June 18, 2010

Tact vs. Truth

Recent incidents over the years has evoked a rather strong question  : Are truth and tact mutually exclusive? A person, abetted by good circumstances decides to turn over a new lease of life, but in the process of ‘shedding’ the lies accumulated over the years and also yearns to accept, assimilate and deliver only truth has an unusual crisis, albeit not totally unexpected ? : The ability to use tact – with peers, superiors, and family as well.


Is the overpowering feeling of wanting to be straight and truthful with kids, family and friends alike the cause of people wanting to distancing from this person? Does the spouse feel too strongly that travelling away from home, and thus from this person a better way to ‘handle’ marriage? Do the inlaws feel that the once-in-a –month call is better made once a quarter to check on mundane matters? Does the sibling feel that ‘maintaining the status quo’ over long distance calls the best way to maintain a sense of neutrality within the relationship, and avoid a rather irretractable tread on ‘sensitive, complicated’ matters.

Does this mean truth is less important than tact? Does this also mean that the kid doesn’t ‘consider’ the rather harsh of this person as commonplace, and perhaps seek greener pastures, with people who whisper sweet nothings. Does this lead to a persona non grata within the psyche? To what extent does the ‘soul’ need to experience this trauma of the conflict between truth and tact ? Is there a middle path?

Or in the words of someone close , is the middle path dangerous and unwarranted? Is it the yearning for something new undesirable , and if truth is the way it is to be, is it still unacceptable?

Perhaps, the new day shall shed some light on this, rather some answers – perhaps that would be a true 'moment of truth'