A World Built on Lies: The Power of False Narratives in History and Today

Is the world just a big ball of lies? Everywhere we look, lies are becoming more integrated into the fabric of discourse, politics, and civil engagement. Are we aware of these lies and how they are used against us?

Historically, governments and media have had a rather strong influence on people, their decisions, and the way they perceive certain actions. The reason why national pride became an important thing in war was to provide an identity that was actively under threat and in need of defense, regardless of how extreme the action may be.

Similarly, the government’s use of propaganda creates false realities that allow people to assume the world functions in a way that is inaccurate with history. Nazi Germany used propaganda to promote values that aligned with the government and to enact a mass genocide on the Jewish community. In South Africa, Apartheid framed itself as cultural preservation. In the United States, the implementation of Jim Crow as “separate but equal” depicts a world where many remain unaware, asleep, and not woke.

The majority of citizens are unaware that they are entrenched in this lie. They are unable to separate reality from the created truth and environment. They simply do not know until they are told or exposed to something different. Most cultures in the world have developed as a direct result of exploration and the integration of the “best parts” of certain cultures to form a dominant culture. When the lie is mass-consumed, how do we go about changing it?

Some are leaning towards revolutionary action that will raise high alert and garner attention. We are well aware that you lose control and discourse regarding the cause that is being fought for. People who believe change is too slow and not worth it are similarly a part of the problem.

The importance of breaking down a lie is being willing to hear and make sense of a new world—deciding whether or not the information you have been told is your truth. Most of the time, we believe things when they are told to us by the people closest to us. It is important that we all take responsibility to ensure lies do not become the dominant form of discourse in the world.

A world driven by lies is unable to see humanity and the people who suffer as a result of those lies. They are unwilling to give up their thirst for power and control in the world. We only lie to avoid consequences or seek benefits. When the people leading our countries are the most pathological liars of them all, they provide a world where lies are the foundation for all discourse.

Lies are quick, easy, and emotive, but they break down the connectivity and humanity we all share.

“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” — Winston Churchill