Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” ― Aldous Huxley

The other evening I was working on my Sunday crossword while Cathy was watching “Celebrity Family Feud.” The winning team gets to play “fast money,” and one of the questions caught my attention. Steve Harvey asked the celebrity contestant, “If you had a choice, which of Superman’s powers would you have to help you?” That question caught my attention, and I put down my crossword puzzle and gave some serious thought to how I would respond to the question. The more I pondered that thought, the more I realized that Superman did not have any superpowers that would cure what I see as the major issue in our society.

We seem to be living in a very polarized society, where individuals take a stand on issues, political and non-political, that are not based on fact, but rather on someone else’s opinion. Go to any social media site, and you will find examples of this throughout your reading. Some of this is what is called “non-conscientious ignorance,” while in other cases the statements made are clearly intended to mislead others. As Huxley states, “facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored,” yet you will find many who will accept non-factual data because it supports their previously held opinions

Unfortunately, we live in a world where as John Lennon says, “living is easy with eyes closed,” and we do not have a Superman with the ability to prevent all the misinformation that exists in our world as well as the polarization that it causes. When it comes to the City of Darien, we are consistently working to give our residents information on our programs, our finances, new projects, and other important information. Unfortunately, whether purposeful or not, there are items on social media that misstate or misrepresent the City. My best advice is to keep your eyes open and search for the facts; if you have a question do not hesitate to call us at City Hall at 630-852-5000; we welcome your constructive comments, questions, and feedback.