Say This/Not That

Contributed by Liza Watson.

Use a “truth sandwich” to make your point and drain the power from Dirty Don’s false assertions.

Linguist, cognitive scientist and activist George Lakoff advises us to communicate our positions with a “truth sandwich.”  Reclaim power by activating the mental frame aligned with your view, (and the truth.) Don’t start with the falsehood. Starting with the falsehood/lie will solidify it and make it dominant.  Emphasizing the lie activates that frame deep in our minds, invisibly and unconsciously. Step one = truth. Step two = state the lie. Step three = sandwich the lie by continuing with the truth.

Here’s an example of truth sandwich about climate change and national security:  

[truth] According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the reality of climate change and the significant risk it poses to U.S. interests globally…. is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over basic resources such as food and water.

[lie] But, the president says, “I believe in clean air. Immaculate air. But I don’t believe in climate change.”

[truth]  However, the DoD report to Congress states that national security impacts are already occurring, and the scope, scale, and intensity of these impacts are projected to increase over time.

Source:  National security implications of climate-related risks and a changing climate.” Prepared by Department of Defense for Congress, 7-23-15.

1 thought on “Say This/Not That”

  1. Thanks for this. I am in FL and needed to recall how to use a truth sandwich. Now I need to practice practice practice

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