I remember bringing home my first bad grade from school…I was in 3rd or 4th grade. Back in the day, that meant taking the work home and getting your parent’s signature. I just could not do it…I just couldn’t. So, I decided I could sign that paper. After about five tries, I realized I couldn’t do it. I remember taking that paper to my mom and her looking at it with a frown. I remember her passing the paper over to my dad who sighed and looked at my mom, and then me. At the end of the day, they explained they could always help me with my schoolwork…but they could not do anything if I deceived them. They told me it was like I was trying to lie to them and my teacher…and that disappointed them far more than the grade. They said they thought they could trust me, and they thought I trusted them. I was so hurt that I’d hurt them…and, after writing 100 times that “The truth matters.” The truth is, I already knew it was wrong to tell a lie and I knew I should not try to sign that paper. But I didn’t want my parents to be mad at me and I really liked being known as the perfect child. So, what I really learned is that sometimes the truth is hard, but it really does matter. I wish I had learned this lesson a little earlier, but I’m really glad I learned it when I did. And, I wish our politicians had learned it too. I think that is what I dislike most about the former President Trump…he has made lying and deception look like it’s acceptable and normal…or justifiable. Of course, we have had other politicians who have lied to us (probably all of them), but he has taken it to an entirely new level…and our children are watching. If you are wondering how this lesson took sucha sharp political turn…At the Table with AR Linder is a political blog.
atthetablewitharlinder.com 