Everyone lies, so does that make it okay?

Jannah El Hassan
ENGW 1101
Prof. Young
February 1st, 2016

       Everyone Lies, So Does That Make It Okay?

Everyone lies, parents about Santa, kids underage about drinking, drivers about speeding, and boyfriends about cheating. So if everyone lies, does that make it okay? 

                                    

People look at lying as many different things; protection, unnecessary, rude and even a poor habit. When it comes to me I think lying is just an action taken before you get caught, because regardless of how well you lie you are bond to get caught at some point. Not to mention lying can just get boring especially those annoying compulsive liars that you can tell are lying but still try to tell you they're telling the truth while they're telling the lie and you just sit there not believing their shit but letting them talk anyway.

But anyway, to me I think lying should only be done in emergency situations for example if a creepy man comes to your door and you lie saying your mom is in the shower even though you're actually home alone because you fear he could kidnap or rob you. Or when your friends all want you to go out but you just want to stay in and watch Netflix so you say your parents won't let you go even though you didn't even ask them. And of course do not forget when you get pulled over by a cop for speeding and you start crying saying you had no idea even though you totally thought you just wouldn't get caught.

On a more serious note look at Henry’s situation and having to live a lie of being Henrietta in order to protect himself from John Brown. He had no idea John Brown was a real person let alone a real person standing right in front of him, not to mention his father was just killed the poor kid is in shock. After all of this happening, Henry is in the Tavern one second and the next John Brown “picked me up with one hand, stepped into the alley, and we was gone.” (McBride 21) not even being able to say goodbye to his father’s dead body. If I were to have gone through everything Henry is I would definitely lie too in order to protect myself and yes, once Henry hits puberty his secret is bound to come out, but at least he has some time to think about that before the time comes and figure out a game plan.

 

Lying is alright if it is needed, if it's an emergency situation and one feels they have no other way to go and Henry in the GLB is a great example of an emergency situation.