Is Knowledge Power?

05-03-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

Each and every one of us has been in a position where we have known something sensitive about another or we were quizzed on sensitive information about ourselves. Take income for example, when we discover how much money someone makes, we are really tempted to and often disclose that information to other people; we typically feel like our knowledge is power. On the other hand, when someone inquires with us about our income, we do a really good job deflecting the question and have a sense that our income is none of their business. As sensitive as monetary income may be, we quickly realize that each one of us is guilty of speaking about other people’s sensitive information which transcends far beyond money.

Of course, within the scuttlebutt of communication, we often learn about other matters in people’s personal lives. And, we do a really good job of guarding personal information on our own behalf. Additionally, some of us are more tempted than others to go and blab the information we learn, as if, somehow, we wield some power because of the knowledge we have. Perhaps, in real simple terms, we may call the sharing of information gossip. Then, we seem to believe that all gossip is morally bad if we talk about other people. However, here’s a clarification to consider about gossip. If we mention something to another about someone purchasing a piece of real estate, that’s just stating a fact. On the other hand, if we mention something to another about someone purchasing a piece of real estate to suggest that they “have a lot of money,” then we border on gossip. Gossip, quite clearly, is sharing information with the end result of another person being shed in a particular light.

Sometimes these matters are complicated even more when we hear a piece of sensitive information and fabricate something which is not true. For example, if we hear that someone has an appointment with a physician, and then, share that fact and add on what our diagnosis is, that simply erroneous. Of course, when someone hears our piece of knowledge and adds their own creative fabrication, the story spins out of control. We can quickly understand how someone who goes in for a blood test is rumored to have terminal cancer within hours because of these made up pieces.

Small town America is wrought with these moral challenges for its residents. Perhaps in a greater way, small town America is populated with very virtuous people who battle against gossip, fabrications and slanders. Our part, as good Christians, is to challenge each other to take the higher road. We do not give license to these poisons to community living. We seek out and live the truth. We do our part to mind our own business. And, truth be told, if our life is that dull that we need to be concerned about others, we need to discover a hobby or learn a new talent or skill. May we continue to support each other in virtuous living so that our communities grow in trust and genuine concern for one another.

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