Kellyanne Conway, senior advisor to President Trump, made headlines Jan. 22, when she coined the phrase “alternative facts.” The phrase was used in response to Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s incorrect reporting of crowd sizes at Trump’s inauguration. Conway asserted Spicer had not lied, but rather used “alternative facts.” While Conway was swiftly criticized by “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd, who explained that “alternative facts aren't facts, they are falsehoods,” the statement has ignited a controversy over how to determine factual information and what the use of “alternative facts” means for the future of America. Though the use of the phrase may seem like a simple twist of words, it could have far more dangerous effects. The belief that there are alternative facts in every situation removes truth-telling from journalism and everyday life.
Immediately after Conway used the phrase alternative facts, her language was compared to that of George Orwell’s book “1984.” In the book, the word “newspeak” was “used to signal a fictional language that aims at eliminating personal thought.” Critics have noted that alternative facts and newspeak are both based off of falsehoods and designed to sway the thoughts of citizens. Though it is a bit alarmist to compare our current world with the one described in “1984,” the resemblance between these words is problematic. Phrases like these put little emphasis on the truth when informing citizens, which is harmful and can create an ill-informed electorate. In the future, if alternative facts become a mainstay in American media and government, citizens will have no organizations to trust for correct information and most people will live their lives unaware of what is right and wrong. This could lead to anything from arguments to legal battles and honesty would take a backseat to fantasy.
Honesty has long been considered a virtue in American society. Additionally, children learn from a young age that they must always tell the truth. The value has been upheld throughout the years but phrases like “alternative facts” threaten that tradition. Stating that alternative facts exist implies lies don’t and liars just present an alternate view of the truth. For example, as stated earlier, Conway used the phrase to cover for the lies stated by Spicer. This argument is not to say that diverse opinions on certain topics do not exist, but when it comes to concrete facts, there is only right and wrong. Teaching children, and adults for that matter, that you can wish away lies by calling them alternative facts could damage the fabric of our values. In the American justice system, when citizens testify before a judge, they must swear, “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Truth permeates our society and, without it, many of our institutions would cease to function.
Furthermore, the idea of “alternative facts” would have a negative effect on journalistic standards everywhere. Currently, Americans are able to look to credible news sources and trust the facts they publish are true. If the idea of alternative facts became a norm, though, truth would no longer be a mainstay in American news. Although journalistic ethical standards would help fight off some of the effects, alternative facts could become an excuse for inaccurate reporting. Also, given the recent epidemic of fake news that occurred during the presidential election, it is more important than ever to be well-informed by media sources. Businesses like Google and Facebook have taken stands against fake news since the election, but if citizens do not acknowledge alternative facts for what they really are — lies — misinformation will become even more prevalent and fake news could end up just being called news. Alternative facts go hand in hand with fake news and the perpetuation of either issue could damage American democracy beyond repair.
Carly Mulvihill is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at c.mulvihill@cavalierdaily.com.
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