We have been told that if you repeat a lie often enough it will become the truth. Yet experience demonstrates that ignoring or denying the truth often exacts a heavy price leading to delusion and a self destructive disconnect from reality.
Sometimes we are deceived and sometimes we deceive ourselves. Kierkegaard stated this succinctly: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Throughout history, truth tellers are often marginalized, blacklisted or imprisoned. Presently the reality of Ron Paul's oft quoted phrase, "Truth is treason in the empire of lies" is demonstrated daily. Snowden, Assange and Manning stand as iconic reminders of this. A sculpture honoring these three has recently been unveiled in Berlin. The artist created the sculpture "to represent three contemporary heroes who have lost their freedom for the truth.”
At this pivotal point in history, the need to see and to embrace the truth is imperative. Economic degradation and inequality, climate change, nuclear weapons and nuclear power, drone assassinations and our government’s penchant for permanent war all sound a clarion call for truth telling.
To this end, the17 annual Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference has dedicated itself to exploring truth and the power of truth telling. We have invited some renowned and courageous truth tellers who have taken great risks to help us embrace truth and a life affirming reality. Our speakers include Medea Benjamin, Matthew, Hoh, Nick Mottern, Sr. Megan Rice* and more. Rev. Felicia Parazaider will lead our spiritual retreat.
Renowned for his truth fulness , Doctor King, not only lost his freedom but his life for speaking truth to power. Yet in his quest and ours, his words ring clear and offer profound encouragement. "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Our conference seeks to embrace this "unarmed truth and unconditional love”. We recognize the great determination that those who attend have to fulfill this promise. Borrowing from the words of Hafez, master poet and mystic, we invite everyone to join with us in a time of hope and community and to share “the astonishing light of your own being”, a radiant light much needed to transform this age of deception.
Please join us on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the National St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda, NY.