Tuesday, October 17, 2006

To tell the truth or not

The folks who know the truth aren't talking.
The ones who don't have a clue, you can't shut them up.
- Tom Waits

Why is that? Some say that people who don't know much need to talk to fill time so that others don't discover how little they know. Maybe not.

Some people who know the truth remain quiet because they know if they speak up they will be subject to criticism or attack from those who want untruths to be accepted.

People with the greatest knowledge about the meaning of life and how to live a full and rewarding life tell few others because they will be the objects of ridicule or harrassment from organized religions.

Knowing the truth, in some circumstances, can be a liability. When the choice is between whistle-blowing or keeping the truth about misappropriations of company funds, for example, the resulting anxiety may be from real or potential threats, or from twangs of conscience for keeping quiet about something that is clearly illegal.

Knowing the truth brings with it greater responsibility than remaining ignorant of it. And yet, ignorance brings no rewards except those that result from self-deception.

Negotiating the road of life can be hard work. The easiest way to do it is with a clear conscience, no matter what the consequences. The alternatives cause too much internal stress.

Bill Allin
'Turning It Around: Causes and Cures for Today's Epidemic Social Problems,' striving to make the whole truth more palatable.
Learn more at http://billallin.com

No comments: