"If you're not honest, what are you?"

That's a quote that I wrote down from an interview I saw on the news.  It was from a 12 year old girl. Came to mind today as I continue to observe all the to and fro happening now. 

What concerns me most is that we have collectively come together (wittingly or unwittingly) to dilute and devalue the truth.

Because of that, I often have absolutely no idea who is or isn't telling the truth nor would I even begin to try to sort it out.

It is not the first time I have felt that way.

I have felt it in the political spectrum from Nixon through Clinton to now and many times in between.

I have felt it in the professional spectrum from employers through employees and many times in between.

I have felt it in the personal spectrum from my father through my family and many times in between.

I am not sure why but honesty is a hard thing for us to lean into.

I suppose some of that is because we know we will be judged.

Often it is because we think our dishonesty is saving someone elses' feelings. More often it is saving US from dealing with that person's feelings.

And, another biggie for finding it hard to be honest is that we NEED to be RIGHT, especially in
today's culture....even if it means playing with the truth...because 'rightness' matters.

Right?!?

Just wears me out.

I guess that’s why Alexander McCall Smith’s quote resonates with me so profoundly:

"If there ever came a day when the truth was so soundly defeated that it never emerged but sank under the sheer volume of untruth that the world produced, it would be a sad day."

I feel sad.

Really. Really. Sad.

Which leads me back to that young girl's quote:

"If you're not honest, what are you?"