselves, and the people.   The author said that he’d come to see that each of us, whether in the Soviet Union, or today in America, live in a “conspiracy of illusions” and that he said he felt we did so because there were certain truths that men and women just could not accept/tolerate/endure or feel secure with.  And so, we let ourselves believe lies.    That expression stuck with me.

Like you reading this, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that I certainly don’t willingly live my life in lies or illusions.   But then the author gave an example of a green light.   He pointed out that each of us drive through a green light, usually at the normal rate of speed, and “believe” that we are safe because we have the green light.   In fact though, the green light is an illusion to us because it does not guarantee our safety.  It only keeps us safe, as long as the person with the red light stops, either by choice, or not stops by choice, or runs the light involuntarily.    I realized he was exactly correct.

For the past three days, I’ve been examining my own life to see how many illusions I can identify that I choose, consciously or subconsciously to believe, or illusions that I’ve had, but since discovered were not real or true.

My initial list may prompt the reader to examine their own lives.  I’ve also realized many illusions that I see in others, but don’t believe in myself.  I’ve included those as well, as a reminder to myself to not believe something similar.

Tomorrow will be like today.   Just as good, or just as bad. 

Disasters are certainly prone to happen.  But certainly only happen in other places, to other people.

I will be alive tomorrow so there is no urgency for any matter today, that I can wait and do tomorrow.   There will always be tomorrow.  

People who die in traffic accidents probably died because they were careless, drunk, distracted, or bad drivers.  I’m a good and cautious driver and I have no danger of being killed on the road in my life time.

Others should understand any tardiness of mine, because I am a busier person than they are.  

I can text and drive, because I'm really careful about being distracted.

I am safe and secure in my home because it has a locked door.

I am in control of my life and all the decisions I make.

I can rescue my children from their adversities.

Children sent to religious universities will get a better (from my point of view) education because those schools were established on a Christian foundation like Baylor, TCU, SMU.

Raise up a child in the way of the Lord and when they are old they will not depart from it.

If you're suffering hunger, you've probably failed to follow God closely enough to depend on Him for your needs.

I will be loved to the same extent that I love.

The church is a place of safe haven for all in need.

The United States is a morally upright country and only does things that need to be done for good in the world.  The USA is exceptional.

Health food makes me healthier.

I cannot make a difference in the changing the world by my self.

As long as I obey the law, government cannot make me do something I shouldn’t.

If you always do the "right" thing, you'll always come out to the good.

Although with some flaws, the United States is a good and Godly country.

People should be trusted until they show they cannot be trusted.

People with more education than me about a particular subject, are more likely to be right about a question on that subject than I am.

I can pledge my allegiance to a flag and a country.

I have some moral responsibility toward Endangered species to be protected and preserved.

Governments exist to protect me.

God blesses America more than others.

In the same vein as the last, God takes sides in wars.  And if the United States is in a war God is always on our side.

It might be ok to hate your enemies.   

Some people are not worthy of my, or other's, or society's forgiveness.

Being poor is primarily a result of making poor decisions. If you don't have a job it's because you don't want a job.

Being illiterate or uneducated is strictly a result of not taking school serious or paying attention.

Everyone in the USA have the same opportunity for education or success or greatness as anyone else.

White people, or any people, are not privileged.

I am not deceived about anything.

Democracy is the highest ideal of government and we know that everyone else would like it if they had it.   And we're going to show them how good it is, even if we have to kill them or destroy their country.   Sometimes you just have to destroy a village to save it.

Military service equals a status of warrior/protector/saint/admiration

USA Military only makes good decisions for freedom and our liberty.

Most other nations have people who are naturally inferior to Americans.

Because I am alive, I was born with certain rights.

I have a right to happiness, success, or freedom.

If I can't pay for my own healthcare or welfare, someone else should have to.

Demons are only in bad, evil, tormented people.  I have no demons.

Christians cannot have demons and if they did, they would know it.

I am the best judge of my own flaws or short comings.

The Month of March exists to show people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.  

I can trust that Fluoride in my drinking water is good for me because the government says it isn’t harmful?

I can believe that food is safe to eat because the government tells me they inspected it.

Government workers are public servants.

Being a veteran gives me some specialness or uniqueness or privilege.