In recent days the American people have been shocked by several "scandals". Each of these scandals has one thing in common: They involve someone in the government in a high level position who lied in public, even under oath before congress, about some specific event.
In fact, depending on which news show you prefer, you can find someone who will vehemently claim that the other political party is lying. Democrats have their version of events and Republicans have theirs. Everyone pretty much claims that the other side is lying. The problem is, both sides are right. Both sides are lying to some degree, most of the time.
Our kids are cheating in school, but recent school scandals over test scores showed that the teachers and administrators were cheating even more than the kids. Cheating in some way, and then lying about it have become common place in America. And this is a very dangerous place to be.
Only the truth can set us free. And it's not the truth about someone else that will set us free, it's the truth about ourselves. Have you compromised your integrity this week to lie about something? Are you covering up something that you've done? When we lose sight of the need for truth and integrity, we lose control of our freedom. Governments who are afraid of the absolute truth about themselves and their people, seek to control their people, often by force, threats and coercion.
Prosecutors, charged with the execution of justice in our courts, seem to seek convictions instead of seeking justice by seeking the real truth. Scientists often cover up research data that may tend to indicate that their theories are not correct. People often hide the real truth in order to maintain an image or protect their reputation. But ultimately all lies cannot stand and tend to expose their tellers at the worst possible moment. A lie can destroy a career that took years to build, in mere moments. And this happens all the time.
President's have lied, government officials at all levels and in all branches have lied. The intelligence community lies as a matter of due process, to "protect" the American people. The IRS is so worried about telling the truth, that they decided to "plead the fifth".
When a bridge across a river loses it's integrity, it will collapse under the weight of the vehicles it was built to support. When a government and a people lose their integrity, their society will collapse under the weight of it's dishonesty. There can be no order and progress without truth. A free and prosperous society cannot be built upon lies and deceit.
In fact, depending on which news show you prefer, you can find someone who will vehemently claim that the other political party is lying. Democrats have their version of events and Republicans have theirs. Everyone pretty much claims that the other side is lying. The problem is, both sides are right. Both sides are lying to some degree, most of the time.
Our kids are cheating in school, but recent school scandals over test scores showed that the teachers and administrators were cheating even more than the kids. Cheating in some way, and then lying about it have become common place in America. And this is a very dangerous place to be.
Only the truth can set us free. And it's not the truth about someone else that will set us free, it's the truth about ourselves. Have you compromised your integrity this week to lie about something? Are you covering up something that you've done? When we lose sight of the need for truth and integrity, we lose control of our freedom. Governments who are afraid of the absolute truth about themselves and their people, seek to control their people, often by force, threats and coercion.
Prosecutors, charged with the execution of justice in our courts, seem to seek convictions instead of seeking justice by seeking the real truth. Scientists often cover up research data that may tend to indicate that their theories are not correct. People often hide the real truth in order to maintain an image or protect their reputation. But ultimately all lies cannot stand and tend to expose their tellers at the worst possible moment. A lie can destroy a career that took years to build, in mere moments. And this happens all the time.
President's have lied, government officials at all levels and in all branches have lied. The intelligence community lies as a matter of due process, to "protect" the American people. The IRS is so worried about telling the truth, that they decided to "plead the fifth".
When a bridge across a river loses it's integrity, it will collapse under the weight of the vehicles it was built to support. When a government and a people lose their integrity, their society will collapse under the weight of it's dishonesty. There can be no order and progress without truth. A free and prosperous society cannot be built upon lies and deceit.
