The Truth of the matter is, I really hate that phrase, "The truth of the matter". There was a time when "the truth of the matter" grabbed my attention like no other phrase. It made my ears stand at attention waiting for some new kernel, a new seedling, a new fundamental grain of truth. But now it just irritates me.
No, I haven't succumbed to the notion that everything is relative. I still believe that there are some absolute truths. But I also recognize that everyone has their own beliefs about what is true and what isn't. And therefor "Truth" is different for different people.
It bothers me when someone says, "The Truth of the matter is this", because what they really mean is, "Suspend all your beliefs and listen to me. I'm telling you something more important that anything you may happen to believe." That's a very arrogant statement to make. I'm sure if you asked the speaker did he mean it that way, he'd probably say "no". But the truth of the matter is, no one who says "The truth of the matter is" is willing to discuss or debate or weigh out contradictory notions. They have an agenda or a moral high ground that gives them the right to tell me to forget what I think I know.
Have you ever heard anyone say, "Well the truth of the matter is, maybe I was wrong"? I haven't.
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