We humans, like all mammals, are helpless at birth, dependent upon parents for survival. Before gaining maturity, we are nurtured both by parents and our extended family or community. Once anointed as adults by some culturally appropriate initiation or graduation tradition, we assume responsibility for the conduct of our lives within the social structures of our time and circumstances. That assumed responsibility must be the result of our free choice. Without that choice, our responsibility can be usurped, and our lives determined by others. Given the freedom to choose, should we not pursue our personal goals and the best interests of our family, community, and government? Given the training and education required, would we not freely choose to serve worthy goals and do what is best for others? Well, the answers to these questions are wrapped in the mystery of human freedom. Our lives may be limited to preset conditions of place and circumstance but are not preordained. Each of us must choose our life’s path within preset or even unusual circumstances. But ours is not Hamlet’s question whether “to be or not to be.” For most of us, the question is not one of life or death, but of how to live, while free and undetermined. Rather than be ruled by others, would we not prefer personal freedom and self-rule—to become the best version of ourselves rather than not to be so?  

But, in our time, self-rule is challenged by the strange perversity of certain world leaders and the governments they attempt to impose or—worse—succeed in imposing upon their fellow citizens. These men (yes, they are always men) lie, cheat, threaten, and punish any who oppose their authority. Of course, as in previous blogs, I am specifically referring here to President Putin and his “mini-me,” former President Trump. Both claimed to be patriots, but love office and power rather than their country or its citizens. They are both inveterate liars, promising to “drain the swamp” of “deep state” infiltrators or command a “limited military action” to rid a neighboring country of “Nazis infiltrators.” Of course, there is no “deep state” or “Nazis.” Likewise, Trump’s designation of “swamp” dwellers fails to acknowledge the role of Inspector Generals who are appointed to assure government institutions adhere to the laws and norms of our democracy. And Putin’s “limited military action” makes Hitler’s claim to “free Czechoslovakia” a minor fib compared with Putin’s genocidal and unprovoked attack on a country a third the size of Russia. Neither Russians nor Americans should be led by such liars who violate the trusts of their people to gain the power of office. Although they feign friendship and support each other, their fellowship is just a matter of convenience. Trump claims Putin’s “limited military action” is “brilliant,” while basking in the wealth of laundered rubles stolen from the Russian people. And Putin, for his part, has shown his preference for Trump not only in praise-worthy words but in an extensive online intervention into America’s 2016 Presidential campaign to sway voters in his favor. Both in words and deeds, these two miscreants know how to polish the façade of each other’s out-sized egos. More to the point, how did these egomaniacs gain the Presidency over their respective countries?  

As stated above, both these men are inveterate liars. As referenced in my previous blog, Putin rose to power by means of a bureaucratic coup and then lied about his justification to remain in office as the great defender of Mother Russia against Chechnya’s alleged atrocities. And Trump lies about everything: his credentials as a great businessman, his wealth, his success as the “greatest President in history,” his endless winning that enables only him to make America great again. All these claims come from a man who has declared multiple bankruptcies, benefited from laundered Russian money, and has been twice impeached, twice indicted for felonies, and held liable for defamation and sexual assault. And Putin also has a despicable past with regards to dealings with foreign mafias during his leadership of the Foreign Affairs Office in St. Petersburg. His thievery of foreign overcharges was mostly clandestine, whereas Trump’s grifting was as public as any snake oil salesman. He sold steaks, wine, apartments, uncredited and bogus degrees from his so-called Trump University. He even solicited charitable contributions to a Trump Foundation that he used “as a personal checkbook,” according to a state court that terminated its license as a charitable institution. Both these men lied about their accomplishments and deceived the citizens of their country to win their support for the highest office in their respective countries. As a result, both Russians and Americans have been ruled by men who gained their trust by lies and deceit. 

What then does it mean to be ruled by veracity or perfidy? The question presumes a choice. Well, most of us would prefer to be ruled by truth which is the definition of veracity (from the Latin, veritas, or “truthfulness”). Who, by contrast, would choose to be ruled by perfidy (from the Latin phrase, per fidem percipere, “to betray” or literally “to deceive by trust”). Trump, for example, won the Presidency without winning the popular vote largely because the Electoral College is distorted in States where Republican controlled legislatures gerrymandered their Districts. With respect to Putin, there is little evidence that the Russian people have ever chosen him as their President. His initial electoral victory was suspect on many levels (reference the 9th paragraph in “Is War in Europe Inevitable?”). Subsequently, no one, to my knowledge, has successfully dared to challenge his reelection victories since. Dictators rarely are transparent with the truth, for they rise to power by means of lies and deceit. They maintain their position by continuing their deceiving and perfidious ways. But the truth still condemns them before all who recognize it.  

Brought before Pontius Pilot, the man who could condemn him to death, Jesus Christ claimed to have come into the world to give testimony to the truth. Then he baited Pilot with the statement, “all who are of the truth hear my voice” (omnis qui est ex veritate, audit vocem meam). To which Pilot responded with the question that rings like a clarion call through the ages, “what is the truth” (Quid est veritas?).  

We humans have struggled with Pilot’s question throughout the centuries of our existence. Often, we rest our search for truth in affirming evidence, in theories, in beliefs, or in hope. Science, for example, can explain when a fetus becomes human, capable of living outside of the womb and developing into an adult person. Religion can inspire us with the belief that a life force or divinity exists that brings all things into existence, including life itself. What can be agreed by all is that from the egg and seed to the zygote and fetus, every human emerges in the image of his/her procreator(s). Our truth, then, can take many shapes, not all of them scientifically proven, but still believed as verified truth itself. I have a dear friend who sees the face of God in an ant and will take great pains to protect the life of that little creature. It is not just the ant that he reveres, but life itself and its creative energy. Our beliefs can also inspire us to realize our hopes for that better future we humans can create for ourselves.  

As an American, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” ¹ While we may have different beliefs and different shades of truth, we still can pledge allegiance to our Republic. In addition, every elected official must take an oath to our Constitution. A pledge of allegiance and an oath of office to our founding principles can bring a country together around core values. However diverse our political policies may be, we can and must unite around those fundamental ideals we hold as truthful and believable. Those ideals can and will inspire us to realize our hopes for that better future we humans can create for ourselves. Otherwise, our democracy cannot survive. 

Both science and religion flourish when scientists and preachers are honest and truthful. We hope and trust that scientists adhere to the scientific method and fully test their theories. Likewise, we hope and trust that preachers/priests live the faith they preach to their congregations. But this pact of trust must exist in politics as well and be confirmed not just by our hope, but by an oath and by its adherence. Every candidate for Federal office takes an oath to support the Constitution. And every citizen should revere the spirit of our Pledge of Allegiance which is also an oath of allegiance to an indivisible republic committed to liberty and justice for all its citizens. When these oaths are violated by dishonest candidates for office and the divisive factions that voted for them, then our democracy will be in peril. For we will have violated the truth of America’s founding principles and put our trust in those who would deceive us for their personal gain. Instead of “the truth shall make you free” we will become a nation ruled by perfidy rather than veracity.   

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¹ The Supreme Court has modified the Pledge of Allegiance or its practice many times since 1892 to accommodate various interests and religions. Some States demand its recital in classrooms daily while others do not. Some provide exceptions for those who find it idolatrous or too dogmatic. But the Pledge of Allegiance still exists as a true representation of Americans’ core beliefs, while still recognizing our diversity.