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October 29: Gratitude for Standing Up for Truth

Today, I am thankful for those who stand by the truth, despite stark opposition.

In a few days’ time, the populace of my great country will vote in the 59th United States Presidential election for the individual who will become the next Commander-in-Chief. American citizens will be called forth to cast their vote for who they believe is best suited to lead our country over the next four years. Frankly, the peaceful process of electing the leader of the Executive Branch of government has gone off relatively smoothly and essentially without a hitch for the last 230 years, with 44 different presidents being selected during the prior 58 quadrennial gatherings of the Electoral College. On Tuesday, Americans will need to decide who is the most fitting leader to guide the nation. In our rather polarized nation, the two parties once again find themselves on opposite sides, disagreeing heavily on how best to handle the economy, international relations, and even societal issues.

Our biases are showing.

I found it fascinating that in a recent Insider poll, conducted in August 2019, the top 10 qualities that Americans are looking for in a candidate include their prior experience as an elected official (as Vice President, Governor, or member of Congress), their age, their socioeconomic status, their multi-lingual capacity, and their willingness to release their tax returns. Nowhere on the list of priorities or skills were traits that we’d normally consider when hiring a person: one’s skill to handle a crisis with grace and poise, one’s ability to negotiate for the greater good, or (God forbid!) one’s honesty. Sadly, the ability to tell the truth is no longer regarded as a necessity in political life.

What would our forefathers think of this?

For sure, Benjamin Franklin would be saddened. The elder statesman from Philadelphia was respected and appreciated for his wisdom, insight, and candor in the events leading up to and during the Second Continental Congress in the summer of 1776. Franklin lived his life under the simple premise that ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ In other words, the ability to tell the truth is always the preferred route, and one should never resort to lying. Perhaps this is also what he told his two grandsons as they boarded The USS Reprisal with Franklin on this day (Oct 29) in 1776, en route to Paris to negotiate an alliance with the French government. In due time, Franklin was able to secure this alliance, mainly because the French appreciated his truthfulness, respect, and wit.

Today, stories of incredible events are often met with skepticism from those who did not bear witness to the event themselves. For this reason, some Americans doubt the Moon landing ever actually transpired in June 1969. Others believe that the COVID-19 pandemic was all a myth or a lab-generated virus fabricated to influence the upcoming US Presidential Election. Finally, some even contend that Tom Brady had nothing to do with the amount of air in the footballs during that infamous playoff game several years back. When it comes to that historic lunar mission, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or ‘Deflategate,’ some simply remain unconvinced, no matter what evidence is provided.

Yet, Americans are not alone when it comes to their cynical questioning of the truth. Sometimes, as humans, we simply do not wish to believe the truth, no matter what country we live in. Such was the case in Australia forty years ago. In August 1980, at an Uluru campsite, the Chamberlain family awoke to find that their 9-week-old baby, Azaria, had been abducted by a dingo in the middle of the night. The baby’s mother, Lindy Chamberlain, awoke from her sleep to witness the horrific site of a wild Australian canine dragging Azaria away from the site, as Lindy screamed out in horror: ‘A dingo’s got my baby.’ Azaria’s body was never recovered. Immediately, the police were not convinced with the Chamberlain’s account, despite extensive evidence pointing to the truth: the loud growling noises heard by the other campers; drag marks in the sand; paw prints at the tent entry; dog hairs in the tent; and the mother’s own personal account. Although an initial coroner’s inquest supported the family’s claims, the detectives were unconvinced, especially with the Chamberlains’ display of a cool, serene demeanor under intense questioning. Amazingly, ‘new’ evidence materialized confirming the presence of blood in the Chamberlain car and on their camera bag, leading to Lindy’s indictment. She was tried and convicted of murder on this day (Oct 29) in 1982. Despite several appeals, the murder conviction held firm – there was just no plausible way the Chamberlains were not guilty of the death of their daughter.

Several years later, in 1986, something amazing occurred. A piece of Azaria’s clothing was discovered by a hiker in the lair of dingos in the region of the original campsite. Australians immediately faced a stark reality: The Chamberlains were actually telling the truth. Further investigation revealed that the supposed blood in the car and camera bag was nothing more than a positive test for copper oxide.


Lindy Chamberlain was fully exonerated in 1988 and the family was financially compensated for their wrongful treatment. Since then, additional ‘dingo attacks’ on small infants and children, including reports of canines dragging small babies, have materialized over the years, confirming that these wild dogs have the capacity to reek havoc. Finally, in 2012, the coroner’s report from yet another inquest revealed that the cause of death was abduction by a dingo.

Sometimes, reality sucks. I’m grateful knowing that we need to shelve our own preconceived biases and allow for truth to reveal itself – even if it is unpopular, inconvenient, or inconceivable. As Americans head to the polls in few days, we should all heed this humbling advice.



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