Just a Thought On An Endangered Virtue

I don't believe that honesty is such a virtue.  But it is clear that being honest with ones self is. Not only the desire to be thought of well,  the goal of being truthful even when it may make us vulnerable, or sad, or viewed as weak.  More importantly to perform the required tasks that are required.  This is the root of our endangerment.

We've worked so hard at building walls, telling ourselves that we are better than the way the world views us.  Here we turn to tearing other people down so we "appear" to be above it all when in fact the anecdotal story teller is mired in self doubt.  Due to lack of accomplishment, lack of self confidence, acceptance, etc.  Unfortunately at this stage the walls become thicker and taller.

Did you know that apes with limited sign language skills have been known (read, studied) to behave poorly and blame that behavior on other apes that aren't familiar with the language? THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.  This is a learned behavior.  A behavior that takes years of practice.  A behavior that has no concern for the result of that action.  This self protection, self-righteousness, and usually the condemnation of anything or anyone for that matter that can possibly see through the lie are destroyed.  It is so deathly important to protect the armor, (self-image) that men have killed themselves over the truth once their lies have made it to the light.

What?  That's right!  Men kill themselves over the truth!?  And prior to their own death.  Down the long corridors of their lives you can see the dead.  Their casualties.  The people in the way, their credibility, their beliefs.  All of these things are among the wreckage of the soon departed.

People lie and manipulate others not out of malice, but to change the world they live in.

"That dinner was great!"  "Thank you."  That's a lie to protect the cooks feelings.

My sister in-law died recently.  I know how I feel.  Sad.  Very very sad.  It's a weight that I can't shake.  I will carry this weight for the rest of my life.  I understand that in time the pain subsides.  I truly believe it will.  But for now, I hurt.

If I feel like this for a long time and the only way to get through my life was to be dishonest about the people and things around me; Sigh!!!...I guess, if it made me not feel so rotten, maybe I'd do the same.

Just a thought.