Perception Isn't Always Reality

Perception Isn’t Always Reality

Someone responded to a blog I wrote the other day and said something that stuck with me. “Perception isn’t always reality.”

I really like that.

On Saturday we saw tens of thousands take to the streets in protest of something, I’m still not certain exactly what it was/is.

The protests were peaceful and whether I agree with the signs isn’t what matters.

Free Speech is the bedrock of this country.

What often fails to be seen is the tens of millions of people who also held a protest back on November 5th.

It’s called an election.

We didn’t carry signs or chant slogans, we cast ballots and said no to policies of the past and yes to trying something new, like balancing the budget and uncovering fraud and waste in our government.

As our mandate to the new administration is carried out, the opposition, with the help of the courts and the media, ignore our wishes and covertly push to get their way.

As a former journalist and Oregonians, I’ve watched this technique for decades.

Common sense gets a win.

The opponents won’t allow us to try a new direction or go with the decision instead they undermine the process and push harder to get their way. In their arrogance they assume their position is the virtuous one and we are wrong.

When you have that mindset process, the law, fairness and openness goes right out the window.

Here is it 2025 and there’s a problem.

It’s like a playground in grade school.

There’s a new playground monitor.

Those who’ve lorded over the tether ball and four square games, no longer set the rules.

When that happens more voices are heard and the power switches.

But, that also challenges the old rules and those who came up with the score card.

We must remind ourselves there’s perception and reality.

And there is power in numbers, numbers you can’t always see.