Honesty

To use a hackneyed cliché 'honesty is the best policy', oft quoted in my formative years by parents and family. As a child the truth in that phrase was obvious and just one of the many dictums with which I was brought up. that particular ethic was fine until one day found me in hot water at school, not with authority, but with some classmates because when asked of any knowledge of a particular incident I was honest. Much to my chagrin I was ostracised by a number of them for several days until the episode faded into relative oblivion.

Soon came the realisation that on occasion a half truth or a little white lie was a better option in avoiding potential conflict and given that no harm was caused by them then that was acceptable.

Many of the sports headlines today are about the Arsenal manager Arsene Venger who has publicly admitted lying about team matters. Apparently he has on aoccasion suggested that players have had minor injuries and are unable to play due to those injuries. Some of these statements he now admits were lies because he wanted to 'protect' players, presumably from unwanted media attention and speculation because they needed some personal space for purely private reasons.

This admission in itself is very honest and admirable and must surely be applauded because he is being truthful. The question is now will media opinion in particular turn against him for his honesty in telling the truth about lies?

What a dichotomy - the poor man has been castigated for lying and could now well be treated in the same undeserved manner for being honest and truthful. That is a grossly unfair way in which to treat anyone let alone someone who stands out as a well mannered and reasonable man amongst his peers.