The value is Honesty. We all think we know what Honesty is. We probably all think of ourselves as Honest. Are we really Honest? A dictionary defines Honesty as “the quality, condition or characteristic of being fair, just, truthful and morally upright”.
How does our society measure up? Do you know anyone who fits let alone embodies this definition? Is the definition wrong, too harsh, too right, too unforgiving? Being a “nomad” (i.e. a full-time RVer traveling our country), I have observed people I deal within a number of ways being dishonest. Some examples are, cheating on their income taxes, bragging about dis-Honest things they have done, taking things that do not belong to them (stealing), copying music or literature without payment, taking statements or facts out of context, deliberately misleading someone and constantly lying about almost anything. Our friendly government and our leaders are some of the worst offenders who lie to us blatantly all the time. I am not talking about “white lies” where an untruth is made to allow someone else to save face (e.g. saying the baby or dress is beautiful even though you think it ugly).
Is it dis-Honest to drive over the speed limit? Is it dis-Honest not paying for something obtained under the “honor system”? Is it dis-Honest to tell the airline your child is only 12 to avoid paying an adult fare? Are we dis-Honest with ourselves if we deny our worth, our accomplishments, our generosity with negative self-talk like “I can’t do that”, and “I will fail”? I say YES! I’m not absolving myself of blame here as I have done all of the above at one time or another.
Dishonesty has reached epidemic proportions in this country. Our people and businesses have become so dishonest we can no longer take the simplest statement as true or a fact. Newspaper stories are so inaccurate or missing in pertinent facts I assume this dis-Honesty is deliberate – and TV too. We are way down the slippery slope toward societal disintegration. How can our society function if we don’t believe what we hear?
I realized my dangerous place on this slope and decided to personally reverse this deadly trend. What about you? Take the pledge to, just for one day, not tell any untruths even in the “white lie” area and not be dis-Honest in any way. If you can actually do this, you are way up the slippery slope and climbing.
So, first, be honest with yourself and then be honest with everyone about everything!