The Truth, The Whole Truth, Or Maybe Just A Little Bit Of The Truth

"As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months. Assuming that positive developments continue, this is about the same time period that corresponds to our wishes."

"As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

Notice anything different in the two statements? The second one was what was actually said by Maliki,and the first was what 'they' said he said.

It's amazing what a little slanting can do, isn't it? But it happens all the time. The sad thing is, that so many of us fail to realize when it is happening.

I first became aware of it, several years ago, when I read a disturbing article about a young woman who had been found murdered. It was published in a newspaper where a dear friend was then, managing editor.

The article cast an unfavorable light on the young woman. It was not necessarily the truth, but could be perceived that way, because of a few choice words in the article. Much of the information cited could have been omitted, altogether, and in my opinion, only brought humiliation to her family, already devastated by the tragedy.

When I complained to my friend, the managing editor, he said that it was done all the time. In fact, he told me, one could print anything at all about another, as long as it was prefaced with the word, "allegedly."

I was sickened by that knowledge, then, but now it has become even more of an art, and occurs on a daily basis. Maybe, that is why I adhere to the advice found in a saying which is familiar, down where I'm from: "Don't believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see."

I said all that to direct you to this excellent piece which explains it much better than I ever could.

I think you will find it enlightening.