MUSINGS

When I was ten years old, my father told me the truth. He was a spy. And then he asked me to lie for him. At first, I lied out of loyalty to my family. Then I lied for my country. The purpose of most lies is to guard a secret or to manipulate, sometimes both, and the most convincing ones hone close to the truth. There are bald-face lies (I didn’t cheat), white lies (to protect someone’s feelings), or “red, white, and blue” lies told in the name of patriotism (national security). The most harmful are the gray lies, ones we tell ourselves. 

Having witnessed first-hand the destructiveness of lies, both large and small, I have spent my adult life striving to be honest. It’s a daily practice. Speaking truth requires courage, perseverance, patience, and sensitivity. Honesty demands courage to live with the consequences, perseverance to overcome society’s refusal to listen, and patience with our own mind’s defenses erected against the fear of pain. It means developing sensitivity about timing and word choice. It may be daunting, but I believe that in a world plagued by disinformation, racism and inequality, the first step towards healing is unflinching honesty.