The idol of all Morondom

In the old country, back in my growing up days, there were quite a few elders who behaved as if their words were definitive truths derived from the gods.  In sarcasm, a few would comment on the side, or behind the backs,  வசிஷ்டர் சொன்னா வேத வாக்கு (There are so many layers to explain. I will leave you with only one, which is a Wiki link to the sage Vasishta.)

The deeper question is about the truths.  These Truths, which Lepore explores in the history of the United States.  The Declaration of Independence declares that "we hold these truths to be self evident."  Turns out that every bit of that phrasing is up for discussion.  "We": who is the we?  "These truths": Which truths?  "Self evident": Are they self evident?

The current president does a mockery of truths in every possible way.  The racist voters and enablers of his seem to operate under an impression that "if Trump says it’s true, it must be. After all, he became President."  trump has become the adjudicator of truth to the 63 million, though it seems like a few of those 63 million may have had a Damascene conversion of sorts!

The story of the United States has been a struggle about "these truths."  And this played out in many contexts, including in the famous Scopes Monkey Trial. (Also, check out this old post of mine, from almost five years ago.)

Jill Lepore writes that for Walter Lippman, the trial and the battle between the two lawyers--William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow--wasn't merely about evolution itself:

[It] was about how people decide what's true--does truth derive from faith or from reason?--and more deeply, what happens in a democracy when people can't agree about they decide what's true.  Does the majority rule?

"if Trump says it’s true, it must be. "  When he says, for instance, that there is no climate change, given that the electoral majority agreed with him, then it must be true that there is no climate change.

Lepore continues to write about Lippman's insights:

What were the implications for democracy? If a majority of voters decided that Charles Darwin was wrong and that evolution shouldn't be taught in schools, what was everyone else suppose to do?

Lepore quotes Clarence Darrow who could not agree with Bryan's assault on science; Darrow considered Bryan "the idol of all Morondom."

Well, Darrow could not have imagined trump, whose handpicked Secretary of State called him a fucking moron; in contrast to trump, William Jennings Bryan comes across as Vasishta!