Johnny Cash and 'What Is Truth?'

Tonight I came across a fascinating little hour on Netflix about when Johnny Cash went and played at the Nixon White House in 1970.  Johnny Cash was a man of his time and was likely very conservative in temperament, but he'd been through enough experiences to help him see that there were many people out there who were suffering, and that the 'silent majority' was not nearly as noble as they wanted to think themselves to be.  So while he was there he sang a little song that I am ashamed that I had never heard before called 'What Is Truth?' 

It's not a loud and angry anthem that protesters rallied around like 'Blowin' in the Wind' and so this is why it's mostly forgotten.  But it very carefully challenges those who think themselves righteous to consider why there are genuine protests, and that unless one truly lives the truth, then we shouldn't be surprised when everything goes off the rails. 

I'd still like to consider myself conservative.  I don't think that many of the 'liberal' or progressive answers will fix the problem.  But I do believe that conservatism needs to be challenged.  If, as our current president claims, we need to be 'making America great again', what does that mean?  Does it mean that we simply toss around our power and authority?  Or does it mean that we seek to be good and righteous?  If America is truly to be great, it ought to be able to stand up to pointed criticisms of what it has become...it ought to live up to the promises of its divine origins (if indeed that is what it is) by seeking to be a blessing to all people, not just the few. 

Johnny Cash wasn't the first to ask the question 'what is truth?' of course.  Pontius Pilate asked this question of Jesus when our Lord came to be a witness to the truth.  And as one who lived truth, he lived as a blessing to others, to preach good news to the poor, to live up the downcast.  Can we say that our country's conservative element has any concern to do this?  I don't think so.