What are missing narratives?

Ever heard something like "controlling the narrative" or some other reference to narratives that seem a little mysterious? Join the club.

When I look at the narratives in the media and politics, I often ask, "what's missing from this narrative?" Do you ever do that? 

If we experience an emotional reaction to what we see, hear or read, do we step back and ask, "What is the rest of the story?" Do we ever consider maybe those involved don't have magnanimous motives? Do we really trust them? 

I don't trust them because of my education and experience I know exactly what they are doing. It's like military PSYOPS only it's politics. And I've noticed that anything goes. "All fair in war", as I've heard some say.

You'll often hear the term narrative referred to but what does it really mean? It is simply another word for an ongoing story. The real question is: is it fiction or non-fiction, though a real answer is elusive at best. 

To answer, the thing in question (narratives) would have to be an either/or kind of thing, but it isn't. To ask such a question is to impose what is called a false dichotomy. A dichotomy is merely two things that are opposite, and a false dichotomy is the false notion that no other choice exists but the two opposing choices.

I chose the term "missing narratives" for this blog because there is always some fiction and some non-fiction in a story - any story. And human nature makes it difficult to separate opinion from fact. When you explore different sources of news reports and accounts of events you'll see why journalism calls them stories.

Okay, so what am I saying, and what is this all about?

I feel it is important to explore the missing narratives and what is missing from the narratives. Over the last two decades, I have noticed the line between fiction and non-fiction in news stories moving. It seems news stories have been moving in the direction of fiction and has moved to the point journalists and news reports can no longer be trusted. 

Who wouldn't want a second medical opinion for something serious? Why wouldn't we do the same for news reports that have the power to influence the future of this country?

Think about it. The idiom "the pen is mightier than the sword" has never been so true than today. Do we trust all who would wield proverbial swords? Do we trust absolutely those with power over us? If not, then why would we trust journalists absolutely? After all, they have editors and journalists who want to stay employed must bring stories their editors will approve, ultimately answering to the chief editor. 

It is no longer about "the people have the right to know". It is about journalists have the right to control the narrative and change history. 

So some news agencies today are like a military organization with absolute power in one person at the top - and that power is to potentially change the world for bad or good. Where are the checks and balances to ensure it's for good?

I don't know about you, but I don't trust myself with absolute power. So why would I trust anyone else with it?

I'm asking for an open mind and to begin thinking about what is missing. I'm also asking for an open mind to learn about how all of us are similar, especially the common problems in human nature that trained journalists and politicians are capitalizing on to push their agenda.

We are all unique in ways that are too often ignored. But it is in how we are common that makes us vulnerable to narratives - which is certainly not ignored. News agencies are taking advantage of it more and more and have long crossed the lines of what is ethical.

So it is time for all of us to understand that and to take away the power they have over us.

Freedom will always be under siege. We can fight for it by understanding ourselves and our vulnerabilities to false and incomplete narratives, and the seek out the missing narratives. 

Otherwise, just picking a bandwagon and riding it is merely putting our freedom in the hands of someone else.

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