WATCHMEN WEEK: Is Honesty Always the Best Policy?

At the end of Watchmen, we're left with a really important question:

Do we tell truth and reveal the reality of the situation? or Do we keep silent and let everyone believe what they want about the things that have just occurred?

For those of you who have NO idea what I'm talking about- at the end of Watchmen, Adrien Veidt blows up New York City (and a few other cities in the movie). It's his master plan to create peace... In a world on the brink of nuclear war, he creates a bigger, badder enemy who is able to wipe them all out. The unification of fear is a powerful thing.

But for the plan to work, no one can know that it was masterminded by Adrien. They must think that it was an Alien Invasion (in the book) or Jon's frustration (in the movie).

World Peace hangs delicately on ignorance.

Rorschach, who doesn't have the ability to get beyond the black and whiteness of the issue, is bound and determined to tell the world what has transpired. He pays for it with his life.

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In the Christian Bible, there's a passage where a prostitute named Rahab lies to protect the lives of some Hebrew Spies who are hiding with her in the city of Jericho. Later, in the letter to the Hebrews, the writer tells us that she is to be praised for her FAITH by hiding and protecting them.

Her lie is actually considered Faith?

It's so strange that in a book that's used to promote honesty and truthfulness (we swear on the Bible to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" in court) such a contradiction would occur. I wonder if it's possibly that our understanding of truthfulness and honesty is a little smaller than what's required of us? Perhaps there's more to THE TRUTH than simply speaking accurately about events that have transpired.

Perhaps The TRUTH is bigger than a specific event?

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What do YOU think?

1. If you knew that peace had been obtained through a lie- would you expose it?

2. What if it were economic gain that secured your job in a company? Would you keep silent so you could keep your company in business?

3. What a friend or a relative committed a crime? Would you make their actions known or stay silent to protect them?

4. What if (and here's the biggest Ethical Dilemma) there are Nazis at your door asking about the Jews you have hiding in your attic? Do you tell them the truth, or lie to protect the lives of those living with you?

5. When is it OK to lie? When is it wrong?