The statement suggests that many significant secrets or pieces of information known by individuals are often mundane or unimportant enough that they do not merit publication or widespread dissemination. It implies a critical perspective on what constitutes newsworthy or revealing information.
This quote delves deeper into the nature of secrecy and the value we assign to confidential knowledge. Seymour Hersh is cautioning against the overestimation of secrets' importance in society, suggesting that often what people consider secret might not have any substantial impact once revealed. This could be interpreted as a critique on the media's tendency to sensationalize information or the public's fascination with secrecy. The statement also invites reflection on how we define and prioritize revealing information—what truly matters is often overshadowed by more trivial secrets that capture our attention because of their novelty rather than their significance.
Seymour Hersh, an American investigative journalist renowned for his work in uncovering significant political scandals, provides this insight into the nature of secrecy. His career spans several decades during which he has become famous for unearthing critical information about government activities and military operations. Notably, Hersh's reporting on the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War and his more recent investigations into the Iraq War have had profound impacts on public understanding and discourse around U.S. foreign policy and military actions.
