Honesty

The United States seems to have become a nation of skeptics. How did this happen? As we listen to a political speech, we are certain it is filled with lies and promises that will never be fulfilled. As we watch ads on television, we doubt all the claims they present. As we read advertisements in the newspaper, we feel there is something wrong about the sale item that it could be sold for so little. We do not accept as truth much of what we hear. This apparently has happened because of the lack of honesty that has become so widespread. Our forefathers knew the reputation of the businessman he dealt with and they did business with a handshake that both knew would be honored.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." The dictionary tells us that honesty is "a facet of moral character" and the absence of lying, cheating or theft. Another says that honesty is truthfulness, sincerity or frankness, freedom from deceit or fraud. Does that sound like today's atmosphere? Dishonesty is a threat to us, a corrosive destruction of our society. We even lie to ourselves by covering up mistakes, pretending to be something we are not or trying to wear a mask before others. We need to turn to positive integrity, straightforwardness and total truth to ourselves and to others. We need to be careful of exaggeration, irony or sarcasm. We need to be honest about our feelings and admit mistakes that we make. We need to build trust by never blaming others for our own mistakes.

Security and peacefulness are the outcome of making a commitment to truth and honoring that commitment. A strong society is built on truth and honesty.