The Issue Of A White Lie - 1186 Words

A white lie is a term for a harmless or trivial lie. Humans lie and that is a truth no one can deny. I had dinner at a friend’s house last week and she went out of her way to cook a complex seafood meal, which I did not care for. When asked if I wanted seconds, I said no. My claim was that I was already full. Was that lie? Yes, I lied to be polite, rather than to tell her I did not like the way she prepared the fish. The First Amendment gives us the right to tell these lies without fear of repercussions. No harm is bein ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬g done to others and the lie, however deceitful, will soon be forgotten. However, when does a lie break the law? The First Amendment protects rights to express opinions, even if unpopular. However, this right isn’t†¦show more content†¦Ã‚ ¬Regardless of the nature of the lie, it is still a lie. Some lies, however, come with hefty fines, and can even send a person to jail. In 2007, Xavier Alvarez was elected to the board of Three Valleys Water District. He introduced himself with a series of lies about being a retired Marine, married to a Mexican movie star, having rescued an Americ an ambassador during the Iranian hostage crisis, playing hockey for Detroit Red Wings, and having been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Word spread of his extravagant accomplishments and it wasn’t long before a light was shed on his blatant lies. Alvarez soon found himself in court, facing charges of stolen valor. Of all the lies Alvarez told, one landed him facing charges; lying about receiving a Congressional Medal of Honor is a federal crime. Technically lying about something is freedom of speech and remains protected by the first amendment. So why is a lie a crime and where do we draw the line? Looking at this case from a moral perspective it is evident that Xavier Alvarez committed a moral crime. His actions directly undermine the accomplishments of those who have truly put their lives on the line to protect our country and earn those medals. Whether it is sympathy, respect, admiration, or benefits that he seeks, Alvarez is disrespecting all those who have in fact served. When people hear or read about cases like United States v. Alvarez the first thought that comes to mind is how disgraceful it is for an