No such thing as a little murder in life or politics

Pinocchio, the character known for telling lies

Lies are harmful, on personal and community levels. Multiplied many times over they can create wars, economic dysfunction and major crises. These days folks can lie, cheat, steal, and do almost anything and get away with it, in politics, in government and in personal life. The response "mistakes were made" takes the place of "fessing up." But my Mom would say about any of these things, "There's no such thing as a little murder."

I heard that statement many times as a kid when I used a variety of made-up stories to lie to her about why I came home late after school. Mom would catch the lie, and I'd be reminded again about murder. When I asked her what she meant, I was told just to think about it for awhile, along with what I'd done. The law referencing the Ten Commandments were talked about in Sunday School, and that was reinforced by her words, although it was underlined to a child who fibbed, as many children do.  It was a violation of the 9th commandment. It was also part of the lessons we learned in kindergarten, not to lie when we took a toy from another child.   Yet the idea that lies can be as hurtful as murder made me realize the seriousness of lies.  So I think that advice I learned years ago is good for how we relate to one another as individuals or in groups.  There are ways we can reduce lies so that we improve our relationships and our government.

Mom's message rings even for me as I age.  Often it is in those senior moments we remember what really matters. As a child, I didn't understand her analogy of lying and murder, but as I grew older it began to make sense because I saw how harmful lying can be. It allowed me to look at what I was doing and try to change my patterns. In fact that valuable guidance many of us learned as children could help us get back to where we need to be with each other, where truth and honesty and doing good for others is held as a high standard for everyone and where doing anything against that standard is just like murder and just plain wrong.

In small towns and groups the murder seems to be gossip. In fact if one were simply to listen to that, and nothing else, there wouldn't be anyone to enjoy or admire anywhere because everyone would be suspect. The consequences of gossip, especially the spreading of falsehoods, on a grand scale are demoralization of some citizens, reduced voting and participation, and general apathy. Economic progress is impaired along with social programs and other venues designed to help others, since anyone oriented towards help is then accused of having a devious agenda of some sort by someone. In the recent economic crisis people had difficulty believing our national leaders because we have learned to be distrustful of them because of the pattern of lies.

On a national scale the problems are magnified by falsehoods. We have war, religious strife, cultural clashes, and the denigration of Constitutional safeguards because our leaders commit the murders of gossip and lies and disguise these as patriotic platitudes, excusing them, when uncovered, as "mistakes were made." Our Executives, the President, both Democrat and Republican, have not exemplified truth in public dealings from Clinton's Oval Office rendezvous to Bush's tolerance for, and maybe instigation of, interdepartmental machinations that cost people reputations and livelihoods.
And the uncovering of issues such as government spying and torture remind us of the risks involved in lying.

 When the "parent" example is set low, the "children" of the nation follow suit; and the frequency of "mistakes were made" used to excuse rather than taking responsibility becomes the order of the day.
Research tells us that lies are accepted as truth if repeated enough. In fact, even when they are retracted later, most people will continue to believe the lie, even when the truth is known. An example of this is the issue about weapons of mass destruction associated with Iraq and used as motive for the present war with that country. People know that misleading people can be done by lying and the revelation of truth has little impact on the continuing belief in the lie.

The politics of personal destruction where one candidate makes false claims about an opponent's character is a concept that is based upon known research about falsehoods and the effects on beliefs. By the time the truth is known, many people already believe the lie and will act in accordance with it. This can have a significant effect on the outcome of votes in any given election. It can bring a demagogue to power with terrible consequences. Power pushers know this and use it to manipulate large numbers of people to sway elections and obtain control. That is serious to democracy. It can kill freedom. The effect of lying can be devastating not only for a nation but for an individual as well.
On an individual level lying can be harmful. Defense against it becomes increasingly difficult the longer the lie remains. This creates personal stress that can lead to serious depression, and even suicide. The young child who is lied about and ridiculed at school becomes the desperate, confused adolescent who later takes a gun and kills his classmates, then himself.

So my Mother's comparison of lying and murder is likely a good one when we think of the risks that lies can bring to all of us. Lies can seriously hurt or destroy others, so we must be careful what we say. When we make a mistake, as does everyone, we must take admit it rather than lie because, as my Mother said, there's no such thing as a little murder. I suggest we recognize our errors for what they are, own up to them, and take responsibility for our actions so our children learn to do the same. And that we ask our leaders to do likewise.

To change our behaviors and attitudes requires a change of heart that we can't do by ourselves. Inner guidance comes from within. With love in front to lead us, truth can prevail and destroy fear that provokes lies. The advice about lying that came from our Mothers and the sages of old is valuable eternally and must be our direction in order to solve our problems on every level.