The World of Grandpa Don

SLANDER  

Last week a friend forwarded an email to me as well as another dozen or so of his friends. It was labeled as a series of quotations attributed to a well known person, ... a celebrity. The series of statements were, to say the least, politically incorrect. They were statements that could be expected from an intolerant right-wing redneck.

It was almost believable because the person is known to be outspoken and prone to speaking his mind on whatever subject strikes his fancy. However, I had read a book authored by him and these statements did not seem to agree with my concept of his character. I deleted the email.

The following day, I received an email, apparently from one of the recipients of the first. It was a "Reply to All" to the previous one and said:

"Another lie posted on the WWW............"

It also included the URL of a web site which showed the authorship of the statements to be false and went on to state that these same statements had been attributed to several other celebrities and circulated (by what I call chain mail) for several years.

I can only guess why someone would start such a chain letter. It could be that the person, for reasons of his own,  wants to hurt the reputation of the one identified as the author. Or, it could be that the originator himself is an intolerant right-wing redneck himself and knowing the person is respected, wished the give these statements credibility.

In any event, this is SLANDER!

When we accuse someone of doing or saying things which demean his character we are guilty of slander. This applies, of course, to the one who started the lie in the first place. Likewise, when we repeat the lie, we are guilty of slander. When we repeat the lie by forwarding it to 10 of our friends, we have committed slander 10 times, ... and probably 100 times if they each send to 10 of their friends, and maybe 1000 times if ... well you get the idea.

But, you say, in some cases, it is not a lie. After all, my friend told me! There may be cases when the email does convey a truth. When we accuse someone of doing or saying things which demean his character we are guilty of slander. It does not need to be a lie! Morally, it is still slander! We have no right to take someone's good name from him just because we want to.

If the person has committed a wrong and has not been apprehended, by all means, discretely notify the proper authority if that is the proper thing to do. Slander, when it involves lies about a person is illegal. Slander, even when it involves the truth, is a sin. Well, if you don't want to use that word, it is immoral. In any case, it is wrong.

DO NOT FORWARD THIS TYPE OF EMAIL. Do not degrade yourself by permitting yourself to be used in this manner.

THINK ...........  Is it the Christian thing to do?

Oh yes, one last thing. My apologies go to my right-wing redneck friends. I love you and we can disagree on some matters and still be friends.

Don Plefka
9/17/03