tter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do youSuperman always stood for, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” As a child growing up, because he put ‘truth’ first, I always assumed it must be something darned important. As the years went on, I learned about truth from my parents, friends and teachers, But what exactly is the truth and why does it matter so much?

We hear about it all the time. It’s part of our culture. We rely on it like the air we breathe or the gravity that holds everything together. Without it, life would be in chaos. Imagine, if you will, a place where everyone lied about everything. How could you function? Assuming your trusty alarm clock told you it was time to get up, you would start your day.

You grab the newspaper and read about the national and local news. But nothing is as it seems. All the stories are simply made up, so how important can they be? You check the fictitious weather report stating sunny skies, as the downpour and lightening outside your door is relentless. You head for your job as a banker. The daily figures are hopefully accurate as you sift through your desk’s inbox. You have no idea whether the deposits have been totaled properly. The personal information for a few new mortgage applicants may be totally untrustworthy, yet you are supposed to make a value judgment on their requests.

At lunch, you ask the server about the prime rib platter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do you

all the time. It’s part of our culture. We rely on it like the air we breathe or the gravity that holds everything together. Without it, life would be in chaos. Imagine, if you will, a place where everyone lied about everything. How could you function? Assuming your trusty alarm clock told you it was time to get up, you would start your day.

You grab the newspaper and read about the national and local news. But nothing is as it seems. All the stories are simply made up, so how important can they be? You check the fictitious weather report stating sunny skies, as the downpour and lightening outside your door is relentless. You head for your job as a banker. The daily figures are hopefully accurate as you sift through your desk’s inbox. You have no idea whether the deposits have been totaled properly. The personal information for a few new mortgage applicants may be totally untrustworthy, yet you are supposed to make a value judgment on their requests.

At lunch, you ask the server about the prime rib platter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do you

.

You grab the newspaper and read about the national and local news. But nothing is as it seems. All the stories are simply made up, so how important can they be? You check the fictitious weather report stating sunny skies, as the downpour and lightening outside your door is relentless. You head for your job as a banker. The daily figures are hopefully accurate as you sift through your desk’s inbox. You have no idea whether the deposits have been totaled properly. The personal information for a few new mortgage applicants may be totally untrustworthy, yet you are supposed to make a value judgment on their requests.

At lunch, you ask the server about the prime rib platter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do you

es are hopefully accurate as you sift through your desk’s inbox. You have no idea whether the deposits have been totaled properly. The personal information for a few new mortgage applicants may be totally untrustworthy, yet you are supposed to make a value judgment on their requests.

At lunch, you ask the server about the prime rib platter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do you

tter. He says it’s great, but can you really trust him? When you get the check, are all the figures accurate? Did someone fudge the sales tax? Back at the office, you check your e-mail and try to decide which ones are legitimate. Some are asking for clarification of personal data, or else they will be forced to close your account. How do you know if they’re fabrications?

On the way home, you stop to get gas and the attendant says you have something dripping under the engine. You let him look under the hood and he says you have a fuel pump leak. Can you believe him or risk a major breakdown? You chose to drive home anyway and stop to get a prescription for your allergies. The pharmacist says he had to use a generic drug substitute that he claims is just as effective. Do you doubt him? Without it, you may have an asthmatic attack. It’s important to know, for your own health.

Back at home, your wife tells you she will be home late from her real estate job and you should fend for yourself for dinner. You notice she’s spending a lot of late nights, but can you trust her? Her boss is good looking and single. Is that a problem? She tells you not to worry and that she loves you, but is that a fact?

We put a great deal of faith in a truthful world. We have to or we would go insane. Yet, every day, we read about politicians taking bribes, sports figures doing drugs, the government covering up misappropriations and the usual lying, cheating, stealing people that are newsworthy. Formerly honest newscasters admit to creating news events or corporate giants are indicted for faking earnings statements. So what are we to believe?

We must be vigilant. It means, do your homework. Be