There is a saying that
“A lie can be half way around the world whilst truth is still putting his shoes on.”
I was reminded by that when reflecting on the political and social media reaction to the murder of Henry Nowak.
First, go back to the original incident. There is an early example of the phenomena there. A lie was concocted, or rather a cluster of lies. Those included that:
Nowak was drunk and aggressive
He had committed racially aggravated assault and battery.
He had not been stabbed (initially a lie by ommission)
The police arrive and they clearly respond initially to the lies. Their perceptions and actions are influenced by what they have been led to believe. They handcuff Nowak and arrest him. However within two minutes they are reevaluating things. Whilst they have not found knife entry wounds, they can tell that something is wrong. The female officer calls for an ambulance. She tells the dispatcher that Nowak has been beaten up. Even still, the lies are continuing to govern the narrative. Nowak remains handcuffed.
Then we had the second lie. That lie can be summed up as follows:
The police arrested Nowak because he was accused of a racial slur. They treated him differently as a white suspect because of DEI training. They were rough with him and mocked him, refusing to believe him. They did not get him medical assistance.
The judge’s sentencing remarks, followed by the release of the 999 call recording and body cam footage should have already corrected the myth. However, it was fascinating to see and hear responses. Politicians called for “pure cold rage”. Anti-racism was blamed. People accused the police of being complicit in murder and called for their sacking as a minimum and even for them to be tried.
The lie, the conspiracy was already half way round the world. Influencers, commentators and politicians in Australia and the USA were having their say. Indeed, I’ve noticed that if people from the UK disagree with commentators from the US, they get quite the dismissive response.
What are the implications for us? Well first of all, there is the question about how we respond to news stories including this one. Are we careful to check facts. Do we show a love for truth? Or do we react to the opinions, rumours and speculation? Indeed, are we willing to go further and correct the myth?
These challenges are there in local church life too. Do we react to gossip and rumours or do we seek to prioritise truth?
What about pastoral counselling? Do we react to whatever us first said? Or do we ask questions, do we listen and do we wait patiently for the full truth to emerge?
God’s people should love truth and give it a chance, helping it to get its shoes on.
Faithroots 