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Tuesday, June 11, 2002 |
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When facts fit a picture we should not presume that we have discovered the truth. Oftentimes the same facts can be fitted to an entirely different, even contradictory picture. Isn't that a primary cause of human misunderstandings? Two people can each apply the facts to their own mental models and come up with two completely different pictures. How? I think it happens when we a) miss facts; b) draw illogical conclusions from facts; c) force facts (or eliminate facts) to fit preconceived conclusions. This is why people are presumed innocent until proven guilty in this country. Reflecting on my previous conclusion I have to confess that I do not know for a fact that in the USA we presume innocence because facts can be misinterpreted and misapplied. There may be another reason. Other than Ernie The Attorney, or my non-blogging brother-in-law, I really do not know where to begin checking this "fact". It just seems like a real reasonable conclusion. I drew it with the very best intentions. Have I crossed the line from Journalism into Editorial Opinion? |
