Recently, I sat with some politicians to discuss business. One of the men asked about a sensitive environmental parameter that has come to light in recent years and is a hot topic button across the board. He referenced a story that made the news quite a few years ago and at this point, is well known as a large contributor to the additional need for scrutiny on this environmental factor. Essentially, the man-made impacting contributor to our environment, is and has been for a very long time, found in many of the products that we use and enjoy for our convenience as a daily part of the way we live. They have known about this materials existence but not about its harm.

The story that was referenced by the politician started out with the discussion about how up until recent years, they never had the ability to test of this parameter at SUCH a low level. Very true. He then went on to talk about the story and how this environmental impact on a farmer’s land had been going on for 32 years. His statement?  This should have never been permitted in the first place. Everyone at the table shook their head and agreed. It even made sense to me. But yet it didn’t.

When the time was right, I inserted myself and gave a simple reply. Thirty-two years ago, they did not know the health impact of this parameter. Thirty-two years ago, they did not have permitting for SUCH a parameter, and 32 years ago they did not have the ability to test for the parameter at SUCH low levels. Again, everyone at the table shook their head and agreed.

Do you see the Circular?

There was a deception in the conversation. The man was right, because we should have all known 32 years ago, that this parameter was bad and would cause us environmental and health issues well into the future. Therefore, we should not have permitted it. Brilliant right? I don’t really think so. If you want my opinion which I have plenty of, I debunked the man’s point, and everyone agreed. No one even called it out. Heck, the man even agreed. We all just moved onto the next topic. Crazy how that works isn’t it?

The next topic was kind of FUN. We were heading to my company plant for a tour and the topic of why our street address has BEEF STEAK in the name came up. This time a different man was speaking, and he gave us the background.

During the American Civil War, the area where our plant is located, was heavily populated by farms with milk and beef cattle ranches. The Yankees, as was the common name for the Union or North, needed to feed their soldiers, so they confiscated all the cattle from the farmers and sent them by rail to be used for food for the soldiers. However, one young lady pleaded with one of the soldiers to please leave one of the milking cows, as she had a baby that needed the cow’s milk. Her breasts no longer produced milk and the baby would surely die if they took the cow. The soldier left the cow. The Truth? There was no baby and it was pure deception for the survival of her family. We all had a good laugh over that story.

The way I see it is, both stories hold a deception to make a point. They are a different kind of deception, but they are still both deceptive. One deception is very subtle and not even identifiable. In fact, it was probably not even intentional. The other deception is an outright lie. But yet “in the name of survival” is actually justifiable and we can all see the truth. Now that is quite the contrast isn’t it?  

Here is what I draw upon to explain the phenomena:

John 18:37-38 NIV

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

³⁸ “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Round and Round, We Go!