No truth-telling

From the Sun Journal http://www.sunjournal.com/story/283041-3/LetterstotheEditor/No_truthtelling/

Monday, September 15, 2008

Lying is so rampant nowadays. Once considered a social no-no, the line between truth-telling and lying has become indistinct and is, nationally, running roughshod.

At all levels of communication, lying is all too present - from politics to the legal system to big business to service providers to retailers and to families. Teenagers used to be notorious for this as they attempted to take their own, but parentally criticized, paths, but they have plenty of company today.

Prior to the middle of the last century, telling the truth was expected by others and helped built a foundation upon which people could live their lives with some welcomed predictability.

Then came the 1960s' social revolution which focused on self-promotion. Heretofore, social emphasis was placed on relinquishing one's innate selfish self and, instead, on considering the welfare of others.

The liar has peculiar power because he or she has an almost endless number of falsehoods to draw from to enhance their cause. The truth-teller, though, is confined by the truth and has to endure the accompanying consequences.

Anticipated feelings of guilt used to ward off most of us from lying in the first place. This is true no longer - honest!

I wish I could be more optimistic about what lies ahead (pun intended) but the more we are affected by being lied to, the easier is becomes to retaliate in like manner.

Norm Gellatly, Auburn

Well said and apt given the current political climate! The liar creates their own reality while the seeker of truth listens, responds and is receptive to thoughtful change.