Well no…I don’t beat my wife!
Well, did you want to beat your wife and were you headed in that direction? This kind of “nonsense” picture painting is done by many in media and print. People aren’t guilty of anything but I sure feel they are headed in that direction. It’s kind of like the prospective juror trying to be dismissed from the jury: “He looks guilty to me–I’m sure he’s guilty of something.”
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19.
If you are not religious, and don’t care that the Lord hates these seven things, you still may have concern about these things because of the impact on your life. A court of law expects the truth and not a false witness or testimony. Even truth can be told in ways that are misleading.
Part of American political lore is the Smathers “redneck” speech, which Smathers reportedly delivered to a poorly educated audience. The “speech” was never given; it was a hoax dreamed up by one reporter. Smathers did not say, as was reported in Time Magazine during the campaign:
- Are you aware that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law, he has a brother who is a known homo sapiens, and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper, before his marriage, habitually practiced celibacy.
The Smathers campaign denied his having made the speech, as did the reporters who covered his campaign, but the hoax followed Smathers to his death. Wikipedia.
If you don’t recognize the words in bold look them up.
Often even highly educated people (people that know better) paint the picture they want to paint because they want you to believe something that “facts” do not support. “Joe must be an alcoholic.” Fact: Joe doesn’t drink. “Well, I think if Joe did drink he would be an alcoholic.”
Often people paint pictures of other people or groups that don’t reflect reality (not fact based) and go to great length or argument because of pride and their agenda. Sometimes they are guilty of a majority of the seven sins the Lord hates.
If you want some strong enemies just start painting pictures that are not based on fact. It’s very easy to do so be careful.
