Jack’s Winning Words 7/11/13
“It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man that makes us believe the oath.”  (Aeschylus)  I wonder if “A” was referring to the kind of oath taken in a court setting?   I have several friends who are attorneys and judges.  They agree that “raising the right hand” is meaningless, unless the person is to be believed.  I’ve always liked the story of Diogenes who went around with a lamp looking for an honest man.    ;-)  Jack

FROM TRIHARDER:  I instruct clients not to say, "to tell you the truth", or "to be honest with you"  because that implies that everything else wasn't the truth; wasn't honest"  I know they're figures of speech, but it sometimes puts some doubt in the mind of the listener. Or it could give the opponent an opportunity to pounce on the statement,"Sir, I assumed you have been honest with me the entire time."====JACK:  Words can be tricky, especially in a courtroom when they can be dissected and taken out of context.  I like the old quote: "Keep your words soft and sweet, because someday you might have to eat them."

 FROM WALMART REV:  "Diogenes going around with a lamp looking for an honest man" -- A good mental picture and meditative thought for the day, for sure!!====JACK:  I suppose the security people at Walmart are the opposite of Diogenes...looking for the dishonest man.  Do you ever talk to the security people?  Do you ever see a shoplifter being nabbed?  Your day must have some exciting moments. ====REV:  Know them personally and watch on occasion as they run by me catching a person as they are exiting Wal-Mart. I'm amazed at times of the shoplifters...they had just waved at me as they headed for the door...I had just smiled and waved back, wishing them a good day?!====JACK: I've never seen a shoplifter caught.  I've seen the security cameras, but never the people operating them.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I once heard it said that integrity is "being one's word". One's word is one's oath. It certainly fits with the creation story! In my world, the whole ceremony in the courts is a testament to how little confidence there is to people being honest or truthful. It is much like the law; it is necessary to have for criminals, not for honest (wo)men.====JACK:  Ah, there's the rub.  Who are the criminals, and who are the honest people?

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Doesn't the taking of an oath relate back many many years, when essentially everyone admitted believing in a God, and the supreme power that God wielded?  During those times lying under oath was considered an act of calling down the wrath of God upon oneself.  Today, in a world of confessed non-believers, what is the sense of requiring an oath, when so many have no belief in God and no expectation of punishment, leaving them at liberty to lie as much as they wish?====JACK:  I venture to say that more people are afraid of being charged with perjury tha are afraid of the wrath of God.  Ooops!  Yesterday, I said that we should accent the positive, and here I am accenting negativity.  (or reality).

 FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  some people still may be deterred by perjury.====JACK:  Some of my attorney friends have mentioned that.  They've also said that prosecutors don't always follow up on that.

 FROM CWR NOW IN MICHIGAN:  I think generally that looking for a completely honest man is a useless search. We are motivated in one way or another by greed  or by self preservation or self defense. Selflessness is not only rare , it's generally egocentrally compromised and that 's the Biblical definition of "Fallen Man".  For instance,  "Yes, I shot him But......".  Amen====JACK:  So you believe that "all are conceived and born in sin."

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  TOO TRUE!  AND IF A MAN OF INTEGRITY IS TO BE BELIEVED, AN OATH IS UNNECESSARY !  BILL'S MOTHER USED TO SAY, "ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH. ONCE YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A LIE, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A LIAR TO THAT PERSON(S)."  SOMETHING TO PONDER! SOMEONE ELSE SAID, "IF YOU ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH, YOU NEVER HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID....====JACK:  There's an exception.  With God, once there has been confession and forgiveness, the sin (the lie...or whatever) is forgotten.  It's as though it never happened.  At least, that's my opinion concerning the grace of God.

 FROM CJL IN OHIO:  I remember that Roger Boraas had a dog named Diogenes.  Was interested in everything====JACK:  It's not surprising that a philosopher would name his dog, Diogenes, instead of Spot.