Truth is rare. Our society, families, and relationships are encouraged to predicate interactions upon falseness, if we think the truth will hurt. I reject such insincerity. Whether as a nation or one a one-to-one basis, I believe the truth should be told among those we say we seek peace with--no matter the consequences. I believe in any conflict, if both sides are dedicated to truth, peace can be found. Rarely, however, are both sides of a conflict dedicated to truth. Often each creates a façade as if they want peace, when in actuality they are thinking only of what ultimately they think will give them the advantage they seek.

For those of us who seek to live in truth, how can we determine if we are doing so or if our actions are motivated by less than worthy motives? For even a seeker, can make the mistake of believing they are taking actions based on truth, when emotions unrelated to truth are influencing our behavior and we may not be cognizant of it.

I do not believe that one should withhold the truth because it may hurt someone’s feelings or make them otherwise emotional. On the contrary, the greatest gift we give a friend is honesty. Do not tell them what you know they want to hear; tell them the truth-for it is what they need to hear. It is a great expression of caring for a friend when they learn they can trust you to tell them truth--even if it hurts. Sometimes it is the objectivity of another that can remind us of what we know already know deep inside--but the words of another lovingly expressing that truth can enlighten us, remind us, of it. The truth will always set one free. Be that light for those you know, and endeavor to actively listen when another, whom experience and time has shown you can trust, gives you constructive criticism or analysis. Listen, ponder, and then decide if it is true or not…or perhaps there is an element of awareness in it (perhaps weakened by another’s attempt to interpret for you), yet an element, not necessarily correctly interpreted by your friend, but nonetheless fundamentally an area you need to reexamine has been brought to your attention. Likewise, be that for those you care about. Share, in heart o heart conversations, what you se and perceive--but try not to interpret unless asked.

On a national basis, I despair at the lies I believe my country tells not only we the people, but the lies it puts forth in hopes to deceive the international community. America’s face it hops the world sees is far different from its actual operations.

Political scientist Michael Parenti, author of To Kill A Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia and Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media, expressed it this way, “The enormous gap between what US leaders do in the world and what Americans think their leaders are doing is one of the great propaganda accomplishments of the dominant political mythology.”

One of the clearest examples of this is its constant proclamation that America wishes to bring “democracy” to the world. No matter what military action it takes, no matter who they invade and how many civilians are killed, America will always proclaim it is doing for that country’s own good. In reality, America has a long history of both imperialism and supplying, “…arms, security equipment and training to governments and armed groups that have committed torture, political killings and other human rights abuses in countries around the world,” as Amnesty International eloquently expressed in 1998. If the U.S. truly cared about human rights and freedom, it would not engage in dealings that are politically expedient at the time with those who are dictators--yet this is precisely what it has done for years. Take the Iranian hostage crisis, why did the Iranians have such rage toward Americans? A reading of the torturous murderous rule of the Shah, supported by the U.S., and it is easy to understand why they viewed us their enemy.  This is no isolated example, for it is the policy of the U.S. to give aid to anyone, no matter how tyrannical and dictatorial, no matter what atrocities they commit, if the U.S. deems they’ll gain a political and financial gain from it.

I have come to the conclusion at this point in life, that only a very few value truth. It is rare to read the truth, much less hear anyone speaking truth. People lie to their acquaintances, family, friends, employers…the people of our government lie to us and to the world…the commonality: The desire to create a false picture of who they really are--their motives, goals, weaknesses. Fear that if the truth be known, it will not be well received. But for one who believes in truth, the consequences are of no concern. You realize that to live a life of integrity requires truth. Further, you must require of all those who relate to you. It is a serious mistake for one who endeavors to live in truth, to allow those whose lives are anything but honest, to be in your life. Strength is needed to purge all from your life who do not share to a significant degree of your belief in truth. There is no area for compromise. Permitting liars or manipulators to remain in your life is one of the worst choices you can make in life. Chose again.

Choosing truth as your priority requires courage. It means expressing truth not only in your personal relationships, but being willing to expose the lies of the powerful in our society. Often, all it means is stating the obvious. People need to hear the truth spoken to come back to their right minds amidst the propaganda hurled at them daily. But some, when hearing the truth boldly stated, again remember what they already knew or felt, and they then become another instrument of truth in a society built on the lie.

Personally, I speak and write what I believe to be the truth always. I take every opportunity to share the knowledge of a situation I have learned for the benefit of others; likewise, I endeavor to remain in the truth in my relationships. Sometimes, this has meant purging my life of those whose belief in the lie was fundamental to their existence. Seeing this in them, sometimes being the recipient of their lies, and being aware of their lies to others, made me choose to purge them from my life. I do not let them return. I believe this is the healthiest action to take regardless of the person’s relationship to you…and, yes, it also means purging family members from your life is they have consistently lied and manipulated. You must first love yourself before you can love others. Loving yourself means keeping anyone who lies, deceives and manipulates out of your life--regardless of who they are and regardless of what you think society thinks you should do. For example, many people feel obligated to a parent just because it is their parent. But, sometimes, due to a parent’s egregious wrong doing toward an adult child, an adult child needs to muster the courage to reject such a parent from their life. For your own well-being--mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, you must purge your parent from your life or else reduce the time you allow them to have of your life. A parent can make mistakes, and our respect for them can make allowances for it, but any parent who habitually lies, deceives, manipulates, causes stress and emotional pain in their presence, and seeks to control constantly (whether in outright deeds or through sarcasm, etc.) cannot be tolerated. Such parents use guilt to control their adult children….all the while they take glee when they sense the pain and stress they have caused you. Thus, for me personally, I believe one must allow into their lives only those persons who are trying to base their life on truth…being honest with you…and when they make mistakes are truly sorry. Likewise, I allow no one in my life whose life I can see is based falseness.

Also, in regards to personal relationships, you must always be truthful with yourself. Do not lie to yourself about another’s true feelings just because acknowledgment of who they really are will be painful to accept. Emotion must be kept out of your decision making when truth is your goal. And only relationships based in truth will be healthy, rewarding, joyful in your life.

Politically, it means speaking out against the lies, hypocrisy, and manipulation we see being perpetrated upon us by our government. It also means deciding not to choose “between the lesser of two evils.” No longer can we cast votes and campaign for those we suspect are little better than their opponent. For change to occur, on a personal basis or national, it requires those dedicated to truth to never compromise.

Truth means being willing to admit your mistakes. If you have wronged someone in any way, swallow your pride, and express your remorse. As a nation, it means admitting when we, too, have made a mistake. I am reminded of an on-air conversation I had with a radio show host who became extremely upset at my position that the films of any U.S. torture or misconduct overseas should be released for the world to see. His position was that doing so might increase risks to our military men and women in combat because it may anger those who identify with the victims of such mistreatment making them all the more intent against Americans; my position was that courageously allowing the tapes to be seen through the media internationally along with a public statement of renouncement of such wrong, telling the world the U.S. does not condone such mistreatment would be the best thing we could do. I believe the U.S. should not cover up our mistakes, but rather shine the light of truth on them, for all to see. It shows what we stand for. So why does our country often not do what is right….why does it lie to us and to the world? Because it is afraid of what will happen if the American people and the international community would think if the true agenda was known. Anyone, any country, any leader, and doctrine or dogma, any business, any government entity, that you identify as lying should be rejected.

Truth means living the values you profess.  A truth seeker not only is willing to share their views, but works actively for them.  They are not passive.  They do not accept status quo.  They work to create the change they speak for.

My greatest respect is for those courageous individuals who speak truth, live truth. To me, one who endeavors to live in truth, recognizes, too, that they will make mistakes…sometimes believing one thing to be the truth and later realizing they were believing in a illusion. A truth seeker will then reject their previous stance, openly admit it, and go forward stronger. A truth seeker realizes each of us are human beings, whose thoughts and opinions can be affected by emotions, and thereby a truth seeker tries to base opinions and relationships on the facts they can ascertain. They are ready to admit if they later change their minds n an issue. They must be receptive to the truth, willing to consider opposing viewpoints carefully, before coming to a conclusion.

One of the surest tests, if you will, one can give themselves to see if a held position is based on truth or illusion is this: Ask yourself--Do I ever become angry, irritated, verbally abusive, agitated, or otherwise upset if someone challenges one of my beliefs or opinions? The truth needs no defense. Meaning, one who sincerely is seeking the truth of any matter, will never become angry when their belief system is challenged. Rather, they will calmly respond, calmly listen, and calmly state their feelings and knowledge on the matter. But, if you or someone else, becomes obviously upset emotionally--is unable to remain calm--then that is a sure sign they are responding not from truth from falseness….from their ego. The ego always tries to defend its beliefs. The ego is completely opposed to knowing what the truth of a matter is. Instead, the ego just wants to be “right.” Anytime you see someone who becomes upset when someone has a different viewpoint than them, it means they are not dedicated to the truth but to their ego. Within yourself, see emotional agitation as a warning sign to yourself. Re-examine your response. Correct your response to one of actively listening (or reading) what anther has to share, then after more fully examining an issue, determine what you believe to be the truth. Being a truth seeker means being strong and courageous. True courage is never provoked into emotional upset simple because someone disagrees with them.

In your personal relationships, your spiritual beliefs, your political beliefs, seek truth. Listen and read with an inquisitive mind. Question everything. Be courageous in speaking truth. Expect/require truth of others. Value truth above all.