Ever since I can remember, I have been taught that lying is wrong. It will bring nothing but trouble, whether it is a spanking, a detention or a fine with jail time.
However, that lesson seems to have been lost in the generation of adults today because everywhere you look, somebody is telling a story and deceiving themselves and the public.
Most recently, an Ohio native tried to stake claim to the winning $162 million Mega Millions lottery ticket. She knew good and well that she did not go to the store and purchase the ticket. But Elecia Battle felt the need to file a police report saying she had lost the ticket and wanted the money. After hearing of this malarkey, the real winner came forth to collect her prize.
Now, where is Battle? She is preparing to face a possible penalty of 30 days to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Yet another example of lying is the 2001 collapse of the Houston based energy company Enron. Last week, Andrew Fastow, the former chief financial officer, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud for his involvement in the “off the record” transactions.
Because of his actions, Fastow will be forced to forfeit at least $23.8 million of his assets and cooperate with authorities in investigations against other former Enron executives.
This was completely avoidable if he had only used what he learned in his ethics class or at least what his parents should have taught him as a child.
There is absolutely no reward for cheating, lying or “stretching the truth”. Instead of getting entwined in a web that is difficult to unweave, stay on the straight and narrow, and all will be fine.
Unless you want to perpetuate this horrid system, you should live life in a way that you would not be ashamed to look back on, and say proudly to your grandchildren, “Here is what I did growing up.”
Dominique Drake is a sophomore business student from Cleveland, Ohio. Contact her at ddidis1@aol.com.