I often forgot the time when I was a child when I was playing or reading. More than once did I run home hours after lunch or dinner had been served. The curfew then was rather simple. The church bells at 12 o’clock noon meant lunch time. Dinner was served in the evening after the workers had left the fields. Not hard to miss, but somehow I managed to miss the obvious signs all the time when I was at home.
Finally, my Grandmother had enough and bought me a watch. I will never forget the moment she gave it to me. It was so beautiful. It had a shiny red faux leather band with a golden watch. It was my pride and joy. I marched around all day long holding my wrist out, hoping people would notice the treasure I got.
Unfortunately, one has to look at the clock to notice the time. My dilemma was apparent, I didn’t look…I didn’t notice.
I was wandering around in my own little world. There was so much to see, so much to explore. How could I be on time?
Playing with the other kids brought me often in trouble, so it was logical to blame them for my tardiness, and it wasn’t really a lie -at least not all of it. I had been playing with the other kids, and when they went home I did the same. But somehow I got sidetracked by the neighbor’s horse, and then by the cat and I ended up in our old barn, and there was just too much to see.
“You will never be in trouble for telling the truth,” my Grandma said, “but there will be consequences if you lie and make up stories.”
Her message was clear, and I understood. Lying was something she could not stand, it was a character trade she didn’t approve of. “Lying is not tolerated in this house,” she said and meant it.
I didn’t stick by my story, told her the truth at the end. It was the right thing to do, the only thing I could do.
Lately, I hear a lot about “faux news” and “alternative facts, ” and I wonder what has happened. For me as an adult it’s easy. I do some quick research, and I can sort it out in no time but what about our youth? What about the kids watching us?
What are we teaching them?
What guidelines will they have? What rules will they go by, especially if the lies and alternative facts come straight from the top?
“It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error.”
― Robert H. Jackson
Oversight
One of my mom’s (who BTW would kick me out of the house when I was a kid, just so I would spend some time outdoors!) favorite sayings is “Lies walk the streets” which means if you tell a lie it will catch up with you and probably bite you in the ass someday. Let’s hope this day of reckoning comes sooner rather than later for Trump and his minions, and that his deplorably ignorant followers who voted for him will rise up and rebel, thus biting him in the ass, before it’s too late for the rest of us!
You have a knack for getting to the heart. What little oversight there may have once been is now under attack.
I worry about this too, Bridget. I think the only thing we can do is call out the lie. Our kids will see that no one is fooled but the fools.
I worry about the youth. What will the kids learn now? That lying is alright if it helps your cause? The next four years will be hell
Lying isn’t going to work when the truth when it starts hitting families squarely in the chest (and pocketbook). 4 Years of hell and 40 years to clean it up. I won’t be around, but I worry for the youth too.
We need to tell the cheeto-man a lie by any other name will surely be compounded~
Great post, including the quote at the end by Robert H. Jackson. I sometimes wonder what will happen to facts and the truth in the next four years.
Excellent post.. We were both brought up with those same values..
Sad isn’t it when you consider how those who rise and deceive. But then I always think that while they may well have risen high to get to the top, when they fall back down, they meet all those they passed on the way up.. Maybe then is when the truth will bite them..
Love and Blessings.. My thoughts are with you All in these early days of changes..