Opinion: Honor Life, Seek Truth in Unsettling Times

A columnist reflects on how music can shape our perceptions of the same events.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:31pm

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The author describes how a psychology class experiment with the same film but different background music completely changed the viewers' perceptions and emotions. She connects this to recent tragic events, emphasizing the need to honor lives lost and seek truth amidst the unsettling news.

Why it matters

This opinion piece explores how our perspectives can be dramatically shaped by external factors like music, and encourages readers to look beyond the surface-level narratives in the news to find truth and meaning, especially during difficult times.

The details

The author recounts an experiment from a psychology class where the same silent film was shown twice, once with upbeat music and once with dramatic, tense music. The class observed how the same visuals took on completely different emotional tones based on the background music. The author then connects this to recent tragic events, calling for readers to honor the lives lost and search for truth amidst the unsettling news coverage.

  • The author took the psychology class many years ago.
  • The author has been captivated by the song "Love Story" by Indila for the past few weeks.

The players

Mary Finifrock Ausland

The president of the High Plains Historical Foundation who wrote this opinion piece.

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What they’re saying

“We saw the exact same story in a completely different light, changed by the magical persuasion of the music.”

— Mary Finifrock Ausland, President, High Plains Historical Foundation (The Eastern New Mexico News)

The takeaway

This piece encourages readers to look beyond surface-level narratives, honor lives lost, and seek truth amidst unsettling times, recognizing how external factors like music can dramatically shape our perceptions and emotions.