Daily Mood Quote - July 27, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 85 – July 27, 2011

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.

 ~Winston Churchill

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

~Buddha

 

Yesterday, at the grocery store, my husband and I were checking out. There was a couple behind us bragging about their awesome vacation and the beautiful scenery they encountered. The wife was ruffling through her purse, pulling out coupons and handing them to her husband for use at the checkout. He mentioned to her that some of the coupons were expired, and in a much lower tone, she said to him, “Use them anyway, they're stupid here, they won't notice, just slide them through.” I turned my head slightly in his direction, to make him aware that I had heard the exchange. He responded to her, “I'll just put these in my pocket.” Whether or not he did, I don't know, I left in disgust.

These were obviously well off people, who could have easily afforded the few groceries they had. It made me wonder how they got their money? If they are willing to stoop that low to save a few pennies, maybe a nickle, then what else are they capable of? Is it that hard to be truthful, to be honest? Maybe I am being a bit cynical about this, but it seems to me that this duplicitous behavior is becoming a dominating factor in our society. From inappropriate and irrelevant interview questions, to lying about expired coupons in a grocery store, we seem as a society, to have developed the “habit” of falsehood. How far are we willing to fall before things change? Or, are we just following the example that has been put before us, on television, movies, politics, friendships and on the job. It is corrosive and destructive to the very fabric of our communities. Do people even know how to be honest, or truthful anymore?

I know my disappointment is evident in today's Daily Mood Quote, but I found that action so petty and repulsive that it just “stuck” with me. It was as if I needed to peel the slime coat, of accidental contact with an infectious disease, off of my spirit. Euwww! In the movie Striking Distance, Lieutenant Vincent Hardy (played by John Mahoney) said to Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) “Loyalty above all else...except honor.” I understand that in a marriage you are supposed to be “loyal” to each other, but when your spouse asks you to do something you know to be wrong, or goes against your moral fiber and you comply, then you are as complicit and guilty in the event as the spouse asking you. Granted this was a minor offense, but it is akin to shoplifting and if someone is willing to do this, then what else are they willing to do when more is at stake? By the way, to touch on an earlier blog, these are things that don't show up on a credit report. I wouldn't be questioning those with low credit scores, but rather those with remarkable ones...what lies did they tell to get it?

Abraham Lincoln said, “resolve to be honest at all events; and if, in your own judgement, you can not be an honest lawyer (insert career or event here), resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation”

Where will your “truth” be today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading