An assistant to the famous film producer Samuel Goldwyn remembered some monumental arguments that Goldwyn would have with his top director, William Wyler. The confrontations were so noisy that the assistant asked to have his office (next door to Goldwyn’s) moved to another floor. Nonsense,” said Goldwyn, denying the request. “Quiet story conferences make quiet pictures.”

But, eventually, even Goldwyn realized that he had to arrange a truce with Wyler. He said, “Look, Willie, from now on when we meet, we each put a $100 bill on my desk, and the first one to shout loses his money.” Under this arrangement the assistant was able to keep his office, but he reported that when Goldwyn and Wyler got together he could still hear the most appalling insults being traded next door — in whispers.

St. Paul wrote, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.”

People argue for any number of reasons, but nowadays it is usually self-serving. The word argue means, in its root sense, to make clear; that is, to seek the truth. It is most difficult, if not impossible, to arrive at the truth when you are angry. It is far easier to stubbornly hang on to anger rather than admit the truth. It is a truism to say that the truth will set you free. The thing about a truism is that it is true.

Among those who report the news and those in government positions, there are some “spin-doctors” who put a spin on the news to manipulate its meaning. Or is it to manipulate the meaning to spin the news?

Political debates, on or off college campuses, are practically meaningless. Does anyone tell the truth, so help them God?

A few years ago a comedian coined a new word, “truthiness.” He opined that “truthiness” claims to know (truth) intuitively (from the “gut”), without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts. “Truthiness” is not truth but it fits into the world view which defines the spirit of the age in which we live. It is not concerned with the facts. He said, “I am not concerned with the facts. You see, facts can change, but my opinion will never change, no matter what the facts are.

“I don’t trust books. They’re all facts and no heart. Anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news at you. What matters most now is whether a story can be sold as the truth, even if it is not the truth. We live in an age of truthiness.”

Society seems to be spinning out of control. People cut corners, they cheat, they misrepresent reality with “reality shows.” They take what is not theirs. Irrespective of objectivity, they “Burger-King” morality; in Eden-like originality they accept no culpability. There is no such thing as a white lie.
Anytime you wander away from, or vary, the truth or integrity or honesty or righteousness or holiness, or however you want to refer to God’s moral law, you are increasingly straying from the truth.

The future of our society depends on having people of character, honest people, decent people who can be counted on doing the right thing.

“Remain in me as I remain in you.”