Lies Liars Learn

Lies—they are alive and well, and continue to become more pervasive and destructive in our society. These days, the lies liars learn and freely tell are often without penalty. Fact-check everything you are exposed to in a given day and you will be amazed. We live in a world of lies!

When did you tell your first lie? As a toddler, with chocolate coated lips, I’d swear I did not eat the Hershey bar. My blatantly obvious lies became coaching opportunities for my parents. Good thing for me, and for society, I had two parents who were committed to developing me into a functional contributor. Beyond the value of the truth, they taught me the basics of communication so I could express the truth clearly.

Though my parents did a great job teaching values and the importance of truth, I was still tempted to lie. A lie often seemed to be my fastest escape route from the pain of being challenged for doing something wrong or blowing a responsibility. I was excited to learn there are different grades of lies. I found new options. I rationalized my serious lies were really just undamaging little “White Lies.”

We still call a minor lie, a “White Lie.” Ancient symbolism taught white was good and black was bad. Supposedly, a “White Lie” brought no harm to anyone or anything. A “Black Lie” was intended to inflict pain. But, where is the line drawn between harmless and malicious? Who decides? Someone whose judgement is clouded by bias? Rather than white or black, it should be good lies and bad lies—no possible tie to ethnicity!

Good Lies and Bad Lies

Some lies, “White Lies,” make other people feel better:

• “No! Those pants don’t make you look fat!”
• “Nobody could have done better than you!”
• “That failure had nothing to do with anything you said or did. It was not your fault.”

Even when the person telling the lie may consider it only a “White Lie,” the world may not be so forgiving. Opinions abound. For me, truth is the beacon of light that illuminates the path for me to follow. I’ve strayed well off the path, but long ago. I repent, and pray to be forgiven. Now, I am more attuned to recognize truth than ever before, and the lies we tolerate now disgust me.

Freedom of Speech isn’t supposed to be a license to lie!

The Ten Commandments—Laws for Life

Many religions recognize the Ten Commandments as a directive from above. To violate any of the ten could mean disqualification from heaven! I won’t embarrass those of you who cannot name all ten. Before this writing, I couldn’t either. But, I do want to talk about the Ninth Commandment. Here is how it is written in many religions:

Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

As with much of scripture, meanings are altered by individual interpretations. With the exception of a true “White Lie,” when I read the Ninth Commandment, I choose to believe it means all lies are unacceptable, not just the untrue about another person. I’ve never limited my view of the Ninth Commandment by giving those last three words any significance. Thou shall not bear false witness—period!  

Falsely reporting a bomb threat is illegal, and a violation of the Ninth Commandment. It’s a lie! Neighbor or not, lives are altered and serenity damaged—impacted by false statements!

Back when sandal power was what got a person from one place to another, a neighbor may have meant anyone you might meet. Now it must include all mankind on the planet. With our advanced communication systems and the ability to travel the world, we are all connected like never before. We are all each other’s neighbors. Knowingly saying something untrue about anyone is a breach of the Ninth Commandment!

Politicians are Barred from Heaven

Blatant lies about another person are the worst. You can find examples in all walks of life. But one occupation is clearly at the top of the list of liars—politicians. Many politicians make a profession out of slanderous false statements and accusations that invade our search for truth. A logical path would be barring politicians from heaven! They say, “He’s a “this,” or, “She’s a “that,” an obvious violation of the words, “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor!” Then the media swoops in and takes soundbites, spins and edits them to fit their sides’ agenda, and explodes them over the airwaves, often to the exclusion of more pertinent news—truth be damned—let us live in a world filled with conflict!

People get away with slanderous statements about other people every day. A negative statement about another person could be considered an unchallengeable opinion, and you know what the world says about opinions and a certain body part. What can you do if those lies are about you? Defamation lawsuits are tough to win, especially for public figures. Generally, we do believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That belief gets us in trouble. 

As a boy, when I was caught in a lie, I had three requirements. First, I had to admit I had lied. Second, I had to publicly apologize for any pain my lie may have caused. And finally, I had to correct my original statement for all to hear, retracting the lie and offering only truth. Didn’t take long for me to realize telling the truth was easier than dealing with all the fallout of getting caught in a lie.

Rules have changed. People lie without consequence. When a lie is told, and the perpetrator pays no price, they are incentivized to lie again. The lies liars learn grow increasingly vicious. The more accepting we become as a society, the more we will be destined to keep living in a cesspool of lies. It is time to demand we embrace and live by the Ninth Commandment!