American Honesty

Chapter 6

Honesty

               American Honesty.

               ‘Honesty is the best policy.’

               This contains within it the idea that honesty is good business tactic.  It implies that by being honest you will earn more because you are honest than if you are dishonest.

               This virtue – honesty – is sometimes likened to being its own reward.  It is not a selfish thing, however, to be honest.  Even though it is the simplest form of interaction to take – because you will not need to remember lies or deceitful plans – by being honest you can continue on your way in a clear direct path.

               Some people may take advantage of honest people.  These are dishonest people.  If you are honest and proceed with honesty then the deceptions of dishonest people will be clear to those around you who are also following in an honest path.  You are likely to be alerted to dishonesty by your fellows in this case because they have an interest in seeing that the dishonest do not prosper.

               If, in the event, that sometimes they do, the dishonest person does prosper, then that is the time for American Justice to intervene.

               American Honesty is simple and straightforward.

               We have the story of President George Washington, as a child, chopping down a cherry tree.

               I quote :

               “When George Washington was near eight years old, he was given a hatchet.  He went about chopping everything that came his way.

One day he came across a newly planted cherry tree which his father had just put in. He cut down the cherry tree with a few blows.

Shortly after, his father saw what had happened to his tree. He demanded to know who had cut down his cherry tree.

Little George Washington said, “I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.''

               His father was more pleased with his son having told the truth than concerned with the loss of the cherry tree.”

               Of late there has been ‘intellectual’ disagreements about whether or not George Washington actually chopped down the cherry tree.  For myself, I believe the story.  The fact is, however, that it matters not whether the story actually took place or is a fabrication designed to impart a moral – in this case the moral of American Honesty.  The question is not whether or not this is a factual story but whether or not you would want your children to tell the truth.  The question becomes one of a societal nature.  Would you want your neighbors to tell you the truth or a lie?  The question is a political one.  Would you want your representatives to tell you the truth or a lie?  The question is a national one.  Would you want to live in a nation based on lies or truth?

               American Honesty demands that we live in a nation based on truth.

               It is by your watchful eye and the things you teach and the way you act that will ensure that this is the case.  American Honesty is also an individual act.

               If you are given wrong change at a counter and it is in your favor – have you made a gain?  Is it not right to return the extra given to you in error in the event that in the future you are shorted and you can rightfully demand that the correction be made?

               There is a story told by the famous American Benjamin Franklin concerning honesty during his youth. 

               Benjamin Franklin wrote about taking stones not belonging to him, for work, and how his father responded.

               “There was a salt-marsh that bounded part of the mill-pond, on the edge of which, at high water, we used to stand to fish for minnows. By much trampling, we had made it a mere quagmire. My proposal was to build a wharf there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my comrades a large heap of stones, which were intended for a new house near the marsh, and which would very well suit our purpose. Accordingly, in the evening, when the workmen were gone, I assembled a number of my playfellows, and working with them diligently like so many emmets, sometimes two or three to a stone, we brought them all away and built our little wharf. The next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones, which were found in our wharf. Inquiry was made after the removers; we were discovered and complained of; several of us were corrected by our fathers; and, though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest.”

               The most important part of this story that I can reflect on or bring attention to from the point of view of American honesty is that Benjamin Franklin’s father convinced him that ‘nothing was useful which was not honest’.

               It is true that liar, cheaters, turncoats and traitors may make money and gain wealth through their activities – but have they done anything useful?  Even for themselves?  The answer is clear to me.

               American Honesty will have it no other way than to be honest.   It is a personal thing and it is brings personal satisfaction, ease of business arrangements and makes for a more social and better operating system of government.  It is a relief to do business with an honest person.  Trust is engendered and greater and better things can come of it.

               President Abraham Lincoln had a reputation for honesty.  It is said that when he was working as a clerk at a country story that he mistakenly charged customer a little too much for the purchase.  He closed the store down and walked miles to make the correct change.

               Because of his honesty he was awarded more and more cases and causes during his life to work with – as a lawyer and then as a politician.

               Dishonesty can not only slow society down – it can bring it to a screeching  halt.  Honesty in the home is honesty in public.  There is no shade of difference between the two, I think you might agree.

               Honesty is defined as : truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.

               So we see that American Honesty is closely tied to some other issues we have already discussed.

               American Honesty is a duty which, it is true, is its own reward, but what of it?  Is it surprising that doing the right thing leads to right results?  Not to me and I suppose not to you either as you are here in America and participating as an American however you see fit.

               Thomas Paine, great American author, wrote : “Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”

               In the United States honest is a tool and responsibility.  Each citizen’s honesty determines whether or not the social and business interactions around them will go on in a sensible and reasonable manner or whether they will not.

               American Honesty is a very personal thing.  No one can reasonably check up on the thoughts of another as they are being thought out.  An honest person will consider what information they have an attempt to be objective within reason.

In business it is important to keep an honest accounting.

Honesty is its own reward in that if you are an honest merchant, businessman or craftsman, others will trust you and you can expect to see more custom as a result of it.

In today’s America too often we hear people saying that you can’t trust anyone.  Well – I ask – can you trust yourself?   Are you an honest person?  If so – it would follow you would be able to determine for yourself if someone else is worthy to be trusted.

Sometimes those we trust may turn out to be untrustworthy – in which case – they must be made to set accounts right and suffer whatever consequences come about because of their own actions.  The act of trusting someone who fails to be trustworthy does not warrant distrusting everyone and everything.

American Honesty is not lazy.  It investigates, inquires and assures that the dealings and beliefs being considered and acted up on are worthy.

Mark Twain, celebrated American Author wrote, ““Honesty: The best of all the lost arts”.

American Honesty is an effort to ensure that your word is good and that your actions, as you have predicted they will be, will match your word.

Keeping one’s word has always been an important part of the American Journey and Adventure.

In today’s media and all throughout American history the best way to ruin your reputation is to not be honest.  It is possible it has been shown to prosper dishonestly – but I do not think it is worth it.  The majority of Americans appear to think it is not worth it.  It is better to live an honest life than a dishonest one which may be taken apart at any moment.  Dishonesty is just not worth it.

American Honesty is working hard, making sacrifice, participating in society and striving to do the very best in every situation.

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Statesman, wrote : “If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”

               I cannot think of any better definition of American Honesty.  If it is not right – don’t do it.  If it is not true – don’t say it.

               This is because American Action and Inaction are based on truth.  If you are honest and set in motion a chain of events you can be reasonably assured that good may come of them – and if not – they can be stopped in time before wreaking too much havoc.  Events begun, however, in falsehood and lies are impossible to control and usually harm many more people than the few who believe they may gain advantage.

               John F. Dodge, one of the founders of the Dodge Motor Company, once said, “There is no twilight zone of honesty in business. A thing is right or it's wrong. It's black or it's white.”

               The reason American Honesty is so important in business is the same reason it is important in politics, peace or war.  The decisions and actions of many good people lie in the balance.  Their very lives can depend upon the honesty of the people involved.

               Some people claim that contracts are made to be broken but contracts are written to ensure that certain work is done at certain times.   Anyone making and breaking contracts on a regular basis can expect to be out of business at best and in jail at worst.

               Some people believe publicly that honesty is a sham and something to be laughed at.  Consider though, what would happen in your home if it were filled with dishonest people and you could not count on anyone for their word or action.  What sort of home would that be?  So the same goes for the nation.  Without a proper accounting not only of cash and goods but of actions we cannot be sure of any actions.  The American Journey and Adventure would become nothing more than a howling circus.  Yet it is not that.

               The Unites States of America and the behavior of most Americans, both public and private, is sterling and to be admired and imitated.

               If dishonesty were the patent way of doing business and living lives – how would the children be taught?  What sorts of trickery and knavery could they be schooled in that would last?  What tricks would be taught to counter tricks?  That way is confusion and error.

‘So shines a good deed in a weary world.’

That is a quote from the popular movie ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’.   A children’s story with overtones for adults.

               The honest action of one person – done without thought because the thing is right to do is something that is prized in children and honored in adults.

               It is a state of affairs with which we cannot do without.  There are oaths taken to assure that it is understood by all involved that shades of meaning and hiding facts and truths will not be acceptable in courts of law, when signing up for service to our country and for many other offices and positions.

               These ceremonies are put in place to make it absolutely evident that there is a necessity for honesty.

               The person elected to the Office of President of the United States must make the following statement before officially taking up the duties of that office:

               “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

               The reason this is done and done publicly is to ensure that everyone understands, especially the person being so sworn in, that they are assuming a position of trust.  We the people shall check on them but we should not have to look in on them every hour of every day because they are being entrusted with this special office and we expect them to carry out their duties with American Honesty.

               All Civil Servants and Military Personnel must swear or affirm a similar oath :

               “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

               We must assume and then subject to periodic tests that American Honesty has been achieved in this case.  American Honesty is necessary because we have so much to do as individuals and as a nation that we cannot be expected to check up on everyone all the time.

               Suffice it to say, as we have seen, honesty is its own reward in that others will know whether you are honest or not by your reputation.  If your reputation is that of dishonesty then that too will become known. 

               American Honesty is doing the right thing even in the face of danger.

               American Honesty is doing the right thing even though doing the wrong thing might bring fame, fortune and seeming success – because those things will be fleeting and worthless if not made of the real thing.

               American Honesty is dealing fairly in business.

               American Honesty is sometimes not easy to express.   Sometimes it takes courage.

               American Honesty is doing the right thing even if it is hard to do.

               American Honesty is doing the right thing even if it is not popular.

               American Honesty is doing the right thing even if others feel it really does not matter.

               Around the world and in the United States Scientists are normally trained to achieve great accuracy in their thinking and actions. It is tantamount that in the circles of science that intellectual honesty is held high and important.

               This is the sort of arena that American Honesty takes on its true shape and importance.  Truth in science, engineering, mathematics, language, machinery, productions, agriculture – these are the activities and realm within which American Honesty is trained to excel.

The importance of honesty in all these disciplines mentioned, as well as others, like medicine, education, astronomy, geology – is obvious to many if not all.

Too many lives are at stake in modern America.  Yours, mine – all of ours.  It is a dangerous world and the truth can make it safer.

The greatest minds in science, from Marie Curie to the Wright Brothers to Albert Einstein have been acutely aware of the importance and necessity of truth.  It is obvious to them and to us that this truth can only be communicated with a sense of honesty.  Honesty for it to be expressed and honesty for it to be understood and accepted.

               Being that these are professions and skills that many of our children will enter into and their own actions and words will produce similar if not greater impact on the societies in which they live – on the lives of their fellow Americans and others it is all important that we ourselves conduct our affairs with American Honesty at their core.

               It might be as simple as returning the correct change at a supermarket or it might be as complicated as detecting an error in a formula designed for a new type of aircraft or fuel that might hurt many people if it is not corrected.

               This is a very serious issue.  It is important that it be paid proper attention and to understand the way to do that our next topic will be Honor – American Honor.