“Honesty” presents an interesting issue/question/subject.
In one sense, of course, the Christian duty to love one’s neighbor as oneself and to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength mandates honesty. The Bible clearly states that lies are abhorrent to God and that He does notdeal lightly with liars and cheats.
On the other hand “honesty” is, on occasion, only perception-deep.
How many times can you recall being “perfectly honest” with someone, only to discover that once you stopped to investigate the situation, you didn’t understand at all and your “honest” response suddenly appeared at best inappropriate and at worst the type of memory that makes one wish to replace Punxatawney Phil in the public sphere (meaning you’d like to spend 364 days a year down a hole somewhere, and have the option of retreating back into said hole immediately upon seeing your shadow on day 365).
It is in the nature of blogs and bloggers to speak out quickly. As a rule, this is a good thing. Fast access to information and fast responses (what Hugh Hewitt refers to as “blog swarms”) focus attention and commentary on important issues before the topics can leave the public square.
But the blog swarm and the speed at which blogs and public opinionmove also harbors hidden peril – namely, the lurking shoal of misguided “honesty” – which bloggers (and non-bloggers alike) should endeavor to avoid at all costs.
Misguided “honesty” breeds rumor by making allegations which may or may not turn out true once the full facts are revealed. Sometimes “full facts” are never revealed (for legal or other reasons) and honest people may be impugned and injured by bloggers – or others- whose overzealous, misguided attempts to “reveal the truth” and speak “honestly” on an issue actually accomplishes neither goal.
Misguided “honesty” often causes otherwise well-meaning bloggers (and others) to spread rumors as fact and to condemn as inappropriate actions which actually further God’s commandments.
The line between libel and honesty is thin, and all too often ignored by bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Honesty is protected; libel, however, is not. And whether or not that libel results in a lawsuit, the misguided attempts at “honesty” which injure another are no less reprehensible for having dodged the legal bullet.
Which is why I’m going to try to eliminate “honesty” and focus on “accuracy.”
The difference is critical. Honesty tends to focuse on subjective truth and what I feel or believe. Accuracy focuses on objective truth and what I can prove, through observation or otherwise. If my statements are accurate, they will also be honest in the Biblical sense that they areunlikelyto contain lies or half-truths – at least to the extent I impose upon myself a duty to learn the facts before I make allegations and that I refrain from making allegations where I cannot learn enough about the facts to render a reasonable judgment. I hope others will consider and do the same.
Yes, something put this bee in the bottle. No, I won’t tell you more about it because doing so – though an “honest” attempt to educate the(ir)responsible parties- would benefit no one.
Instead, I will let the post stand on its own, in an attempt to imitate Abraham Lincoln’s efforts to “pluck a thistle and plant a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.”
Seed planted. May God give the increase.
Trackposted to Wake Up America, third world county, Dumb Ox Daily News, Conservative Cat, and Conservative Thoughts, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
