Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes? Flip Wilson used to say that on his television show in the early 1970s to get a laugh. Today, I see Mr. Wilson’s laugh line as a red flag for Americans.

Why do I use Mr. Wilson’s quote as a warning? The answer is quite simple. Most of what we read in newspapers, see on television, or hear from the mouths of most politicians is “truthiness,” not the truth.

When someone lied in years past, we held them accountable in the court of public opinion. And, we held them accountable regardless of his or her position or stature in the community. Not so much today.

Lacking Candor Is Just Plain Lying

Here is an example of what I mean: The DOJ Inspector General Report released in February 2018 stated that Andrew McCabe, the former Deputy Director of the FBI, had “lacked candor” on multiple occasions regarding specific FBI investigations, his dealings with the press, and his interactions with his boss, James Comey. Official Washington describes Mr. McCabe’s actions as lacking candor.  Here in the real world, Americans would say that Mr. McCabe lied, plain and simple.

In America, there was a time when we did not use euphemisms to soften the blow of bad news. Throughout the 20th Century, most Americans spoke their minds politely and civilly. They were not afraid to call a spade a spade. We used language to communicate, not to confuse or obfuscate.

Call to Action

I urge all my readers to become critical thinkers, readers, and listeners, starting today. And, more importantly, let’s hold our public servants accountable—their character and integrity do count.

Internal Link:  https://whitebeardwisdom.com/what-has-happened-to-the-moral-compass-in-america/

External Link:  https://theasianantiquarian.com/  

*”Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”—Flip Wilson, The Flip Wilson Show