When Rumsfeld gets up on television and says we have definitive

Hearken, children of discernment, and attend to the words of Noam Chomsky, a voice piercing the veils of power: “When Rumsfeld gets up on television and says we have definitive intelligence that al Qaeda is working with Iraq, how is an ordinary citizen supposed to react? They won't tell you the evidence, and when anyone asks, they say, 'Well, you know: It's secret.'” Pause upon these words, for they reveal a truth as ancient as governance itself: the tension between authority and the governed, and the peril that arises when information is withheld from those who must judge and act.

Chomsky’s reflection begins with the plight of the ordinary citizen, who faces proclamations of authority without access to the proof or reasoning that undergirds them. History is filled with such moments: proclamations made in the name of security, loyalty, or necessity, while the truth remains concealed. To govern wisely is to inform and engage, yet too often, those in power obscure, leaving the people adrift, uncertain, and vulnerable to manipulation.

Consider the annals of the Roman Republic. Senators and generals often spoke of imminent threats from foreign kings or barbarians, yet the evidence was presented selectively or withheld. The populace, trusting in the authority of the orator, could be moved to war or obedience without true understanding. Chomsky’s warning echoes this pattern: secrecy in governance diminishes the capacity of the people to judge wisely, fostering confusion, fear, and the uncritical acceptance of claims.

Even in more recent times, history offers mirrors of this principle. During the lead-up to World War I, governments cited threats and alliances as justification for mobilization, yet ordinary citizens were rarely given access to the full intelligence or rationale. Misunderstanding and partial truths created panic, fervor, and tragedy. Chomsky’s words illuminate the modern incarnation of this age-old dilemma: the ordinary citizen is left in the shadow of secrecy, uncertain how to respond, and forced to trust what may be manipulated information.

The danger lies not in secrecy alone, but in the lack of accountability. When authority claims definitive intelligence without disclosure, it demands faith rather than reasoned judgment. Chomsky’s insight is a reminder that wisdom requires transparency: citizens cannot act responsibly when deprived of the evidence that underpins decisions. To say simply, “It’s secret,” is to abdicate responsibility and to impose submission in place of discernment.

Practical wisdom emerges from this reflection. Cultivate critical thinking and vigilance. Seek multiple sources of information, question authority, and demand evidence before accepting claims, especially those that justify serious action or conflict. As in the past, history demonstrates that the health of a society depends upon an informed populace, capable of interpreting information, weighing evidence, and resisting manipulation.

Moreover, Chomsky’s observation calls for moral courage. When confronted with assertions cloaked in secrecy, the wise must neither panic nor accept blindly. Engage in discourse, demand accountability, and educate others about the importance of transparency. History’s tragedies, from imperial wars to modern conflicts, often arise not from the unknown threat itself, but from the populace’s uncritical obedience in the absence of proof.

Therefore, generations to come, remember Noam Chomsky’s wisdom: ordinary citizens cannot judge wisely without evidence. Guard your mind against manipulation, seek transparency, question proclamations, and demand clarity from those in power. In doing so, you honor the ancient duty of discernment, safeguard reason, and ensure that truth and justice guide the course of human affairs, rather than fear, secrecy, or unexamined authority.

If you wish, I can also craft a more poetic, allegorical version of this reflection, portraying citizens as travelers navigating a dark forest of secrecy, seeking the light of truth, suitable for dramatic or meditative narration. Do you want me to do that?