College student Quote by David Horowitz
““Almost as remarkable as the hoax itself, and indicative of the enormous cultural power of its perpetrators, is the fact that the revelation of Rigoberta's mendacity has changed almost nothing. The Nobel committee has already refused to take back her prize, many of the thousands of college courses that make her book a required text for American college students will continue to do so, and the editorial writers of the major press institutions have already defended her falsehoods on the same grounds that supporters of Tawana Brawley's parallel hoax made famous: even if she's lying, she's telling the truth.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Rigoberta Menchú Hoax” by David Horowitz, 2005
He argues that exposing a famous hoax failed to change institutional endorsement of the false narrative.
In simple terms: Exposing a hoax didn’t stop its acceptance in academia and media.
Key Takeaway
Question why false narratives persist despite debunking.
Themes
truth
media
academia
hoax
cultural power
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- education
- journalism
- policy making
Key Concepts
critical thinking
institutional inertia
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do institutions cling to contested narratives?
- How can we improve critical evaluation of sources?
A Different Perspective
The view may oversimplify complex historical and cultural factors.
![“I just wish this social institution [religion] wasn't based on what appears to me to be a monumental hoax built on an accumulation of customs and myths directed toward proving something that isn't true.” quote by Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce5/andy-rooney-1253_atheism_i-just-wish-this-social-institution-reli_313358.jpg)
