There are a few things hopefully each of us learns as a child…
Don’t covet.
Honor your mother and father.
And never stick your tongue on a flag pole in the winter.
As an adult, I see at least one, glaring wise nugget that far too many have missed…
Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Speak the truth.
So it bothers this semi-humble blogger when I see so many supposedly smart people speak and act so counterintuitively to the truth shared above…
It bothers me when Pres. Obama again hits what “feels like” a campaign trail and repeatedly utilizes the phrase, “phony scandals.” The screening of conservative groups by the IRS is not “phony.” The secret seizing of journalists’ phone records, emails, etc. by the Justice Department is not fake. The Intramuralist, for one, is very concerned about the potential abuse of power by these 2 federal branches of government. Hence, fake or phony are inaccurate adjectives at best…
Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.‘ Speak the truth.
Granted, a second example could easily be written about current NYC mayoral candidate, Anthony Weiner, a congressman who resigned from office, acknowledging personal wrongdoing, but then who continued the same wrongdoing long after his resignation and reported repentance… but alas, we digress… he isn’t worth our time…
Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.‘ Speak the truth.
Perhaps, no less this week, the example that causes the greatest cringe comes from baseball’s Ryan Braun. Braun is an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers (sorry, my Wisconsin friends). In fact, the talented Braun — nicknamed “The Hebrew Hammer” as a perennial standout in the sport — was actually voted the league’s 2011 MVP. Last week Braun was suspended without pay for the rest of the season due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs. As Braun stated in his acceptance of the suspension, “I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions.”
While I commend Braun’s willingness to accept the consequences, I cringe at the 2 years prior. In 2011, Ryan Braun came under scrutiny for a then failed drug test. Instead of admitting — or granted, even denying — any wrongdoing, Braun attacked the investigator and his process. As he said through his spokesman:
“There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan’s complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated.”
So in 2013 — after lying in 2011 — only now does Ryan Braun actually “accept the consequences.”
Seemingly smart people only adhering to nuggets of wisdom when they can no longer deny the truth…
Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Speak the truth.
Always.
Respectfully,
AR