Rules to live by.
Yesterday, I was incensed when I saw a picture of a NFL team burning the American flag in their locker room. I guess you could say it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Instead of doing my due diligence, like I usually do, I let emotions take control of the situation. While everything I wrote in my blog was true, the picture was doctored, and as soon as I found that out I removed it. That puts me in the same category as most of the television new casters. They all report the same story, and even if it is not correct, a retraction is never seen. I am relieved to know the NFL team in question didn’t go as far as burning the flag, but the rest of their behavior, (like remaining in the locker room during the Anthem) I take umbrage with.
It has never been my policy to cast aspersions on anyone that isn’t public knowledge, and I amended my post immediately. I wish the congress, senate, and broadcasters would be as honorable. This constant squabbling, finger-pointing, and mudslinging has not served the American population well. We take our ques from Hollywood, and the people there took 30 years to call out a pervert. It is easy to point fingers, let our tongues wag and add fuel to the fire, but I would really like to raise above all that.
There used to be a commercial on television for Faberge Organic Shampoo. Heather Locklear would toss her beautiful hair and tell us to tell two people about this product, and they would tell two people, etc… With the explosion of mass media, it is easier to tell twenty, who will in turn tell twenty etc.… It reminds me of when I was a kid, and we had a party line. Heaven help you if, in our family, you were ever caught eaves-dropping on someone else’s private call. We could all use a little self-reflection when it comes to repeating rumors and juicy gossip. If what you say doesn’t help improve a situation, don’t be hosted on your own petard of importance because you can be a talebearer.
A man’s word use to have a lot of weight in this country. “A man’s word is his bond,” was a phrase people trusted and respected. Today, the only way to bond anything is with super glue, or a bail bonds man. Let us all be like cream and rise to the top when it comes to trustworthiness, and honor. Self-reflection is good for the soul, and a person’s reputation!
As parents we need to teach our children not to spread gossip. If a bad story goes around school about someone, they should pray for that person, not make it worse by spreading it more! Teach them by example, by not bringing gossip and criticisms home from the work place, where little ears will be listening.
We as authors are part of this problem. The author of that picture, and article I later found on the internet, was inflammatory towards the NFL team because they remained in their locker room as a protest. But it was my fault for not vetting the article. Let’s be part of the solution, not the perpetrator of more injustices!
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 18:8
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Exodus 23:1
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Proverbs 26:20
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psalms 34:13