Archive: Opinions

To The PointWhen was the last time someone told you a lie? Was it last week? Perhaps, it was just yesterday at the store. Was it your spouse or a co-worker? I was shocked to discover that on average, people lie to other people once every five minutes. Most of these lies are commonly referred to as "little white lies." We are taught to believe they do little if any harm. So why all the fuss over a few white lies? What harm can they do?

Little white lies do matter because they often lead to other lies. The lies grow bigger and can have dire consequences. Lies are destructive. They break down the levels of trust in individual and societal relationships. Friendships are broken, marriages are ruined, and people can lose their entire life's savings when others lie.

It seems that every where we turn, those we hold in high esteem are lying to us. Baseball players testify before Congress, under oath, and deny they have used steroids or any other banned substance that might enhance their play. They plead their innocence before millions of fans who look up to them, respect them, and in some cases, hope their children will emulate them some day. Then, the truth emerges amidst a sea of excuses, pleas of ignorance, and bold face lies.

Politicians send out memos, emails, and tweets saying they are on an important business meeting or hiking the Appalachian Trail. Suddenly, they are caught exiting from hotels, airports, and other secret hideouts as the press and special investigators follow behind them with lists of questions as to the truth of their whereabouts.

Investors entice clients, many of them titans of society, to join the elite group of investors and cash in on recording breaking profits. Within a few years, these dreams of instant fortunes are crushed as these same dream makers are indicted for fraud, convicted, and sentenced to prison leaving their investors penniless and without much hope of a financially secure future.

The lies we are told by individuals who are deemed trustworthy have a terrible effect on our individual and collective well being. From a young age, we are taught the importance of honesty. Honesty builds trust, and trust is what holds this nation together. History reminds us that George Washington never told a lie. 19th Century America gave us "Honest Abe" in the person of Abraham Lincoln.

As we spin in the whirlwind of lies, we become disoriented. We begin to doubt ourselves and our abilities. We lose trust in our elected officials, sports heroes, and those to whom we entrust our financial security when we discover they have been lying to us. Many of us believe that others are telling us the truth, but when we discover they are not, we feel cheated both figuratively and literally.

As a democratic society with a solid Judeo-Christian moral and ethical base, we have to reset the bar and demand nothing less than honesty from everyone. Each of us are obligated by a Higher Power to examine ourselves and try to lead as honest a life as possible. Being honest does not equate to being perfect, but it does lead to that old adage, honesty is the best policy. The more we can be honest with others and demand that same level of honesty from them, the better we will be as a people and a nation.

In the movie, Witness, the Amish father warns his daughter about associating with others outside their community by quoting the scriptural passage, "Come out from among them and be ye separate." We as a nation need to distance ourselves from those whose lies are destroying the very fabric that holds our society together. And that is to the point.

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