What a colorblind painter taught me about spotting society’s lies
A colorblind artist at a local art show inspires reflection on society’s long history of condoned lies, from ads to politics, and a call for people to speak up for truth.
By Julie A. Ferraro | FāVS News Columnist
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
Not being an artist — that is, being incapable of drawing a stick figure or a straight line — I genuinely admire those who bring their inspiration to canvas, to three-dimensional forms or even to flowerpots.
That’s why I enjoy browsing artists’ booths at shows in a local park, or flea markets.
It’s a way to grow my appreciation for this form of talent, and have a nice chat with those skilled in such areas.
For instance, at one show, a sign declared “Crackpots” over a pop-up awning. The woman took old — and sometimes damaged — clay pots and created bright receptacles for all sorts of greenery. She shared a story of how, registering for an event that supported the local sheriff’s department, the law enforcement authorities initially thought she’d be bringing “crack” and “pot” to sell.
Across the way, another artist used toothpicks and other methods to bring bright colors to canvas, tiles and even wooden toys. He sold these far below their worth, because he enjoyed what he was doing and wished to share the results.
What was even more phenomenal: This man is colorblind. He can’t really see the way the colors blend as he works. He must trust the labels on the bottles of paint and imagine what they will look like together.
And they were beautiful.
Are we colorblind to the truth?
Sadly, though, what human beings imagine to be true — much like being colorblind — isn’t always the case.
“When society condones lies,
what fate truth
really?”
A poem I wrote — in the middle of a restless night — started with this premise.
Human beings, since the time when it was first possible to verbalize thought, have been on the receiving end of lies from those who would convince us their truth is real.
The Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans, justified their wars to expand their empires, as recorded in the earliest days of written history. Vendors at city markets hawked their wares, inviting customers to browse and buy what they really didn’t need.
When the printing press made publication of newspapers a viable option to share the events of the day, editors realized they could support their efforts by selling advertising space. Everything from women’s corsets meant to slim the waistline to men’s hats and more caught readers’ eyes and spurred them toward the consumerism that so drives the 21st century world.
Add in the inception of radio, television, billboards on the side of the road, and the proliferation of lies cannot be ignored. Whether the need for whiter teeth or designer perfume, we are bombarded by lies throughout the day.
Standing up against the lies
Jesus lived in a way that gave a lie to these lies. He used only what he needed, whether food or drink, clothes or shoes. He sought shelter where it was offered, often outdoors. He advised his followers, when he sent them off in pairs to preach in the towns, to take nothing with them, relying on the goodness of others.
Jesus stood in stark contrast to a society that has always allowed these types of lies to breed like rabbits. While fact-checkers can be found verifying the statements of modern politicians, they still try to lie about everything from their personal lives to their “platforms” — and get elected in spite of these falsehoods!
How many wars are being waged around the globe this very minute because some political leader took offense at another, or wants more land or power — and lies about the justifications for sending “smart bombs” to destroy people and property?
We must be taught, it seems, to recognize these lies as … lies. Individuals need to stand up and speak against the lies — whether advertisements that disrupt programming every five minutes or appear in print, vague or outright false statements by politicians and others. Perhaps, as this wave brings realization to the world, society will gradually stop condoning lies and begin building a world based on truth.
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