An Introduction to the Introduction:
What happened to the words that healed and sympathized. Gave common people hope and fuelled their aspirations. Phrases that much of the population embraced whole heartedly and attached great meaning to? Like the great Australian phrase penned by – Robert Hughes 1938-2012. Australian-born art critic, writer
A DETERMINED SOUL WILL DO MORE WITH A RUSTY MONKEY WRENCH THAN A LOAFER WILL ACCOMPLISH WITH ALL THE TOOLS IN A MACHINE SHOP –
Or a phrase from our cousins in the USA inspiring generations of citizens like.
TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY
For those old enough to remember, and not afraid to admit it, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” was Superman’s code. In 1970 it was also the subconscious view of the average American.
Was.
Is there anything about the phrase that applies to America today?
The American Way is now belittled and shamed by almost everyone who should know better.
Justice has become a matter of which pressure groups are on which side.
And Truth? What the hell is that?
INTRODUCTION
The reason for the Commoner’s Voice Project is, most immediately, the loss of truth, and the resultant loss of hope. Most of the major media trashed its drive and desire for truth long ago, substituting a cultural or political agenda.
That same media is present everywhere, all the time, with its own set of Experts and Fact-Checkers, loyal to the politically expedient message crafted by whoever is in charge that day. Actual history is ignored, distorted, massaged, tied into a pretzel, and vomited back into our minds.
As our 46th President has said, he is for “truth over facts.” This can only mean that the facts are to be twisted until the truth he wants is revealed.
However, true history is actually and always a recitation of true FACTS.
The Commoner’s Voice Project is an attempt to get the stories – the facts – of this pandemic, and the resultant authoritarian impositions that have caused so much additional and unnecessary pain and disruption, even suicide.
When any President of the United States, arguably the single most powerful person in the world, can be effectively censored, you know truth has no chance.
As a result of the constant re-interpretation of events to fit a chosen narrative, many people have come to not trust their own eyes. The more time that goes by, the more confused past events become muddled in our minds.
How is it that in an age where we are more connected than ever, have instantaneous contact with each other and the world, have more readily accessible knowledge at our fingertips, we are less sure, more confused and untrusting of the world around us?
Could it be that we no longer trust our news sources? That we no longer believe the people we elect and pay outrageously to take care of us? Have we figured out, even if only on an unconscious level, that we are being lied to?
Less than five generations ago there were no electronic communications. The 1st long distance electronically coded message in 1860, from Adelaide, Australia, to London, England, took two weeks to arrive at its destination. The telegraph line had battery stations every two miles, and the message had to be received and re-sent again and again.
And yet…and yet… It appears that what we gained in speed and coverage we more than lost in being unable to rely on what we learn. And this is solely due to the invidious practices of those in charge of the information choke points to persuade us to act against our own best interests. If what we know of the past is uncertain and malleable, planning for the future becomes nearly impossible.
And this is the most important reason for the Commoner’s Voice Project.
Many years ago, during my Army days, I had a conversation with my CO. What he told me still resonates in my soul and my mind. I couldn’t know it at the time, though maybe he did. These many years later I realize what he gave me was purpose.
He said, “You are a historian, and so am I. Write your family a letter. Tell them about your mission here, what you think, what you don’t. Tell them about your friends. The condition of things. The written word is important, Dave, that’s why we know what Caesar did and didn’t do. The difference today is you can write, you are not a slave or a non-citizen with no rights or access to education, or even paper.
You can send a letter and report on history; you are living it.”
He was right. The ‘official’ story is always colored by the interests of those writing the story. Much of the truth we know about our past is because of letters and diaries.
The intent of this project is simply to provide an unedited, uncensored volume of individual elements about a point in history. The pandemic. 2020-2021. Not to debate false beliefs or ideologies, but simply to publish firsthand experiences of individuals from around the globe.
It is past time to let the people speak. Future historians are going to need their stories, and they won’t get them from TV news or newspapers or Google.
Please consider contributing your story to the Commoner Voice Project. It is, after all, your history, hope, and future at stake.