To know or not to know, that is the question

A View from the Edge

People use a word, “disinformation,” loosely because it means nothing more than words spewed out devoid of actual meaning, context, proof, fact, or ownership.

That does not mean those words were spewed without intent, written without intent, broadcast without intent. The old adage of “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me” was wrong when I was a kid and even more wrong in the age in which we live, where words can travel to millions of people instantaneously, permanently circulating, always causing harm. I’ll take physical sticks and stones over diarrheal vituperous words promulgated on the Internet any day.

The world we are entering, where a sole person can decide to rename a 600-year-old, internationally accepted place name as a whim requires us to stop and think of the dystopian world that’s being built around us, for us, encaging us, corrupting us. The Gulf of Mexico being renamed may seem like a trivial matter as it rebounds to and is endorsed by Google, MSN, and other Internet platforms. However — at a stroke — truth and fact have been obliterated. This is a modern form of book-burning. Once burned, those books cannot be re-read, cannot be learned from, cannot influence thinking and intelligence. The Gulf of Mexico as historic fact has been obliterated, sanctioned by the very backbone of the Internet providers.

But, like book burning in the ‘30s, they have shown their hand, their capitulation to the new dystopian world; no doubt for profit or ideology. It doesn’t matter which. The fact is this, if you know it is the Gulf of Mexico, has been for 600 years, and someone tells you it is no longer named so, then you can easily decide if that someone is to be trusted. If not, tell everyone you know that they are wrong. Don’t simply roll over. In short, you have to decide if you want to join the book burners or stand against their intent and distortion of fact and reality. Speak up.

Acceptance without revolt is capitulation, corruption of your very being. How do you revolt against such entities as Google, MSN and others? Probably you cannot. But then at least you will know that whatever they make, whatever they promote, whatever they post is not to be blindly trusted ever again. Remember, if it seems false, if it smells like smoke, it is likely a form of book burning in the modern Internet age. You can check, you can become a gatekeeper of truth. You have to. If you don’t, they have won and the world as you know it will not survive.

A solution? Read actual books. Rejoin your library, become a supporter of literary fact, research, and time-tested fact.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, lives in Gila, New Mexico.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Hillsdale’s Carty retires, a veteran of town service

Tom Carty

Photo provided

HILLSDALE — The Town Board is seeking candidates to fill the remaining seven months of the term of Tom Carty, a veteran of town government who has announced his retirement as a board member.

Carty is a two-term member of the Board and long advocate for the town’s improvement who is known for pushing efforts from building sidewalks to updating the town’s record-keeping.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leon Norrod Graham

SALISBURY — Leon Norrod Graham was born in Mercedes, Texas, on Oct. 30, 1940. He passed away on Sunday, April 20, in Salisbury.

Leon’s parents were Leon R. Graham and Mary Norrod Graham. He is survived by his brother, Sam, his niece Mary Louise Pozaric, her husband Nichola Pozaric and their two sons, Graham and Reese. His father graduated from college at 17 and went on to a long career in public education. He retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas. His mother, a graduate of Baylor University, held a master in Mathematics from the University of Texas and various elected positions in Austin and statewide teacher organizations. Leon followed in his father’s footsteps by skipping the first grade and marching through elementary, junior high and high school with one A after another, no matter the subject. In 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the United States set up special six week courses in advanced mathematics that summer for rising high school students. Leon was one of 25 students selected from Texas for the program held at Rice University.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cynthia Gardner Smith

LAKEVILLE — Cynthia (“Cindy”) Gardner Smith, 90, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury.

Born Aug.19, 1934, at Sharon Hospital, Cindy was the eldest of 5 children born to the late William B. Barnett and Mary L. (Tuttle) Barnett of Lakeville.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sally Vagliano Pettus

SHARON — Sally Vagliano Pettus died peacefully at her home in Sharon, in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22. She was surrounded by her husband, Peter Pettus, and her three sons, Josh and Ian Findlay, and Justin Vagliano.

Raised in Gates Mills, Ohio, Sally attended Laurel School followed by Sarah Lawrence College. After graduating college, she became a quintessential New Yorker, ultimately dividing her time between the city and her beloved second home in Sharon.

Keep ReadingShow less