The Truth Above All Else

In my faith tradition, there’s a well-worn adage that the truth will set us free. This idiom, expressed from the pulpits and at dinner tables, is an encouragement to uphold the truth—about ourselves and the world around us—above all else. 

But today’s truths—especially those deemed uncomfortable—are more often disregarded and downtrodden, contested and challenged. Whether it’s the true cause of the Civil War, the Big Lie that fueled a deadly insurrection, or trans children deserving access to medically necessary care, every issue is treated as if it has two equal sides worthy of being debated. But more often than not, the hard truth is that one “side” aims to uphold the greater good, while another hoards power, resources, and control. 

Our “Truth” issue, the last print magazine we’ll release before the 2024 presidential election, puts the responsibility of both telling the truth and upholding it squarely in the realm of the collective. As it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate fact from fiction, we offer some clear signposts for consideration: Texas high-schooler Marium Zahra makes the case for children to be free from the threat of gun violence. Journalist Nico Lang reports on drag queens standing up for our collective right to express ourselves. And, as public libraries are subjected to budget cuts and undue scrutiny, Erin Jones chronicles radical bibliophiles who are finding creative ways to get books in the hands of the children—and adults—who need them.

As we face a presidential contest that again includes a candidate who intentionally weaponizes misinformation, it’s critical to hone our ability to recognize the truth. This isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon, but it is an accelerating one, with the rise of artificial intelligence, “deep fakes,” and disinformation making that task more difficult—which is why this issue closes with an insightful game about how we can better differentiate between fact and fiction.

In these moments, calling upon our history—the movements and the moments that help us reckon with where we’ve fallen short—is imperative. Abaki Beck, a fifth-generation descendant of Native “boarding school” survivors, thoughtfully probes whether truth and reconciliation commissions can live up to their title, and whether “reconciliation” is even possible in the face of cultural genocide. And, as we consider how history influences our understanding of the truth, James Tracy spotlights Stonebreakers, a documentary that examines the complicated movement to remove confederate and colonialist statues.

We think about each issue of YES! as a time capsule, one that readers can return to in the future to better understand this moment. Our deepest hope is that this issue will be exactly that—a transparent snapshot of a moment where we, collectively, decided to hold the truth above all else.

Be well,
Evette Dionne