Jack’s Winning Words 4/26/17
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”  (Thomas Jefferson)  Alternative facts is a phrase being heard a lot these days.  When is a fact not a fact?  Einstein’s words are relevant: “If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.”  What has happened to, Honesty is the best policy. The truth shall set you free, Honest to God, Be honest when others are not?  “Alternative” honesty was not known to Jefferson.  He was a believer in the value of basic values.    ;-)  Jack

FROM LS IN MICHIGAN:  I gave this quote thought and did some googling.  I found AN explanation of the Einstein quote you used.  Thank you for your communication each morning.  I enjoy receiving.====JACK:  ...an Einstein theory that you could understand.

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  Why is it that I get concerned when someone starts a sentence with "to be honest with you...". It  begs the question are there other times when they are not honest?====JACK:  Is there a difference between "honestly" and "honest to God?"====RS:  I think honest is honest - if you are honest with man I would hope that would mean honest to God.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  to say nothing of the Commandment,  thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor!   did you see a recent 60 Minuets TV show.  they interviewed a man from Belgium who spends all day making up totally false news stories and sending them out virally all over the world on a platform called Bots.  when asked about ever telling the truth, he said,  "there is NO truth.  truth is whatever you believe it to be".  God help us all!====JACK:  Isn't it strange how some people will believe anything a certain person says (even obvious lies), because they believe in that person?  It can be a president, or even a pastor.  Maybe...truth is the mind of the believer.  ====SP:  to some degree that is very true and that is also what makes it so scary.   Trump got elected, I believe,  because sooo many people saw Obama as being weak (he was not) and Trump being sooo  authoritative and decisive.  however,  a recent survey showed that in the "decisive category",  Trump's ratings are now way down.  he is finding out that campaign bluster and bravado do not carry well into the White House and into the fine art of governing!

FROM RJP IN NAPLES:  Honesty was lost with politics and infidelity thousands of year ago. It is simply more exposed today. Sad that in our desire to know so much innocence is lost.====JACK:  Lying is more basic than politics and infidelity.  That's why one of the commandments is "Thou shalt not bear false witness."

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  If honesty was everyone's policy every day in every way, the world would be so different from what it is now!  We wouldn't need to wait for heaven...we'd be living in heaven now. ====JACK:  “A man's only as good as his word” is attributed to Rodd Thunderheart.  I'm going to research that, because it seems like there's an interesting story behind the quote.

FROM CR IN GR:  Another thing that is out there these days is the idea that this is a "post-fact era".  The power gleaned from controlling or inventing "truth" is frightening.====JACK:  Even in Jesus's day, facts were hard to come by.  Pontius Pilate asked, "What is truth?"

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  What brought this on?====JACK:  Jefferson's quote about honesty...and how it is perceived in today's world.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Alternate facts?  I've never heard the term but the concept sounds ridiculous.  I'll look it up some more!===JACK:  Really?  You've never heard that expression?  If you refuse to accept a "fact" and posit your thinking as a fact, your's is an alternative fact.

FROM ED IN HV:  "Alternative facts" is the political way of saying "lies". It is a phrase we are (unfortunately) hearing a lot these days... for very obvious reasons. Hearing it makes my blood boil. ====JACK:  Let's see...46% of Americans believe that the world was created less than 10,000 years ago.  Does that answer any questions about the last election?