Truth- An Examination

What we today call truth is guided by an interpretation of external events that may or may not include us as actors. We are witnesses to, or participants in these events. We take them in, internalize and pass judgment on them, and finally communicate a personal interpretation of them externally. We present these ideas to others and to ourselves, pretending they are objective. We present these ideas as truth.
Often, we make the mistake of believing such truths to be self-evident. That is to say we see our truth as obvious without the need for critical reasoning. After all, what we see is what we see and we simply judge accordingly.
If this is true (ha!), I must ask: Are our self-centered perceptions of absolute truth part of natural human existence? Are are we capable of transcending that behavior? Is it possible to at least expand the concept and make it more inclusive?... less sectarian?”
I think we (collectively speaking) mistakenly see truth as absolute all too often. In the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence, we read:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident:
“that all men are created equal,
“that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
“that among these are
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Interestingly enough, the rough draft of the Declaration’s rough draft stated differently:

“We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable.”[1]

The original version sounds immensely more inclusive and non-sectarian to me. While truth is spoken of in both versions and it is accurate that both imply a certain amount of subjectivity, in my heart and mind I feel a more intimate connection to my fellow human when the words “sacred and undeniable” are used rather than “self-evident.” “Sacred and undeniable” feels considerably less arrogant. It seems to be an idea that transcends the artificial divisions we humans use to complicate our lives and divide our oneness. Is it possible the proliferation of this original idea, being as powerful and life-affirming as it is, could help to change the current course of the river of despair we are currently running?

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/CMathison/truths/truths.html good resource for teaching this democratic principle.
[1] http://www.duke.edu/eng169s2/group1/lex3/self-ev.htm