The Tooth Ache From Sugarcoating

   With the dangers of today's world, it is only normal to want to protect those around you. Whether it is by lying or omitting the truth, your intent is to keep the peaceful innocence of the person or people you are trying to shield. Moreover, it is a given that the intention of being truthful is irrelevant when the result is negative. Naturally, there are some small untruths that do not have a lasting impact known as white lies, which can include anything from Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy to telling your mom she looks good in something when she honestly does not.

    These exaggerations are not harmful, although maybe you have upset your mother if she catches you lying to her. Twisting the truth to hide the harsh reality of life does not have a guaranteed neutral outcome. When telling a lie that causes a change in the way someone thinks, there can be some major setbacks. Take the poem, The History Teacher, by Billy Collins for example. A teacher is doing everything he can to hide the truth about history from his young students, making wars and deadly climates sound like simple problems solved with uncomplicated solutions. The teacher's efforts are ultimately harmful, robbing students of a necessary historical background and a well-educated worldview. His students learn nothing from his sugarcoating and will continue their lives without knowing the dangers of the world. Needless to say, the teacher’s intention isn’t one filled with malice, simply a need to protect his students. But what happens when protection only causes more damage? 

    Just like those students, those who are living through a facade begging for white lies will venture into an unknown world, unprepared for what is to come. So, is it really better to be unqualified yet blissfully uninformed than it is to be cautiously enlightened? I think not.