For the next 23 weeks or so, the moral virtues will be primarily centered around those found in the anthology series The Adventures of the Book of Virtues, the first pertaining to the field of Honesty.
Not lying: By far, the most important aspect of honesty is not to tell a lie. George Washington famously said “I cannot tell a lie”, and it has gone down in the history books ever since. Even white lies can in the end mislead people to the extent where it can humiliate or embarrass them from a future disaster in the works. When probed at a committee meeting about whom I was interested in romantically, I simply said that I refused to disclose any information instead of lying and saying I simply had none.
Opinionated: Being honest requires revealing one’s true beliefs about certain things and issues, regardless of the controversy that it might bring up. While I do see largely the benefits of honoring our troops on Memorial Day, I can largely remain loud and clear on my opinions of the U.S. military (which are largely negative as a whole). Institutionally, soldiers become brainwashed to the point where they think they are “fighting for our country”, when really they are just antagonizing other countries to the point where breeding grounds for “terrorism” can pop up more effectively. Discussing politics at the dinner table at even a fancy restaurant like Phil’s BBQ is not out of the question, especially if one is defending one’s honest opinions regarding a particular topic (in this case a politician).
Speaking Out: Sometimes it’s best to hold certain comments back depending on the given circumstance of a situation one’s in. While at the YMCA though I’m genuinely honest to my students. If they are failing their classes I try to call them out on it on a way that will encourage them to increase their grades (intertwining positive and negative reinforcements). If they are talking in detention I have no problem adding to their detention time, even if they do end up coming back afterwards yelling “I hope you die and burn in hell”. Regardless, all behavioral problems end getting reported by me to the administration for them to deal with said students. In the end I hope to turn all misbehaved students into good and responsible ones one way or another.
Being that I didn’t really lie all week, and being that I try to be as truthful as I can be in all interactions with all people (minus the obvious sarcasm), I give myself an A for the week.
Next Week: Responsibility
I end up with a poem from Ben Johnson:
Truth is the trial of itself,
And needs no other touch;And purer than the purest gold,
Refine it ne’er so much.
It is the life and light of love,
The sun that ever shineth,
And spirit of that special grace
That faith and love defineth.
It is the warrant of the word,
That yields a scent so sweet,
As gives a power to faith to tread
All falsehood under feet.
