People have lost the grip of The Truth. They don't know what it is anymore, and in their futile attempt to hold on to it they have become enslaved to it as the ultimate goal. Our moral and judgment system want to transform us into truth saying robots with no emotions or thoughts. Their perfect citizen is a robot caring only about themselves and telling the truth. Let me give you an example.

In Israel a highly respected, decorated, general in the army has been demoted and effectively thrown out of the army for lying. What happened was that he let his 14 year old son drive a military tractor or some other vehicle, and his son hit a car. He immediately payed the guy for the damages, but because it was a military vehicle he reported the case to the military, though changing the person driving to his driver rather than his son.
The judges decided that telling the truth is what the army is based on and is (one of) the most important of the military creeds and he should serve as example and be effectively thrown out of the army for it.

Let us for a moment retreat from the hilarity of saying that telling the truth is one of the most important of the military creeds, there are several things here that I find mind boggling.
First is the complete and utter lack of appreciation. This guy put his life on the line constantly for his fellow soldiers and for the citizens of Israel, and now, well he lied - off with his head. If this was an isolated obscure legal case it would be one thing, but that is how people in the world are and it's tough to watch. There is no appreciation for the past or other deeds that people do. You gave your life to the country, great, but then you stole a dollar - throw him out. Again, this is in all areas of life.
(Though incidentally, when it comes to rape cases and sexual abuse, there the judges seem to remember how helping his family is important, and how already the person's name got stained, so he shouldn't really receive anything more than 20 hours community service. Or, if they really decide to throw the book at the guy, it's a week in jail and pay the girl a $1000. This in what seems like almost all sexual abuse cases).

Second, since when is telling the truth become the foremost moral judgment? People used to laugh at Kant that he supposedly said that if someone comes to kill your brother and asks you if he's home you have to say yes because you shouldn't lie. (Kant was misunderstood, but that's besides the point.) Apparently this is how we measure character nowadays. We are not supposed to have emotions, we are not supposed to protect our loved ones, only to tell the truth. Would you want such a person as a general of the army??? Would you want someone who will sacrifice the lives of people so he wouldn't lie, or would you prefer someone who would lie and cheat for a good cause?

So the guy made a mistake, big fucking deal. You give him a slap on the wrist and forget about it. It's not like his actions harmed anybody. But they do harm people's sense of truth.
And then you read the newspaper journals explaining how he got exactly what he deserves and even he specifically is a good man it is important to set an example, and that what is more important - sense of duty to your fellow man or telling the truth. Seriously people, people actually write that while saying the most important thing (for a military guy!!!) is to tell the truth. Un-Believable.

(To make myself clear, I should add that I'm not advocating constantly lying, or even not always telling the truth. Personally I even find telling the truth a much simpler way of life, though it does have its costs with it. But even if I personally choose that route I wouldn't be quick to judge people who lie.)

In what kind of society do people want to live in, that is the question? Is the truth such an important value?


I think it comes from fear. Fear from losing the grip. Losing the grip of The Truth. We don't know what it is anymore and we will do anything to try to recapture it.