"If you think your cause is so important that you must put it ahead of the truth, you are deeply confused."
Ann Althouse, in "The widespread parable version" discusses the truth and the legend of Matthew Shepard's murder:
If a legend is used as leverage to change the law, we need to be willing to think about whether the legend is true, and if it is not, we need to be willing to rethink our analysis.
So many 'causes' have used "widespread parables" to their benefit and to the detriment of our society, law-making, and judicial system. To name one: gun control - an issue sometimes useful as an initial gauge of a politician's position on civil rights, and one that abounds with legends.
Some would like to teach the world to sing, but we might hear the hill echo with peace sooner, if they would press for a world class in critical thinking.
