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It is simple to believe that to tell a lie, whether purposefully or through omission, is better than to speak a hurtful truth. It seems logical, sensible, even thoughtful to shield a horrible truth from someone you love, to want to keep the hurt at bay. But I ask you, which would hurt worse, the pain of knowing or the betrayal of a lie?
In matters of small importance such as the occasional “does this make me look fat”, this does not always apply, “but when the truth entails tremendous ruin” I believe it worse to be lied to than to be told the truth, however harmful it may be. Sometimes when a truth is hurtful is when it needs to be heard the most.
We have all read the book, seen the movie. The one where, in order to spare a loved one, a “harmless” white lie is told or a truth is left unuttered. We have all seen how this ends. To discover that someone you have loved, someone you trusted could betray you in such a way is a lingering hurt worse than the momentary sting of truth. I find it is harder to get over the betrayal than the pain.
I know this seems unduly harsh. Shouldnt it be easier to forgive knowing it was done out of love? Shouldnt it hurt less? It should, but it doesnt. It would certainly seem fairer that way, but as the saying goes,”life isnt fair.”
Thus far I have spoken only of personal consequences, but what is to be said of a lying government? Lies can be devastatingly hurtful on a personal level, but on a national one they can be detrimental. Trust cannot be built on a foundation of lies. How is a population to trust a government