Tiburcio Vasquez & the Truth about Liars

What happened in the Wild West on this day more than 137 years ago reminds me of the dangers of lying and believing lies. On August 26, 1873, outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez and six others were robbing a store in Tres Pinos, California. They promised no one in the store would get hurt and the shoppers in the store believed them. But the bad guys lied. Violence erupted and three townsmen were killed and a child was beaten unconscious. Now I think most reasonable people wouldn’t deny that some lies are harmless little isolated episodes of convenient untruth. Gentle inaccuracies like: “Hey, a lime-green paisley tie, great!” Or “This mutton sorbet is delicious!” But on the whole lying is the horns, claws, and teeth we weren’t born with. A great many lies told are not harmless they are cruel and have far reaching consequences. People lose family members and suffer greatly. Once we found out we could hunt animals by trickery, the tool of deception became our sharpest stick and we soon learned to turn it on each other. To this day the ability to lie remains the most well-oiled wrench in our box. Okay, perhaps it’s a bit harsh to call all of us liars. Whatever you prefer. Fast deconstructionists…truth managers…reality stylist…Whatever you want. The truth is that the truth has become more malleable than Stretch Armstrong in a Navajo sweat lodge. The truth used to be the Holy Grail. The truth used to be the brass ring, the mint-condition Solo Spotlight Barbie in the original box, the Babe Ruth rookie card with the original stick of gum still intact. But I think we may officially consider the gum to be chewed and stuck under the theatre seat. The bottom line is this, lying merely for personal gain is morally and ethically wrong. And I feel I can say that will all integrity and conviction to you, the smartest journal readers that I have ever written for in my entire life, I love you all. By the way, Tiburcio Vasquez was captured, tried, convicted for his legitimate crimes, and hung by a rope until he was dead.